Whether Muslims can "celebrate White Day" depends on which specific 'White Day' is being referred to, as the term has different meanings in different contexts. The provided reference pertains specifically to 'White Days' within the Islamic calendar.
Interpretation 1: Islamic White Days (Ayyām al-Bīḍ)
In Islamic tradition, the White Days or Ayyām al-Bīḍ (Arabic: ایّام البیض) refer to specific days of each lunar month. According to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, these are holy days.
These specific days are:
- The 13th
- The 14th
- The 15th
of every month in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar.
Muslims do not 'celebrate' these days in the same way one might celebrate a secular holiday. Instead, they are encouraged to observe them through specific acts of worship, most notably voluntary fasting. Fasting on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of each Islamic month is a highly recommended practice (Sunnah) based on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. Observing these days through fasting is considered spiritually rewarding.
Therefore, if the question refers to the Islamic Ayyām al-Bīḍ, Muslims can and are encouraged to observe or mark these holy days primarily by fasting and increasing other forms of worship.
Interpretation 2: Secular White Day (March 14th)
There is another occasion known as White Day which is a secular holiday observed annually on March 14th in countries like Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. This holiday originated as a counterpart to Valentine's Day, where individuals (traditionally men) who received gifts on Valentine's Day give return gifts (often white-colored) on March 14th.
This secular White Day on March 14th is entirely distinct from the Islamic Ayyām al-Bīḍ. It is a cultural and commercial event with no basis in Islamic religious teachings or history. The provided reference only describes the Islamic White Days and does not mention this secular holiday.
In general, participation in holidays and celebrations that are not part of Islamic tradition requires careful consideration. While there isn't a direct prohibition of this specific commercial holiday in the provided text, Islamic scholars generally advise Muslims to focus on celebrating only the holidays prescribed in Islam (such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) and to avoid holidays that may have origins conflicting with Islamic monotheism or involve practices contrary to Islamic principles. Participating in a purely secular and commercial holiday like the March 14th White Day is not an Islamic practice and is not encouraged within the faith.
In summary, Muslims can and are encouraged to observe the Islamic White Days (Ayyām al-Bīḍ) through acts of worship like fasting. They do not celebrate the secular White Day on March 14th as it is not an Islamic holiday.
