Author:
Publication: www.islamonline.net
Date: August 31, 2003
URL: http://www.islamonline.net/livefatwa/english/Browse.asp?hGuestID=L9Qi9y
Question
In most parts of India candles
are given by the Muslims and others in Mosques and Majhars. In some cases
they light them as part of some religious rituals. I have worked in Kuwait
for 18 years and had been to Hajj and `Umrah. I have not seen this practice
there. Sometimes they burn some candles as a social custom but not as a
part of any religious ritual. Please let us know if there is any basis
for this in Islam?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to
Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
This is a Hindu tradition that is
based on religious rituals. So, Muslims are forbidden to do this as a religious
issue and consider it a ritual, because Muslims do not take their religious
rituals from the Hindus.
However, if a Muslim does this unintentionally
or for the purpose of good incense and smell, there should not be a problem
in doing this.
Allah Almighty knows best.
