Are customs for expressing joy allowed in Islam?

Showing joy spontaneously is allowed and natural. But when it hardens into a fixed custom that is kept like a religious duty, it becomes a burden on people and should not be encouraged.

Islam is not a joyless religion. When a child is born, a wedding is celebrated or someone passes an exam, people may rejoice and show it. The verse above even asks who has forbidden the good things God has made for His servants.

The hadith shows how the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) responded to joy. When there was singing in his house on the day of festival and someone wanted to rebuke it, he defended those celebrating. Joy that comes from the heart and stays within good bounds is nothing blameworthy.

A problem only arises when a spontaneous expression turns into a fixed tradition. Suddenly people say this or that must be done at every celebration in exactly this way. The custom is kept with a zeal as though it were part of religion. In this way something creeps into faith that never belonged to it.

Over time such customs become a burden. Families spend money they do not have, simply because that is how it is done. Those who cannot keep up feel ashamed. The second verse above describes God’s Messenger as one who removes people’s burdens and shackles. A custom that puts on new shackles does not fit with that.

So a simple rule applies. Show joy as it comes naturally. But do not turn it into a ceremony that looks like a religious duty.