What is the history behind celebrating basant?
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:
what is
the history behind celebrating basant?
wassalam
jazakaAllah khayr
(There may be some grammatical and spelling
errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
Celebration of
Basant
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.
‘Basant’ is the traditional and cultural celebration of
the arrival of spring in some nations and cultures, especially those from the
Indian sub-continent. Provided the laws
of Islam are not violated, there is absolutely no harm in participating in such
cultural festivals, if one wishes to do so.
In light of the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, the
jurors in Islam have listed four categories which would make this or any
celebration or gathering forbidden:
If one were to evaluate the celebrations of the advent of
spring season or what is known as ‘basant’ today, one would see that its
celebration absolutely encourages ‘fahisha’ and indulges in excess spending;
and if one is unable to honor the limits of Islam during its celebration, it
would be best and purest to abstain from such occasions.
In the nation of
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