Questioner:
You have talked about the ruling of innovated celebrations, so what is your opinion about what is happening in our present time called National Day, its celebration and its felicitation, give us a verdict, may Allah reward you with goodness?
Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bn Bāz:
This National Day is an immitation of the enemies of Allah, National Days are from imitation (of the disbelievers), it has occurred with good intention and scholarly discretion, but what is clear to us is that it is not legislated, and it is not permissible, but it has imitation of the enemies of Allah. And if it is intended as an act of worship, it will be innovation. But if it is not intended as worship, and what is intended is just felicitation and awareness of how the government was formed, and what the government has achieved, this will be like the other days that the Jews, the Christians and their likes have created for remembrance, or other reasons, and it is not permissible to imitate them, not in this and not in other than this.
