Shortened Question:

Are Muslims allowed to celebrate April Fool’s Day?

Question:

What is the ruling regarding the celebration of April Fool’s Day in Islam?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

April Fools’ Day also known as All Fool’s Day is celebrated on the April 1^st in western countries. Although April Fools’ Day is very popular it is not a public holiday.

It is a day when people plays practical jokes on family members, friends co-workers etc.

The actual date of inception of April Fools’ Day is not known. However, some believe that it was introduced in the 16^th century.

In previous times some cultures acknowledged April 1^st as the beginning of the New Year. In 1582, New Year’s day  was changed to January 1^st by Pope Gregory XIII. Some  people said that many people either refused to accept this new date  and some did not learn about it and so they continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1st. Those who had changed to the new date of January 1^st played tricks on those who did not accept January 1^st as the new date. Those who  maintained April 1^st as New Year’s Day were sent on false missions  and were tricked into believing something that was false by those who accepted the new date of January 1^st.. This was the beginning of what is now popularly known as April Fools’ Day or All Fools’ Day.

Deceiving is prohibited. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi wa Salam abhor the playing of tricks on others. Some people think that it is permissible to jokingly tell lies and they tell lies on All Fool’s Day claiming it to be a mere joke. There is no justification for their lies and it remains to be haram.[1]

If we ourselves do not like to be made fun of, then how can we justify making fun of others? What would be the point is playing jokes on people for amusement, when on the Day of Qiyamah we will be held accountable for our action?

Islam is not a religion of amusement. Allah Ta’ala created mankind and Jinns to worship Him. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi wa Sallam says if you know what I know you would laugh less and cry more.

Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi wa Salam also used to give jokes, but his jokes were not embarrassing to the Sahaba Radiyallahu Anhum, neither were his jokes made up of lies.[2]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Saeed Ahmed Golaub

Islamic Solutions

Jamaica

[1]:164 – (101) حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْقَارِيُّ ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْأَحْوَصِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَيَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، كِلَاهُمَا عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنْ حَمَلَ عَلَيْنَا السِّلَاحَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا، وَمَنْ غَشَّنَا فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا» صحيح مسلم (1 / 99)

[2]:1990 – حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّاسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الدُّورِيُّ البَغْدَادِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الحَسَنِ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ المُبَارَكِ، عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ المَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّكَ تُدَاعِبُنَا، قَالَ: «إِنِّي لَا أَقُولُ إِلَّا حَقًّا» : سنن الترمذي ت شاكر (4 / 357)