“In a dark dark town, in the dark dark night, in the dark dark house, down the dark dark stairs, in the dark dark cellar, some skeletons lived.” (Children’s story book, Funny bones, 1980)
Feeling a bit jumpy? No? Well, let’s up the ante with some real, grown-up fear…
“Want your boat, Georgie?”
The clown smiled.
Georgie smiled back. He couldn’t help it; it was the kind of smile you just had to answer.
“I sure do,” he said.
“You drive a hard bargain,” the clown said, and reached out with one hand. He held a bright red balloon.
“They float,” the clown said. “They all float.”
“What?”
“They all float, Georgie, and when you’re down here with me, you’ll float too—”
(It, Steven King)
Still not rattled? Brace yourself, the town of Hawkins holds something truly frightening…..
Okay, let’s try again….I have something that will genuinely evoke fear in you. Click here to see, here, and here.
What’s the matter?
Are you not entertained?
It’s the magical season of Halloween: smiles are carved into vegetables, hot chocolate with marshmallows is on the menu, and Tesco has a special offer on “spooky cupcakes.” Little Maryam, dressed as a witch, joins her neighbour Katie—they’re going door-to-door to beg… I mean, trick-or-treat. And how adorable does Maryam look? Say cheese Maryam!…..She’s in Year six and Mrs Wilcock very kindly decorated their classroom with fake cobwebs and plastic skeletons, it was so much fun for Maryam! She even got to draw a picture of a haunted house.
Maryam’s father, Khaled, works as an Analyst at Credit Suisse, and this weekend they’re throwing a Halloween bash. Of course, Khaled—being a Muslim—won’t be getting slashed like his non-Muslim work colleagues (come on guys, he knows his boundaries) but it’s still a great chance to rub elbows with corporate clients and industry professionals. Plus, being seen as “part of the gang” never hurts. His boss was even kind enough to partner with a halal caterer for the event to accommodate Muslim employees. And let’s face it, seeing grown-ups in spooky costumes is always a good laugh! Perhaps Khaled will keep it simple this year—a classic ghost costume with a white bedsheet and a few well-placed tears should do the trick.
Khaled’s train of thought is abruptly derailed by his eldest—fifteen-year-old Ahmed—who has recently taken to hanging out with a new clique of local boys. “Dad, can I get some money to go to Thorpe Park Fright night on Thursday? All da Mandem are gonna be there; it’s gonna be bare jokes!”
The only “bare jokes” will be seen on Yawm al-Qiyamah!
Okay, okay, I’ll stop being facetious and put on my serious hat. Let’s get down to business!
Halloween originated from the Celtic pagan festival known as Samhain. This event was believed to be a time when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest. Pagans thought that spirits of the deceased and false gods, referred to as asos si, would descend upon them during this period. Out of fear of these deities, they would offer sacrifices and impersonate them by wearing bizarre costumes. Young men would go door-to-door with their faces blackened, threatening mischief. If they were not welcomed, a large bonfire would be lit, and its flames would be used to ignite hearths in people’s homes, where revelers would drink and engage in divination rituals throughout the night. It was only later that Christians attempted to assimilate this festival with their All Saints’ Day to appease the pagans, ultimately leading to the modern celebration of Halloween.
Consequently, participating in Halloween is considered shirk—the only unforgivable sin in Islam if one does not sincerely repent.
“There has already been for you an excellent example in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people, "Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah.” [Surat Al-Mumtahanah, 60:4]
As human beings, we naturally seek comfort in the company of others, but not everyone will take us to where we need to go. This often leads us to adopt traditions simply for the sake of conformity. However, as the Ghurabah, we should embrace our unique path and take pride in it!
“Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange, so glad tidings to the strangers.”
(Sahih Muslim 145)
And if you find yourself attending work functions that involve shirk in pursuit of personal advancement, consider this…
“The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.” Lily Tomlin.
The Shayateen and Evil Jinn Revel in seeing the Slaves of Allah frightened! When you’re watching The Conjuring and are jumping in your seat; they’re loving it!
A belief in the Unseen realm (al-Ghaib) is a core belief of Islam and is mentioned throughout the Quran. The Unseen comprises of that which is beyond human perception, including supernatural beings such as angels, jinn (beings with free will created from smokeless fire), and the malevolent Shaytan, who seek to lead people away from their purpose and from Allah.
Muslims should only fear Allah
Contrary to Hollywood’s portrayal of delightful date nights in rom-coms—where the girl swoons into her beloved’s arms during a horror film—reality is far more unsettling. Such scenarios invite evil into your life. Furthermore, regular exposure to horror movies or the consumption of numerous horror novels desensitises the mind to the supernatural, thereby blurring the boundary between reality and fiction. This can ultimately lead to disbelief in the unseen world, an essential aspect of our faith (belief in angels).
Many blockbuster horror films draw inspiration from real life. Take the aforementioned Netflix sensation Stranger Things, for example; many believe it explores the concept of jinn, creatures who live in another realm. The key distinction in this portrayal is that the ‘jinn’ are visible.
Horror is entertaining
Michael Jackson’s hit song Thriller, depicted him dancing around with demons. While we acknowledge that music is haram, there are various spheres in which content may be perceived simply as lighthearted entertainment. However, presenting such material as enjoyable is Shaytan’s tactic for normalizing these elements in our lives. As Muslims, we must remain vigilant regarding what we consume—mentally, physically, and spiritually.
To protect yourself from evil, remember to perform your daily adhkar and to recite Surah Al-Baqarah in your home at least every three days. Ensure that your living space is pleasant and well-kept. Exercise caution regarding the homes in which you share meals; dine only with trustworthy people, as black magic can also enter through what we consume. Lastly, refrain from broadcasting your life on social media.
