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:

  1. The celebration should not be a pagan religious festival.
  2. The celebration should not involve any ‘shirk’.
  3. The celebration should not involve or encourage ‘fahisha’ or indecency.
  4. The celebration should not indulge in excess spending.

 

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 India, what is known and celebrated as ‘basant’ in the surrounding nations, is one amongst their religious festivals which they celebrate with the splashing of colors on each other and is known as ‘holi’.  They celebrate this festival in commemoration of one of their god-incarnates known as ‘Prahlaad’ who was miraculously saved after being thrown in the fire!  Because the essence of their celebration arises from their pagan religion, it would be absolutely impermissible and forbidden for the believers to take any part in such celebrations.

 

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

 

 

 
Privacy  |  About Wister

Copyright © 2024 Wister All rights reserved