The Historical and Sharia Status of Kite Flying

From the pen of: Mufti Muhammad Salman Qasmi Karim Nagari

Islam is a vast and universal religion whose civilization and culture are completely different from that of others. On this basis, there is absolutely no room in the religion of Islam for such games and festivals that would harm the religion of Islam itself, insult the dignity of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), or which are the hallmark of a nation and fall into frivolity. Basant and kite flying are among these festivals and games which have no physical benefit nor mental benefit, rather it deprives one of the intercession of the Prophet, because as a result of the invasion of Western culture on our society, frivolous and unreasonable types of festivals have been born, the intensity of which has caused an uproar in the serious class. Holi and Diwali are limited to a great extent, but the havoc that "New Year's Night" and "kite flying" have wreaked is regrettable.

Revealing the reality of kite flying, a Sikh historian, Dr. B.S. Najjar, wrote that in 1734, a man named Haqiqat Rai blasphemed against the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). As punishment for this injustice, he was sentenced to death. In memory of this blasphemer of the Prophet, the Hindus built a temple in an area of ​​Lahore and officially started the Basant fair and popularized kite flying. Some historians believe that the first kite on the Basant festival was also flown on the death of Haqiqat Rai. In the subcontinent, the followers of Buddhism have the honor of establishing kite flying, kite making, and kite as an industry. Buddhist monks brought the first kite to India and surprised the residents here, and kite flying became common in India very quickly. Hindu Maharajas appreciated it and had kites made under their supervision. Teams were formed to fly kites and then the public was invited to watch the match, and then when the matter of Haqiqat Rai's death happened, for the first time in history, Basant and kite flying were celebrated on the death of the person who blasphemed against the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Hindu public gave the status of a hero to the perpetrator of blasphemy and started celebrating this festival, and simple-minded Muslims also took hold of this ritualistic knowledge, so that they started spending millions of rupees on buying kites.

(Kite Flying Facts and Disadvantages p/13)

The Sharia is in harmony with human nature, which, while maintaining the origin and basis of human equality, also takes into account the observance of society, and under its reasonable comprehensiveness, it also considers the consideration of thought and mind. Therefore, Islam has not imposed any restrictions on sports and expressing happiness, but has set its limits and restrictions so that Muslims can live their lives happily and peacefully within the scope of Sharia. This is the reason why the Sharia has forbidden participation in Basant and kite flying on the basis of many disadvantages because the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that "Whoever imitates a nation is one of them." It is obvious that Basant and kite flying are the hallmarks of non-Muslims, it is very important for every Muslim to avoid it. Similarly, it is a collection of many sins, such as extravagance, suicide, wasting time, imitating non-Muslims, climbing on other people's roofs without permission, and looking at non-Mahrams from there, looting other people's kites, etc. In short, there are many sins of this kind that are included in it. Therefore, it is written in Ahsanul Fatawa that "competing with each other in kite flying is a sin and there is a risk of disbelief in it."

(Ahsanul Fatawa 8/177)

It is undeniable that kite flying not only has religious and worldly disadvantages, but also has the risk of death. Therefore, how many such incidents have we not heard in which countless people have disappeared from the eyes of the world because of kites. Because of this kite flying and Basant, our culture has been destroyed and our society has become a victim of chaos and sexual immorality. How many Muslims have suffered from losses such as mutual resentment, negligence of the remembrance of Allah, imitation of non-Muslims, and wasting time. In any case, by making the sky colorful and imitating the blasphemer of the Prophet, one is only inviting deprivation of the intercession of the Prophet and the punishment of Allah.

From the above details, it becomes clear how much a Muslim loses from such games and festivals, but it is a pity not for those non-Muslims, but for those Muslims who are celebrating this ritual and fully cooperating with Western culture. At a time when the atmosphere in India is moving in the opposite direction and strong plans are being made to distance Muslims from Islam and they are fully striving and engaged to allocate the country to a certain religion, at such a time, if Islamic teachings become a torment to our souls and participating in the festivals and rituals of non-Muslims becomes affordable for us and we do not hesitate to adopt it, then the day is not far when our coming generation will appear to be Muslim in appearance, but inwardly they will appear to be completely devoted to and fond of the ways of non-Muslims, and then Muslims will not suffer as much from non-Muslims as they will from a Muslim's own religious aversion and mental wandering. Therefore, there is a need to familiarize the general public with its disadvantages and its religious status every year before the festival of Basant and kite flying comes so that they can avoid it and choose the right path, and at such a time it is imperative for all Muslims to hold fast to the rope of religion,

I pray to Allah Almighty that Allah Almighty protect the faith of the entire Muslim Ummah and grant us all a good end. Amen.