Father’s Day( June 18th): Islamic View

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. Brother, thank you for your good question and interest to know more about Islam and its teachings. Generally speaking, a Muslim is required to show kindness, love, and dutifulness to his parents.

Father’s Day is a social and family event that aims at celebrating fatherhood and honoring fathers. Such social and cultural events are not rejected in Islam as long as they don’t promote un-Islamic values. Dr. Wael Shihab, PhD in Islamic Studies, Al-Azhar University, and the Head of the Shari`ah Dept. of Onislam.net website, stated, Dutifulness to parents, both mothers and fathers, is an Islamic value and obedience to Allah. One, therefore, should show kindness towards his parents because Allah Almighty says: “Your Lord has decreed, that you worship none save Him, and (that you show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, say not ‘Fie’ unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word.” (Al-Isra’ 17: 23) Ibn CAbbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was once asked about the best deeds: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) says, ‘Having faith in Allah and His Messenger, then honoring one’s parents.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) In fact, the core meaning of the prohibited bidCah in Islam is to introduce or invent a devotional or ritual act of worship into religion with no backing fromShariCah. It is not acceptable, therefore, for anybody to invent a new form ofsalah (prayer) or fasting. CIbaddat (acts of worship and religious rituals) should be founded on correct ShariCah proofs.

World Days and events—such as the World Hijab Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Orphans’ Day—are mostly based on cultural and social considerations. They are not meant to introduce new religious rituals or devotional acts of worship. Father’s Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, though it is also celebrated widely on other days by many other countries. Father’s Day was created to complement Mother’s Day, a celebration that honors mothers and motherhood. Given the above, Father’s Day is a social event that aims at supporting universal values and morals. It’s not Islamically objectionable in itself as long as honoring fathers—or parents—is not confined to that Day. It’s not a sinfulbidCah as it’s not meant to introduce a new ritual or Cibadah into religion. It’s a cultural, social, and family Day that aims at maintaining social and family ties. May Allah help you and accept your and our good deeds Allah Almighty knows best. All About Father’s Day Father’s Day isn’t just a day for dads to get more ties. It’s celebrated on the third Sunday of June to honor dads, grandfathers, step-dads and all men who act as a father figure. Like most holidays that go way back, the origin is hard to trace but most people will agree that Sonora Dodd played a big part in starting the holiday. This year Father’s Day is June 21st, 2015 A Little Father’s Day History Sonora Louise Smart Dodd first brought up the idea of a father’s day in 1909. She wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. When Sonora’s mother died in childbirth with her sixth child, William was lf left to raisei theh newbornb andd fi five otherh childrenhild by himself on a farm in Washington state. As an adult, Sonora realized how strong and unselfish her dad had been raising his kids as a single parent. Father’s Day is a special day to say thanks to your Dad - and all the Dads Sonora wanted Father’s Day to be celebrated on the first Sunday in June, because it was close to her dad’s birthday. Instead, the first Father’s Day celebration took place on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, Washington. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson made the third Sunday of June Father’s Day. It wasn’t until 1972 that President Richard Nixon made Father’s Day a national holiday - about 60 years after Mother’s Day had been made a national holiday. Favorite Sayings by Dads Go ask your mother! Just wait until I get you home! When I was your age.... My father used to tell me... I used to walk to school in the snow! Be home early.