Poverty, hunger and homelessness are scarier and far more
horrific than ghosts and goblins—these are real fears Americans face every day.
Nearly 40 million people in the U.S. live below the poverty line and data from
the U.S. Department of Education and the 2013 U.S. Census indicates that 2.5
million children in America—one in every 30 children—go to sleep without a home
of their own each year. However, instead of contributing to eliminate some of
these ills, consumers gladly spent around $9 billion last year on Halloween
celebrations.
Regarding Halloween, as Ahmadi Muslims we believe that dead
cannot come back to life—in this world—nor do they possess supernatural powers
to inflict pain or suffering. In addition, Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings be on him) taught us that, “The upper hand is better than the lower
hand.” Thus, forbidding his followers from begging for anything no matter how
big or small it may be; the only entity we beseech is God The Almighty. Islam
highlights another significant point: spend out of your wealth to alleviate the
sufferings of others.
It is ironic that every year Americans spend billions of
dollars on parties and festivities to have fun, yet one in twelve U.S. adults
suffer from depression and anxiety disorders. Numerous studies have shown that
materialism does not lead to happiness. On the contrary, it is the spirit of
sacrifice and sharing with others which brings true delight and inner
satisfaction. If those $9 billion are spent on food, shelter and well-being of
the underprivileged population, we can strive to remove the horrors and fears
of uncertainty from their lives—consequently, achieving mutual peace of heart
and mind. I am sure it would be more rewarding than treats and candies.
