Monday April 13, 2026 – 10:06 AM
She said Fatwa House Egyptian: Sham El-Nessim is an Egyptian custom and a social occasion that does not contain any rituals that contradict Sharia law, nor is it linked to any belief that contradicts Islamic constants. Rather, all Egyptians celebrate the beginning of spring in this season. Relaxing, maintaining family ties, visiting parks, and practicing some national Egyptian customs. Such as coloring eggs and eating fish, all of which are permissible according to Islamic law.
The house continued in a previous fatwa: Some of them are what the noble Sharia has encouraged and for which there is a great reward; Such as family ties, some of which are permissible for which a person will be rewarded for his good intentions. Such as enjoying good things, being generous with one’s family, and seeking help at work through recreation. The venerable companion Amr ibn al-Aas, may God be pleased with him – the governor of Egypt through the Commander of the Faithful Omar ibn al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him – used to address the Egyptians every year and urge them to go out for the spring. This is at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It was also included by Ibn Abd al-Hakam in “Conquests of Egypt and Morocco,” Ibn Zulaq in “The Virtues of Egypt and Its News,” and al-Daraqutni in “Al-Mu’talif wal-Mukhtalif.”
Ruling on celebrating Sham El-Nessim
She added: The origin of the “Sham El-Nessim” season is that it is a celebration of the arrival of spring, and celebrating spring is a social human matter that has nothing to do with religions. It was known to ancient nations by different names, even if the name was the same. Just as the ancient Egyptians celebrated Sham el-Nessim as the “Feast of the Suns” or “the Resurrection of Life”, the Babylonians and Assyrians celebrated the “Feast of the Slaughtering of the Lamb”, the Jews celebrated the “Feast of Passover” or “Exodus”, the Romans celebrated the “Feast of the Moon”, the Germans celebrated the “Feast of Esther”, and so on.
She pointed out that Muslims had no intention of violating the customs of the people in the countries to which Islam entered as long as they did not contravene Sharia law. Rather, they sought to combine coexistence and integration with the people of those countries, while preserving religious identity. Since the spring equinox coincided with the Christian fast, it was the custom of the Egyptians to celebrate it immediately after the Christians finished their fast. This establishes an important meaning; It can be summed up in the fact that this social occasion is complemented by the joy of celebrating it in the spirit of one national community.
She explained: This is a sublime human meaning that emerged from the Egyptian experience in coexistence between people of religions and the emphasis on social commonality that strengthens the fabric of one society. It does not in any way contradict Sharia, but rather is a translation of the refined Islamic civilization and its noble, tolerant values.
