Halloween in Cultural and Islamic Perspectives: Between Tradition, History, and Belief

Introduction

Every October 31st, many countries—especially in the West—celebrate a yearly festival known as Halloween. Homes are adorned with spooky decorations, children don wild or frightening costumes, and the tradition of “trick-or-treating,” in which children go door to door asking for candy, has become emblematic of the holiday. While Halloween appears to be a lighthearted celebration, it has a long and complex history filled with cultural meanings, pagan beliefs, and various religious interpretations, including an Islamic perspective.

Origins of Halloween: From Samhain to America

Halloween traces its roots back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), which was celebrated in regions now known as Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time when people believed the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred. To ward off malevolent spirits or to honor departed ancestors, the Celts lit bonfires and wore costumes. These masks and disguises, often made of animal heads and skins, were intended to confuse roaming spirits¹.

The term “Halloween” itself evolved from “All Hallows’ Eve,” which referred to the evening before All Saints’ Day (November 1st) in the Christian liturgical calendar. The first written appearance of “Hallowe’en” dates back to the 16th century in Scotland, where “All Hallows’ Even” was colloquially contracted to “Hallowe’en.” The “-e’en” is a contraction of “evening” or “eve,” giving us the modern form “Halloween”².

In the mid-19th century, Irish immigrants fleeing potato famine brought their Halloween traditions to North America. Over time, those customs fused with local European influences and evolved into a more secular, community-oriented event. By the early 20th century, Halloween in America increasingly centered on neighborhood gatherings, parades, and children’s activities rather than purely pagan rituals.

Cultural Transformation and Commercialization

Over the decades, Halloween shifted from a solemn festival commemorating the dead to a largely secular and commercialized celebration. Today, it is synonymous with costume parties, eerie home decorations, pumpkin carving, haunted houses, and themed parades. Retailers capitalize on this surge of enthusiasm: according to the National Retail Federation, in 2023, Americans collectively spent over $12 billion on Halloween-related items, making it one of the nation’s top consumer-driven holidays—second only to Christmas³.

Popular culture—movies, television episodes, social media challenges—continues to shape Halloween’s modern image. Horror films released each October often become box office hits, and influencers on social platforms share makeup tutorials, DIY costume ideas, and “haunted” vlogs, driving further engagement. As a result, Halloween straddles the line between mass entertainment and deeply rooted folkloric tradition.

Interplay with Pagan and Christian Traditions

Historians note that many elements of Halloween derive from ancient pagan rituals, particularly Samhain and Roman festivals such as Lemuria, which honored restless spirits by offering food and sweets to appease them⁴. Roman Catholics, in an attempt to Christianize local customs, moved All Saints’ Day from May 13 to November 1 in 835 CE under Pope Gregory IV’s decree, thereby aligning it more closely with existing autumnal observances⁵. All Souls’ Day (November 2) further reinforced the Church’s intent to commemorate the faithful departed, effectively overlaying Christian significance onto older pagan celebrations.

Despite these ecclesiastical efforts, many secular and folkloric aspects of pre-Christian festivals persisted: the wearing of masks, lighting of bonfires, and belief in roaming spirits. Over centuries, these diverse strands—Celtic, Roman, medieval Christian—intertwined to produce the Halloween we recognize today.

Islamic Perspective on Halloween

In Islam, every action or celebration is examined in light of its origins, intentions, and impact on faith and practice. Several key concerns arise when Muslims consider participating in Halloween:

1. Non-Islamic Origins and Pagan Elements

Halloween stems from non-Islamic, pagan rituals that revolve around beliefs in spirits, ghosts, and supernatural forces. The Qur’an warns believers:

“And do not follow that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—about all those [one] will be questioned.”

(Qur’an 17:36)⁶

Because the foundational ideas of Halloween—honoring the dead, appeasing spirits, and using superstitious practices—conflict with the Islamic emphasis on pure monotheism (tawhid), many scholars view it as incompatible with Islamic beliefs.

2. Prohibition of Imitating Non-Muslims (Tasyabbuh)

A well-known hadith states:

“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

(Hadith, Sunan Abū Dāwūd 4031)⁷

From this perspective, donning costumes that represent ghosts, witches, or devils can be interpreted as “imitating” beliefs and practices foreign to Islam. Scholars often caution against embracing any ritual or costume that originates in a non-Islamic framework of worship or superstition.

3. Danger of Unclear (Shubuhāt) Practices

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Indeed, the lawful is clear, and the unlawful is clear. In between them are matters doubtful (shubuhāt) about which many people do not know. Thus, whoever avoids them safeguards his religion and honor. And whoever falls into them falls into the unlawful.”

