Origin of april fool.
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One of our brothers/sisters has asked
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Assalam Alaikun, i
want to ask, what is the history of April fool? islamic perception of the April
1st?
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Answer:
Origin of april fool
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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear
witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
Your
Question: ….what is the history of April fool?
As is only natural with all concepts of falsehoods, the
origin of ‘April Fool's Day’ commemorated by some amongst the ignorant on the 1st
of April is obscure! There are several
opinions regarding its origin, but none of them can be authenticated.
Some say it was first
celebrated soon after the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar, and referred to someone
still adhering to the Julian Calendar which it replaced. In many
pre-Christian cultures May Day (May 1st) was celebrated as the first day of summer,
and signaled the start of the spring planting season. An ‘April’s Fool’ was
someone who did this prematurely.
Your
Question: ….islamic perception of the April 1st?
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah
Nisaa verse 135:
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:
8 O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to
fair dealing.
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!!! The
‘deen’ of Truth called Al-Islam has absolutely nothing to do with such a
celebration or commemoration 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 or loved ones. 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!
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister