Assalaamualaikum Respected Mufti Saheb
Hope that you are well.
A certain ‘Muslim institute’ is having a cultural Heritage Day to be celebrated on a certain day. Learners are encouraged to dress in their cultural attire. Do note that majority of the learners are Muslims.
Is it allowed or even conducive to the Tarbiyat of our young children?
Jazakallah
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اَلـجَـــــوَابُ حَــامِـــــداً وَّمُــصَلِّــــياً
Answer:
Respected Brother
There is a famous Arabic saying that goes:
اَلعِلْمُ فِي الصِّغَرِ كَالنَقْشِ في الحَجَرِ
The knowledge and values instilled within a child is like an engraving on a stone.
Parents entrust their children to different institutes at the most crucial and receptive years of their lives. An institute being Muslim will undoubtedly affect the choice of institute of concerned Muslim parents. Thus, such institutes should understand their responsibility in looking after the Islamic values and nurturing of young learners.
Being Muslims, our culture is governed by the Sunnah of Nabi Muhammed صلى الله عليه وسلم. In emulating every aspect of the Sunnah which includes the method of Tarbiyah (nurturing) that Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم implemented upon the young Sahabah رضي الله عنهم, we will find only goodness and everlasting success.
Allah Ta`ala says in the Quraan Majeed:
وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدۡ فَازَ فَوۡزًا عَظِيمًا
And whoever obeys Allah Ta`ala and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم has certainly attained a great success (Al-Ahzab Verse 71)
It is acknowledged that within the Muslim Ummah there are various cultures that Muslims live by due to the countries that they reside in. Islam does not reject every aspect of different cultures (for example, different cuisines); however, Islam promotes a temperament of adopting an Islamic culture in every facet of our life.
It cannot be denied that the current world setting is a vicious environment employing strategic means to eliminate Islamic identity from the lives of the Muslims. Peace slogans in the name of interfaith and cultural diversity aim at compromising the beliefs of common Muslims and slyly weaken their faith.
If we have to make a deep unbiased analysis of the thought behind these cultural heritage days, we may come to understand that the realities are beyond the facade of a harmless, fun activity for our young learners. The mere encouragement to dress in various cultural attire may subtly develop a love for these cultures within the innocent hearts of our Muslim children. We may be innocently falling into the trap of the deeper objectives of the Kuffaar of slowly shaving away our Islamic culture. The magicians in the time of Moosa عليه السلام imitated his dress which Ulema say were a means of them bringing Imaan. It should not be such that we innocently dress our children in other cultures which leads to a subtle love being inculcated within them for those cultures!
Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم has said:
الْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ ” ”
A person will be with whom he loves (in the Akhirah) – Sahih Muslim 2640a
It is also important to understand that Islamic culture is not confined to a specific day or time, but rather Islamic culture is a comprehensive way of life. The inner struggle of every Muslim is to internalize every aspect of the Islamic way of life on a daily basis. It is imperative that as Muslims we do not merely “go with the flow” and adopt alien practices within our communities, institutes and homes. We have our impressionable identity and should be proud of it!
Consider the following Hadith of Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم:
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَر رضي الله عنهماَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم “ مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ ” .
He who imitates a nation is one of them. (Sunan Abi Dawood 4031)
Thus, in conclusion, we advise that the Muslim Institute should reconsider having such a cultural Heritage Day. Our view is that such an activity is not conducive to the nurturing of our children and may prove harmful to their Imaan, thus it should be completely avoided.
And Allāh Ta`ala Alone in His Infinite Knowledge knows best
Answered by: Ml Ridhwaan Moosa
Checked and approved by: Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb D.B.
Date: 07 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1446 – 11 September 2024