Letting Off Fireworks On The Occasion Of A Wedding And Shab-E-Barat

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

   What do Islamic scholars state about the following issue? What does Shariah say about letting off fireworks on the occasion of a wedding, on Shab-e-Bara’at (the Night of Salvation) and on other occasions, especially at night-time when people are asleep and their sleep is disturbed due to the fireworks? Moreover, what do you state about attending the programs of fireworks?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   The firework display which is performed on Shab-e-Bara’at (the Night of Salvation), on the occasion of a wedding and on other occasions is impermissible and Haram because it is a waste of money and when fireworks are let off in the night, it is the act of causing Muslims pain besides wasting money because the sleep of Muslims is disturbed and causing a Muslim pain without a Shariah-justified reason is also Haram. Similarly, attending the programs of fireworks is also impermissible and Haram because when the act of performing something is Haram, watching it and enjoying it are also Haram.

   About fireworks Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has said, ‘The firework displays set off on the occasions of weddings and on Shab-e-Bara’at (the Night of Salvation) are undoubtedly Haram and a complete offense as it is a waste of money. In the Holy Quran, such people have been called the brothers of Satan.

’لَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِیۡرًا اِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِیۡنَ کَانُوۡۤا اِخْوَانَ الشَّیٰطِیۡنِ وَکَانَ الشَّیۡطٰنُ لِرَبِّہٖ کَفُوۡرًا ‘

Allah Almighty has said, ‘Do not spend wastefully. Those who spend wastefully are indeed the brothers of the devils, and the Devil is extremely ungrateful to his Lord.’

   The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said,

"ان اللہ تعالیٰ کرہ لکم ثلٰثا قیل وقال واضاعۃ المال وکثرۃ السوال۔" رواہ البخاری عن المغیرۃ بن شعبۃ رضی اللہ عنہ

‘Undoubtedly, Allah Almighty has disliked three acts for you: (1) talking uselessly (2) wasting money (3) begging a lot. Imam Bukhari has narrated it from Sayyiduna Mugheerah bin Shoba.

   In “Maa Sabat Bis Sunnah”, Sheikh Muhaqqiq Maulana Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dehlwi has stated,

’من البدع الشنیعۃ ما تعارف الناس فی اکثر بلادالھند من اجتماعھم للھو واللعب واحراق الکبریت ‘

 ‘Amongst the bad innovations are the deeds which have been introduced and which are performed in most of the cities of India, such as playing with fire and gathering to perform such games, burning sulphur, etc. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 23, p. 279, Raza Foundation, Lahore)

   Letting off fireworks at night-time surely causes Muslims pain and causing a Muslim pain without a Shariah-justified reason is also Haram. It is stated in a blessed Hadith:

من اٰذی مسلماً، فقد اٰذانی، ومن اٰذانی، فقد اذی اللہ:

‘Whoever causes a Muslim pain causes me pain and the one who causes me pain displeases Allah.’ (Al-Mu’jam Al-Awsat, vol. 4, p. 60, Dar-ul-Harmain, Cairo)

   Watching the show in which Haram actions are being carried out is also Haram. It is stated in “Durr-e-Mukhtar” and then “Radd ul Muhtaar”:

کرہ کل لھو۔ ۔ ۔ والاطلاق شامل لنفس الفعل واستماعہ

 (durr-e-Mukhtar M’a Radd-ul-Muhtar, vol. 9, p. 651, Published in Peshawar)

   It is stated in “Hashiya al-Tahtawi”:

الفرجۃ علی المحرم حرام

(Hashiyat-ul-Tahtawi Ali Aldar, vol. 1, p. 31, Published in Quetta)

   Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has said, ‘The actions which are carried out by a conjurer, juggler and acrobat are Haram and to watch its show is also Haram, as arranging a show from Haram is also Haram.’ (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 21, p. 159, Raza foundation, Lahore)  

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered By: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari

Ref No: Pin- 4769

Date: 19 Ẓul-Qa’daĥ al-Haram 1437 Hijri (23 August, 2016)