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Writer's pictureAsma Bint Shameem

Calling Friday “BLACK”! Is that ok?!

by Asma bint Shameem

Today they say, is “Black Friday”.


But call it whatever....

Black Friday, White Friday, Good Friday....

Names don’t matter.


🔸Calling Friday “black” or red or blue or purple or whatever does not take away from its sacredness or reverence in any way. 


The fact remains unchanged that ALL Fridays are the BEST, most blessed days, no matter what anyone calls them. 


🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:


"The best day on which the sun rises is Friday

On it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise and on it he was expelled therefrom."

(Saheeh Muslim 1410)

 

🍃And he ﷺ also said: 


"Friday is the master of days, and the greatest of them before Allaah. 

It is greater before Allaah than the day of al-Adha and the day of al-Fitr."

(Ibn Maajah 1084; hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ 2279)


🔸In any case, the term “Black Friday” is not necessarily “derogatory”. 


Describing something with the word “black” does not inevitably mean that it’s something “bad”. 


▫️ Bilal radhi Allaahu anhu was black. 

But he was the best of the best. 


▫️The Stone “al Hajr al-Aswad” in the Kaa’bah wall is black. 

But it’s from Jannah.


▫️The eyes of the Hoor al-Een in Jannah are black. 

But they’re the most beautiful. 


▫️The cure for all diseases except death, meaning the black seed

‎( الْحَبَّةِ السَّوْدَاءِ) is “Black”. (al-Bukhaari 5688 and Muslim 2215) 


▫️In fact, even our Mother Aaishah used the term “Black” to describe two of the biggest blessings of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.

Dates and Water. 


🍃 She said:


“We used to look at the new moon, then the new moon, then the new moon, three new moons in two months, and no fire would be lit in the houses of the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.

She was asked: What did you live on? 

She said: The two black ones, dates and water...”

(al-Bukhaari 2567, Muslim 2972)


So we don’t need to take the word “Black Friday” in a negative or derogatory way.


Black Friday is just a shopping day and nothing more.


It’s just a “term” used to describe a “day of sales that happens to fall on a Friday.”

If the sales and discounts had happened on a Wednesday, we  would’ve had a 'black Wednesday' instead. 


🔸According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the reason why it’s called “Black Friday” is the following:


“It is believed by many that the term Black Friday derives from the concept that businesses operate at a financial loss, or are “in the red,” until the day after Thanksgiving, when massive sales finally allow them to turn a profit, or put them “in the black.”

However, this is untrue.

A more accurate explanation of the term dates back to the early 1960s, when police officers in Philadelphia began using the phrase “Black Friday” to describe the chaos that resulted when large numbers of suburban tourists came into the city to begin their holiday shopping and, in some years, attend Saturday’s annual Army-Navy football game. 

The huge crowds created a headache for the police, who worked longer shifts than usual as they dealt with traffic jams, accidents, shoplifting, and other issues.”


🔺 QUESTION ?


”Can I take advantage of the tremendous sales on Black Friday and buy what I need?”


Yes it is permissible to take advantage of the sales offered on this day (and on any other non Muslims occasion) and it is allowed to buy or sell permissible things, that have nothing to do with the non-Muslim festivals. 


🍃 Someone asked Shaykh Ali At-Tuwayjiree if Muslims can take advantage of the sales and discounts offered during the non Muslim holidays. 


The Shaikh said:


“There is nothing that prohibits a Muslim [from this] as long as he is not doing it for their religious holidays. [Meaning] it is not for the purpose of their Eid.

So there is no harm in this [act] since actions are to be judged by their intentions.” 


However do keep in mind to buy only what you need because extravagance and unnecessary buying is not from Islaam. 


🍃 Allaah says:


‎وَلا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِين


“and waste not by extravagance. Verily, He likes not Al-Musrifun (those who waste by extravagance),”

(Surah al-An’aam:141)


And Allaah knows best


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