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Is Celebrating Thanksgiving Haram?

Scholars disagree: AMJA and IslamWeb say celebrating Thanksgiving is not allowed, while Yasir Qadhi sees it as a secular family meal. Both sides explained.

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Short answer

Scholars disagree. AMJA, Darul Iftaa (askimam.org) and IslamWeb rule that celebrating Thanksgiving is not permissible, treating it as a holiday with Christian roots or a non-Muslim national festival. Others, including Yasir Qadhi, consider it a secular holiday Muslims may join, such as a family meal. Both sides agree that alcohol, non-halal meat and religious rituals stay off the table, and that eating leftovers afterward is fine.

Thanksgiving is the one American holiday that seems to have nothing to do with religion: a long weekend, a big meal, and family you might not see the rest of the year. US Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and every year Muslims, especially converts with non-Muslim families, ask whether sitting down at that table is a problem.

The honest answer is that scholars disagree, and this guide lays out both positions clearly.

Is celebrating Thanksgiving haram in Islam?

There is no single answer: scholars disagree. Some fatwa bodies rule that celebrating Thanksgiving is not permissible, while other scholars consider it a secular, cultural holiday that Muslims may take part in.

The disagreement comes down to one question: is Thanksgiving a religious festival, or a national and cultural one? Islam gives Muslims two annual festivals. Anas ibn Malik reported that when the Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah, the people had two days of play from the pre-Islamic era, and he said, "Allah has substituted for them something better than them, the day of sacrifice and the day of the breaking of the fast" (Sunan Abi Dawud 1134, graded sahih by al-Albani). Scholars agree Muslims should not adopt another religion's festivals. They differ on whether Thanksgiving counts as one.

Which scholars say Thanksgiving is not allowed?

Three widely cited fatwa sources rule against celebrating it:

  1. AMJA (Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America). In a 2008 fatwa, Dr. Main Khalid Al-Qudah wrote that "from a historical point of view, Thanksgiving is one of the Christian holidays. That is why we do not celebrate it; Muslims have their own Eids." A 2006 AMJA answer put Thanksgiving, Mother's Day and Father's Day in the same category.
  2. Darul Iftaa (askimam.org, Hanafi). Its answer accepts that Thanksgiving today is "primarily celebrated as a secular holiday," but holds that imitating non-Muslims in their national festivals is also impermissible, because the day is "a distinguishing mark of the nation."
  3. IslamWeb (fatwa 105110). It rules that preparing a turkey dinner specifically on Thanksgiving is forbidden as imitation, even if the intention is only a family gathering on a day off.

All three rely on the principle against tashabbuh (imitating other peoples in what is distinctly theirs), based on the hadith "He who copies any people is one of them" (Sunan Abi Dawud 4031, graded hasan sahih by al-Albani).

Which scholars say Muslims can join Thanksgiving?

Other scholars, mostly those living in North America, treat Thanksgiving as a cultural holiday. Yasir Qadhi (AskQadi, 2025) describes it as "a secular, non-religious festival" with "no ritual to worship another god," notes that nearly all Americans of every faith observe it, and concludes that Muslims may participate. AboutIslam's Ask About Islam service told a new Muslim that he could join his Christian family's Thanksgiving, calling it a cultural holiday centered on family ties and gratitude.

This position separates Thanksgiving from Christmas and Halloween. If you want to compare, see our guide on whether celebrating Halloween is haram, which most scholars rule out more firmly.

How do the positions compare?

Question Stricter view (AMJA, Darul Iftaa, IslamWeb) Permissive view (Yasir Qadhi, AboutIslam)
What is Thanksgiving? A holiday with Christian roots, or a non-Muslim national festival A secular, cultural national holiday
Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner Not permissible Permissible if the food and setting are halal
Attending family Thanksgiving Not permissible as a celebration Permissible, and good for family ties
Eating leftovers afterward Permissible (Ibn Jibreen) Permissible
Alcohol, pork, non-halal meat Haram Haram

Can you eat Thanksgiving leftovers or food from non-Muslim family?

Yes, both sides accept this. Shaykh Abdullah ibn Jibreen (IslamQA 13739) said a Muslim may eat a parent's Thanksgiving leftovers the next day, "because food is respectable and pure, and that is better than throwing it away," citing Qur'an 5:5 on the food of the People of the Book. The usual conditions still apply: no pork, no alcohol, and meat that meets your halal standard. Desserts are worth a check too, since gelatin is often made from pork; see our guide on whether gelatin is haram. If seafood is on the table, our guide on whether shrimp is haram explains where the schools differ.

What if you are a convert with a non-Muslim family?

For many converts this is the real question, since skipping Thanksgiving can feel like rejecting your family. Whichever view you follow, Islam commands kindness to non-Muslim relatives who are not hostile to you: "Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion... from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them" (Qur'an 60:8).

Practical ways families handle it:

  • If you follow the stricter view, visit on a different day that weekend, or come by as a guest without hosting or marking the holiday yourself.
  • If you follow the permissive view, attend, bring a halal dish, and step out to pray on time.
  • Either way, tell your family early and kindly what you will and will not eat. Our guide on how to tell your parents you want to convert has tips for these conversations.

How can Muslims practice gratitude every day?

Gratitude is not a once-a-year event in Islam. Allah says, "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]" (Qur'an 14:7), and the five daily prayers are themselves a daily act of thanks. Each one is a short pause to thank Allah for what you have. Salah Home helps you keep that habit: log each of the five daily prayers with a tap, build your streak, and earn Dates to build your own peaceful virtual home.

Frequently asked questions

Is Thanksgiving a religious holiday?

Scholars disagree. AMJA describes it as historically a Christian holiday, while Yasir Qadhi and others describe it as a secular national holiday observed by Americans of every faith.

Is it haram to eat turkey on Thanksgiving?

Turkey itself is halal if slaughtered properly. IslamWeb rules that preparing a turkey dinner specifically for Thanksgiving is forbidden imitation, while scholars who see the day as secular do not object to a halal family meal.

Can Muslims say "Happy Thanksgiving"?

IslamQA (answer 947, quoting Ibn 'Uthaymin) lists Thanksgiving among the holidays on which greeting non-Muslims is prohibited. Scholars who consider Thanksgiving secular permit taking part in the holiday itself, so the greeting follows the same disagreement.

Can I eat Thanksgiving leftovers?

Yes. Shaykh Ibn Jibreen said eating a family's leftover Thanksgiving food is permissible because it is better than wasting it, as long as the food is halal.

Should a new Muslim skip Thanksgiving with family?

Not necessarily. Scholars who permit Thanksgiving encourage converts to attend for family ties, while those who prohibit it suggest visiting on another day, and both stress kindness toward non-Muslim parents.

Sources

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