Abdullah Hakim Quick – Holiday Myths: The Truth About Holidays

About this lecture

In this wide-ranging lecture delivered at the University of Miami, Sheikh Abdullah Hakim Quick traces the historical and pagan origins of major Western holidays — including Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, and Halloween — and explains why Muslims should not participate in their ritualistic observances. Drawing on religious texts, anthropology, and world history, he demonstrates that true monotheism (Tawheed) is a universal tradition shared by civilizations across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and beyond, while showing how polytheistic and sun-worshipping traditions have been blended with Christian names to produce the holidays practiced today. The lecture concludes with a call for Muslims to cherish their own celebrations, educate their children, and engage their communities with knowledge and dignity rather than blind cultural assimilation.