Question Summary:
Is it permissible in Islam to celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day? Please explain

Question Detail:

Are Muslims allowed to celebrate Mothers day and Fathers day? please explain

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
 
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
 
Islam does not recognize the concept of Father’s Day and Mother’s Day. In fact, to single out just one day of the year to honour our fathers and mothers is an embarrassment and humiliation to our parents. Every single moment of our lives is for our fathers and our mothers. Shariah has placed  much emphasis on the rights of parents.
 
Mother’s Day celebration started after the civil war in the United States in the 1860s, by Ann Reeves Jarvis. Her intention was to reconcile the differences between the mothers of the Confederate and the Union Soldiers of West Virginia. This effort was again re-established by Julia Ward Howe in 1870. The businessmen saw this as an opportunity to increase their profit margins and so gave it their support. In 1908 with the effort of Anna Jarvis, the daughter of Ann Jarvis, Mother’s Day was acknowledged as a commercial holiday.
 
Subsequently, Father’s Day was commenced in 1909 by Sonora Smart Dodd whose mother had passed away. She along with her other five brothers and sisters were raised by her father and her intention was to honour him for his effort in raising his six children by himself.
 
Over time Mother’s Day and Father’s Day were cemented in the hearts of the people and became holidays.
 
It is conclusive from the above that these holidays are not religious in nature. They were instituted by Americans who were trying to bring peace amongst each other after the civil war.
 
Islam places strong emphasis on enjoining family ties. There should be respect amongst family members all the time and no one day is needed to be singled out for this.
 
Non-Muslims at times may do things that seem appealing. Muslim should not be caught up in the celebrations and traditions of non-Muslims.
 
 
 
Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala Says:
And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and do good to parents (Quran 17:23). On another occasion, Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala, says   أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ}} (Be grateful to Me and to your parents 31:14)
 
It is reported in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abdullah Ibn Umar Radiyallahu Anhu that a man whose parents were alive came to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasalam seeking permission to go in Jihad. The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasalam told him to carry out jihad in the service of his parents.[1]
 
It is evident from the above that one should continuously be in the service of their parents even if they are non-Muslims.[2]
 
In Sahih Al-Bukhari it is reported on the authority of Abdulillah Ibn Umar that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasalam said that the noblest thing that a child can do for a father after his death is to treat his friends well.  
 
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasalam says that Jannat lies at the feet of the mother, such that one is not even allowed to go in search of Deeni Knowledge without the permission of his mother.[3]
 
It is mentioned in one hadith that four times a man asked Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasalam who was more deserving of his companionship. On the first three occassions Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasalam says your mother was more deserving. Then on the fourth occasion he Sallallahu Alaihi Wasalam said thereafter your father.[4]
 
These are just a few of the occasions on which the importance of the parents are being highlighted, to show that at all times parents should be honoured.
 
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
 
 
Mawlana Saeed Ahmed Golaub
Westmoreland, Jamaica, West Indies
Student Darul Iftaa
 
Checked and Approved
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
daruliftaa.net