Cultural and National Holidays
6 questions
Does sending one's children to schools whose curricula include the glorification of national and Christian holidays, and concepts such as democracy, secularism, and nationalism, alongside the teaching of the Holy Quran, render the one who does so an apostate? And what is the ruling on that given the unavailability of educational alternatives that qualify for higher education?
Is it permissible for an employee to receive double overtime pay for working on official national holidays, excluding religious holidays?
Is it permissible to stay up until Fajr on school holidays to watch cultural and entertainment programs?
Is it permissible to celebrate national holidays, especially the holidays of the Arab revolutions that removed tyrannical rulers?
What is the ruling on celebrating the birth of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and birthday celebrations, and Mother's Day, and Tree Week?
How should an Imam and preacher act when the Ministry's directives to speak about national holidays, such as "Conqueror's Day" (Eid al-Fatih), which coincides with the date of the Battle of Badr, conflict with his fear of public backlash and its negative impact on his da'wah, especially knowing that the responsible authority punishes those who refuse?