(Hadith, Bukhari & Muslim)⁸

Even if one participates with “no bad intention,” the symbols of Halloween—skulls, witches, illusions of necromancy—fall under ambiguous (shubuhāt) categories. Thus, a precautionary approach is recommended to avoid anything that could compromise one’s faith or inadvertently endorse superstition.

4. Existence of Authorized Islamic Festivals

Islam prescribes two major Eids: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Allah has replaced for you two days that are better than those two days (the days of Jahiliyyah). They are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.”

(Hadith, Sunan Abū Dāwūd 1134; Musnad Aḥmad 11595)⁹

These two festivals are sufficient for Muslim communal celebration and spiritual reflection. Therefore, adding a third, non-Islamic “festival” can be seen as an unnecessary imitation of foreign customs.

Phenomenon of Halloween in Muslim-Majority Countries

Although Halloween is not rooted in Muslim culture, the holiday has gained traction among urban youth in some Muslim-majority nations. Shopping malls host costume contests; international schools hold “Halloween fetes”; cafes offer themed menus; and social media platforms flood with makeup tutorials and challenge videos. This reflects the pervasive influence of global pop culture and a desire to participate in an international trend.

However, this enthusiasm raises questions: Should local Muslim communities adopt a foreign celebration that conflicts, in part, with their religious framework? Or should they resist assimilation of a non-Islamic ritual and seek to educate their next generation about the values behind Islamic traditions?

Wise Approaches: Education and Value-Centered Guidance

Instead of issuing outright bans without context, Muslim families, educators, and community leaders can adopt a more nuanced approach by explaining:

The historical roots of Halloween in paganism and early Christian attempts to assimilate local festivals.
The Islamic principles that discourage imitation of non-Muslim religious or superstitious practices.
The availability of Islamic festivals (Eid al-Fitr & Eid al-Adha) as legitimate occasions for joyous gathering.

When children understand why a particular holiday is discouraged, they are more likely to internalize those lessons rather than rebel or conform without question. Such education also fosters critical thinking: when facing any cultural phenomenon—whether Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or other global trends—Muslim youth can thoughtfully evaluate whether it contradicts core Islamic values.

Positive Alternatives for Young Muslims

Instead of participating in Halloween’s superstitious or horror-themed festivities, parents and schools can organize Islamic-themed events on or around October 31st. Possible alternatives include:

Storytelling Sessions: Reading age-appropriate stories about prophets or righteous companions, emphasizing moral lessons and heroism.
Creative Competitions: Encouraging children to draw or craft Islamic motifs—mosques, crescent moons, geometric patterns—or recite short nasheed (Islamic songs) or poetry.
Community Charity Drives: Collecting clothes, toys, or food for the needy, teaching the value of giving rather than “taking” candy from neighbors.
Family Gatherings: Hosting a small Eid-style get-together with simple decorations, emphasizing gratitude for blessings and prayers for the less fortunate.

Such activities provide children with a sense of community, creativity, and joy without adopting a holiday whose origins and symbols conflict with Islamic teachings.

Conclusion

Halloween has evolved from an ancient Celtic festival to a modern, global phenomenon—blending pagan, Christian, and commercial elements. Although today it is largely viewed as a harmless, fun-filled holiday, its roots in spirit worship, superstition, and foreign rituals contradict Islamic monotheism (tawhid) and the Prophet’s ﷺ guidance on abstaining from doubtful or imitative practices.

For Muslims, choosing not to celebrate Halloween is not a matter of rejecting culture wholesale but of exercising discernment. By understanding the historical background and religious implications, Muslim communities can uphold their faith’s integrity while fostering a sense of belonging through the two authentic Eids—Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha—and other value-centered activities.

Endnotes

Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain (Oxford University Press, 1996), 145–147. ↩
Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “Halloween,” accessed October 2023, Oxford University Press. ↩
National Retail Federation, “Halloween Spending Statistics 2023,” National Retail Federation, accessed August 2023, https://www.nrf.com. ↩
Jeffrey Burton Russell, The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive Christianity (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1977), 89–92. ↩
“All Saints’ Day,” Catholic Encyclopedia, New Advent, accessed September 2023, https://www.newadvent.org. ↩
Al-Qur’an 17:36. ↩
Sunan Abū Dāwūd, no. 4031. ↩
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī & Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, from An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr. ↩
Sunan Abū Dāwūd 1134; Musnad Aḥmad 11595. ↩