Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

assalamoalaikum wa rehmatullah brother in islam! my question today is re the issues of april fool`s day, i have read the islamic view on april fool`s day and basically to the best of my understanding muslims shouldn`t celebrate this day and pull pranks on others but some ppl say that the islamic jurists who have gave this explanation are wrong, and that april fool`s has nothing to do with islam?

Can you please shed some light onto this matter via proof from quran or hadees and let me know which party is correct? jazakallah khairum 

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Answer:

April fool day

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 135:O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice as witnesses to Allah even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts) lest ye swerve and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice; verily, Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 8:O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealing.

Dear and Beloved Brother in Islam, Islam guides and commands its followers to always stand on the side of the Truth. Jokes and pranks are almost always based on lies and falsehoods, so that one may have a laugh at the expense of another’s mishap or misery invented from a lie; and the telling of lies is absolutely forbidden in the deen of Truth called Al-Islam.

And when lies are forbidden, it cannot be considered righteousness or piety in the least to allocate a day in the year where something which is forbidden would become permissible!!!

Your Statement: some ppl say that the islamic jurists who have gave this explanation are

wrong, and that april fool`s has nothing to do with islam?

The people who made the statement that ‘that april fool`s has nothing to do with islam’ are absolutely right; for indeed the deen of Truth called Al-Islam has absolutely nothing to do with such a celebration or commemoration with the concept of lies and falsehoods, even for one single moment of a day!!!

‘April fool day’ is a day of celebration and commemoration of the ignorant who glorify the concept of lies and falsehood in the guise of jokes and pranks they play and have a laugh at the expense of their friends. The believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day are sincere well-wishers to their friends and acquaintances alike, and there is absolutely no room for the concept of lies and falsehoods in the deen of Truth called Al-Islam, even for a single moment of one day!

Your Question: Can you please shed some light onto this matter via proof from quran or hadees and let me know which party is correct?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 119: Allah will say (on the Day of Judgment): "This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens with rivers flowing beneath their eternal home: Allah well-pleased with them and they with Allah: that is the Great Salvation.”

Beloved brother in Islam, the answer to your question is as simple as this: the party which glorifies the concept of truth is correct, and the party which strives to glorify the concept of lies and falsehood, even for a moment in a day, is obviously in the wrong!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan