Eid al-Umm Hal Nahtafil
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- Dar al-Khulafa al-Rashidin
Eid al-Umm Hal Nahtafil (عيد الأم ... هل نحتفل؟, lit. 'Mother's Day: Do We Celebrate?') is a contemporary Islamic treatise written by the Egyptian Salafi author Shehata Saqr examining the legal status of observing Mother's Day in Islamic jurisprudence .
Background and Publication
The work was published in Alexandria, Egypt, by Dar al-Khulafa' al-Rashidin and Dar al-Fath al-Islami . It opens with an introduction by the Salafi scholar Yasir Burhami, who reviewed the treatise and answered specific queries posed by the author regarding its subject matter . Burhami states in his preface that the widespread adoption of Mother's Day reflects a loss of Islamic identity, arguing that confining filial piety to a single annual day diminishes the comprehensive duty owed to mothers throughout their lifetimes .
Contents and Themes
The central thesis of the book is that celebrating Mother's Day is an unlawful religious innovation (bidʿah) and an impermissible imitation of non-Muslim customs . Saqr frames the discussion within Islamic principles governing annual festivities, asserting that festivals (aʿyād) are acts of worship defined solely by divine legislation, leaving Islam with only two recurrent annual holidays—Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha—along with Friday as the weekly celebration .
The book is structured into several key thematic areas:
- Historical Origins: The author provides a historical overview of Mother's Day, tracing its origins to ancient Greek spring festivals dedicated to Demeter and Roman rituals honouring Cybele, before outlining modern variations across countries and its mid-20th-century introduction to the Arab world on March 21 .
- Filial Piety in Islam vs. Western Context: Saqr argues that Mother's Day emerged in Western societies as an attempt to compensate for weakened family cohesion and the neglect of elderly parents, whereas Islamic law mandates perpetual obedience, respect, and financial support for parents throughout life and supplication on their behalf after death .
- Social and Financial Harms: The author discusses perceived societal detriments of the holiday, including the unnecessary financial strain placed on families by purchasing gifts for mothers, teachers, and in-laws, as well as the emotional distress caused to childless women and widows who feel isolated during the celebrations .
- Practical Legal Queries (Fatwas): The text addresses common practical scenarios, concluding that giving or receiving gifts on that day—such as gifts presented to female schoolteachers—is impermissible as it contributes to validating the occasion, and that children should gently refuse to observe the day even if their parents press them to participate, since obedience to creation is not permitted in matters considered sinful .
Sources and Method
Saqr relies heavily on classical and modern Salafi authorities. He draws theological and legal principles from Ibn Taymiyya's Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim, which the author had previously abridged . In addition, the book compiles legal rulings from the Saudi Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta', Ibn Baz, Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin, and contemporary fatwa repositories such as IslamWeb and IslamQA .
Answer updated