April Fool : A Dishonest Tradition

[bamalli]

April Fool : A Dishonest Tradition

1st April – a day when people lie, play jokes and mock in the name of
entertainment. This ugly practice of lying, which is considered to be merely a
humor, is known to have caused great harm to many. Still this dishonest
tradition is not only practiced among the common masses, but also newspapers
and magazines participate in it by publishing false news and untrue stories on
the first day of April!

Much is said about the origin of this practice, however what concerns the most
to the Muslims is that it is a tradition which directly contradicts the
teachings and morals of Islam.

Lying is a characteristic of hypocrisy and Allahs Messenger (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam) strictly forbade lying at all times.

He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:
"Let he who truly believes in Allah and the Last Day speak good or be silent."
[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

Moreover, he (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) has specifically cursed the person
who lies to make people laugh, he said:

"Woe be on one who speaks and lies in order to make people laugh, woe be on
him."
[Abu Dawood]

The above hadith show the gravity of participating in the false tradition of
April Fool, which the Western tradition appreciates and encourages claiming
that it brings joy and amusement, whereas the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam) forbade lying and deceiving even if the intention of the person is
to amuse people.

Abd al-Rahman Ibn Abi Laylaa said:
"The companions of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) told us
that they were traveling with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam). A man among them fell asleep and some of them went and took his
arrows. When the man woke up, he got alarmed (because his arrows were missing)
and the people laughed. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "What
are you laughing at?" They said, "Nothing, except that we took the arrows and
he got alarmed." The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "It
is not permissible for a Muslim to frighten another Muslim."


[Abu Dawood (5004) and Musnad Ahmad. Authenticated by Shaikh al-Albanee in
Saheeh al-Jamee (7658)]

He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) described the severe punishments for the liars
and said: "I saw (in a dream), two men came to me. They said, 'The person, the
ne whose cheek you saw being torn away (from the mouth to the ear) was a liar
and used to tell lies and the people would report those lies on his authority
till they spread all over the world. So he will be punished like that till the
Day of Resurrection.'" [Saheeh al-Bukharee (vol. 8, no: 118)]

May Allah protect us from indulging ourselves in such dishonest activities and
may He give us the strength to withstand such practices when they tend to
infect our Muslim Society.

Avoid this fake tradition,save ourself from falling in sins,
Ameen!