By Asma bint Shameem
*“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 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 (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) 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."(Muslim)
And he (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) 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; hasan by al-Albaani)
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 radhi Allaahu anhaa
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) and 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.”
The word 'black' was not meant to insult or degrade the holy day of the Muslims.
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 occasion) and it is allowed to buy or sell *permissible* things, that have nothing to do with the non Muslim festivals.
The scholars said:
“There is nothing wrong with buying clothing, furniture and so on during the seasons of non Muslim festivals such as Christmas, on condition that one does not buy things that are used to celebrate the festival or to imitate the disbelievers during their festivals.”
(Islamqa Fatwa # 145676)
However do keep in mind to buy only what you need because *extravagance* and *unnecessary buying* is *not from Islaam.*
The scholars said:
“We do not have a black Friday, nor a white Friday, and the Muslim should avoid imitating the non Muslims and following them; and be ware of extravagance and indulgence, and that offers and discounts should not lead him to waste money on what he does not need.”
(Islamqa Fatwa # 326165)
And Allaah knows best
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