Ruling on attending Easter celebrations

Ruling on attending Easter celebrations

I would like to no if it is haram to go to the sydney royal easter show. although it is called the easter show it really has nothing to d with easter. i like to go for the craft, fruit, animal shows, they all hav nothing to do with easter.

 

Praise be to Allaah.

It is not permissible for a Muslim to take part in the
festivals and innovated celebrations of the kuffaar, such as Easter,
Christmas and so on, because taking part and attending is helping in this
evil, and increasing their numbers, and imitating them, all of which is not
allowed. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue,
righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and
transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”

[al-Maa’idah 5:2] 

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” Narrated by Abu
Dawood (4031); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel
(5/109). 

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

It is not permissible for the Muslims to attend the festivals
of the mushrikeen, according to the consensus of the scholars whose words
carry weight. The fuqaha’ who follow the four schools of thought have stated
this clearly in their books… Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a saheeh isnaad from
‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab that he said: “Do not enter upon the mushrikeen in
their churches on the day of their festival, for divine wrath is descending
upon them.” And ‘Umar also said: “Avoid the enemies of Allaah on their
festivals.” Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a jayyid isnaad from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn
‘Amr that he said: “Whoever settles in the land of the non-Arabs and
celebrates their new year and festival and imitates them until he dies in
that state, will be gathered with them on the Day of Resurrection.” (Ahkaam
Ahl al-Dhimmah, 1/723-724) 

The Standing Committee for Issuing
Fatwas was asked about Argentinean national celebrations and celebrations
that are held in their churches such as Independence Day, and Christian Arab
celebrations such as Easter. 

They replied: It is not
permissible for Muslims to hold such celebrations or attend them or
participate in them with the Christians, because that is helping in sin and
transgression, and Allaah has forbidden that. 

And Allaah is the Source of
strength. End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (2/76). 

To sum up: It is not permissible
to celebrate the festivals of the kuffaar or to participate in them, whether
they do any religious practices in them or limit it to play and
entertainment, because just celebrating it is a haraam innovation, but
attending their religious rituals is more haraam. 

The Muslim should spend this day
like any other day, and not have any special food or drink on it, or do
anything else to show happiness that is done by those who celebrate this
festival, such as going out to parks, funfairs  and so on, so as to disavow
himself of the sins of approving or taking part.