Question
Is it permissible to greet Hindus with Happy Diwali with the intention of well-wishing and a gesture of kindness? Please explain.
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
A Muslim is one who submits to the teachings of Islam, which are derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah, as understood and explained by the rightly guided scholars (Ulama). These include the Salaf (the early generations of Muslims) and subsequent qualified scholars who upheld and preserved the established principles and methodology of interpreting Islamic scripture in its proper context. The authority to interpret the laws of Shariah and determine what is lawful and unlawful rests with qualified scholars who possess the requisite knowledge and expertise, not with individuals who lack such qualifications, regardless of their worldly status.
There is no compulsion in entering Islam. A person embraces Islam of his own free will, through the divine guidance of Allah. He becomes a Muslim by accepting Tawḥeed (the Oneness of Allah) and the Prophethood of Muḥammad ﷺ. However, upon embracing Islam, he becomes subject to the laws and teachings of Islam. Adherence to these laws is no longer a matter of personal preference; rather, he is religiously obligated and commanded to abide by these laws.
The Quran mentions:
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ
“It is not for a believing man or believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, to have any choice in their affair.” [33:36]
The Prophet ﷺ said to Mu`adh bin Jabal when he sent him to Yemen. “You will come to the people of Scripture, and when you reach them, invite them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle. And if they obey you in this regard (i.e. they embrace Islam), then tell them that Allah has enjoined upon you five daily prayers and the hadith continues to mentions the laws of Islam [Sahih al-Bukhari 4347]
A person remains a Muslim so long as he does not renounce Islam or engage in any belief, statement, or action that nullifies his Iman (faith). Such matters are known as Nawaqiḍh al- Iman (nullifiers of faith). It is therefore imperative upon every Muslim to safeguard his Iman by refraining from all beliefs, statements, and actions that may nullify it and take him out of the fold of Islam.
However, not every action, statement, or belief that contradicts the teachings of Islam necessarily takes a person out of the fold of Islam. Committing these offenses makes someone a sinner or transgressor, but they remain a Muslim. Nevertheless, as Muslims, we are commanded to refrain from all that Islam has prohibited. Furthermore, a good intention does not render a prohibited action permissible, regardless of how noble or sincere that intention may be.
Every person is accountable for his actions and statements. Nothing goes unrecorded or unaccounted for, nor is anything without consequences. Rather, every action and statement will either be in his favour or against him. The Prophet ﷺ warned that a person may utter a statement without giving it any consideration or paying attention to its implications, yet that very statement may incur the displeasure of Allah to such an extent that it becomes the cause of him being cast into the depths of Hellfire. [Bukhari]
Regarding the greeting “Happy Diwali” and “Shubh Diwali,” it is important to understand its religious significance and the implications of uttering such statements. According to Hindu tradition, Diwali is associated with the return of Rama and his wife Sita to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. Rama is regarded as an earthly incarnation of the Hindu deity Vishnu, while Sita is regarded as an incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi. Both Vishnu and Lakshmi are worshipped as deities within Hinduism.
From the Islamic perspective, worshipping any deity besides Allah Ta’ala constitutes Shirk (associating partners with Allah), which is the gravest of all sins and the greatest violation of Tawḥeed. Allah Ta’ala has explicitly declared that He will not forgive Shirk if a person dies upon it without repentance. Such a person will be deprived of salvation and will remain eternally in Hellfire.
The Quran mentions:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive Shirk (associating partners with Him), but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. [4:116]
The Quran mentions
ان الشرك لظلم عظيم
Indeed, Shirk (associating partners with Allah), is the gravest of sins [31:13]
Therefore, the greeting “Happy Diwali” cannot be viewed merely as an ordinary generic expression of goodwill without considering its religious context. It is a greeting associated with a religious celebration that, commemorates events and beliefs rooted in the worship of deities besides Allah. Consequently, from a Shariah perspective, extending such greetings amount to endorsing a festival rooted in Shirk (polytheism) or, at the very least, outwardly participating in and imitating its celebrations, both of which compromise the fundamental teachings of Islam.
The Quran mentions
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ ۚ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِّثْلُهُمْ
And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses (teachings) of Allah (His religion) being denied and ridiculed, do not sit (associate) with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them[4:140]
The Quran mentions
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ ۚ وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ الشَّيْطَانُ فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَىٰ مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
And when you see those who engage in a false conversation and statements regarding Our Verses (teachings of Islam) by mocking at them, stay away from them till they turn to another topic. And if Shaitan causes you to forget, then after the remembrance sit not you in the company of those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists) [6:68]
The Quran mentions
قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ ۞لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ
“Say; Was it Allah, His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuses; you have disbelieved after your belief.”[9:65]
من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم
He who imitates a people (in their actions) is counted amongst them (Abu Dawood 4031)
Nb: If a person believes that there are other gods or deities worthy of worship besides Allah, The Exalted, such a belief nullifies his Iman and takes him out of the fold of Islam, even if he does not personally worship any of those deities.
Nb: If a person deliberately bows or prostrates before a deity other than Allah, The Exalted, as an act of worship or religious veneration, such an action constitutes Shirk and nullifies his Iman.
The Quran Mentions:
لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
If you associate partners with Allah, your deeds will surely become worthless, and you will certainly be among the losers [39:65]
Therefore, if a Muslim were to greet his Hindu friends, relatives, or acquaintances with “Happy Diwali” or “Shubh Diwali,” merely intending to express kindness or courtesy, (even without affirming or endorsing their religious beliefs), such a greeting would be strictly prohibited. As stated above, this greeting is specifically associated with a religious celebration involving beliefs and practices that contradict the fundamental principles of Islam. Thus, even in the absence of an intention to endorse those beliefs, extending such greetings would amount to offering congratulations on a religious occasion that is contrary to Islamic beliefs.
Islam even prohibits Muslims from conveying the Islamic greeting of “As-Salamu Alaykum” to non-Muslims [Sahih Muslim 2167]. How much more, then, should Muslims refrain from extending greetings associated with religious celebrations rooted in polytheistic beliefs and practices?
However, it is worth noting that Islam does not prohibit Muslims from extending general greetings, kindness, and goodwill towards people of other faiths. Muslims are permitted to exchange universal greetings and expressions of courtesy, such as wishing others peace, good health, happiness, and well-being. However, a clear distinction must be maintained between such general expressions of goodwill and greetings that specifically congratulate others on religious celebrations associated with beliefs and practices contrary to the fundamental teachings of Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ lived among non-Muslims in Madinah, yet there is no established report of him participating in their religious festivals or congratulating them on such occasions. Rather, the Prophet ﷺ instructed Muslims to maintain their distinct religious identity and refrain from imitating the distinctive religious practices and rituals of other faiths. [Bukhari]
When the Prophet ﷺ migrated to Madinah, he found the Muslims of Madinah observing two particular days of celebration, traditionally identified as Nayruz and Mihrajan during which they engaged in play and entertainment. Upon enquiring about the significance of these days, they informed him that these were two days they had celebrated during the pre-Islamic period of ignorance (Jahiliyyah). The Prophet ﷺ then informed them that Allah had replaced these two days with two superior festivals: Eid al-Fiṭr and Eid al-Aḍḥa. (Abu Dawud, Nasai, Aḥmad etc).
It is evident from this Ḥadith that although the Muslims were engaging in lawful play and entertainment, the Prophet ﷺ did not approve of their continued observance of these pre-Islamic festivals. Rather, he informed them that Allah had replaced them with the two Islamic Eids. This demonstrates that an activity permissible in itself may become impermissible when undertaken as part of the observance or commemoration of a religious festival contrary to Islam.
The Quran Mentions:
لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ
“For you (non-Muslims) is your religion, and for me (Muslims) is my religion.”[109:6]
Muslims have their own way of life, just as non-Muslims have theirs. Every religion has its own beliefs, principles, and boundaries, which should be respected. As for Islam, it prohibits Muslims from extending greetings that congratulate others on their religious festivals, and this religious position should likewise be respected and tolerated. Similarly, Hinduism traditionally regards the cow as sacred and prohibits its slaughter and consumption among its adherents. Muslims recognise and respect their right to uphold such religious beliefs without expecting them to compromise it.
Respect does not necessitate participation. Tolerance does not require religious compromise. Peaceful coexistence does not mean that followers of different religions must adopt, endorse, or participate in one another’s religious practices. We do not interpret the refusal of others to participate in our religious celebrations as an expression of hatred, intolerance, or discrimination against Muslims. Rather, we recognise and respect their right to remain faithful to their religious beliefs and principles. We simply expect the same understanding, tolerance, and respect in return.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Kaleem Muhammad
Darul Iftaa, Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (Trinidad & Tobago)
