Question:
Aslaam Alaikum
Hope you are well. I have a question regarding faith.
Last year the Olympics took place. I am a teacher and our school
celebrated the start of Olympics by having races and making an Olympic Torch. The whole school got into a one big straight line and passed the Olympic torch down. When it came to me I also held the torch and waived it in the air.
It was like a big celebration.
I then later found out that the Olympics and the Olympic Torch
were to do with the ancient greek gods and honouring and worshiping the greek gods. Astaghfirrullah.
Does it make me a non-muslim if I held the Olympic Torch and waived it? I did not know that the torch was to do with greek gods. I have and had no intention of Kufr and love Islam alot.
Jazakallah
Answer:
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-raḥmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Respected Brother
Allah Ta‘ala is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful. If a person commits any form of Shirk or Kufr and sincerely repents then Allah Ta‘ala will forgive him.
Allah Ta‘ala mentions in the Holy Qur’an:
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Say: “O ‘Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.[1]
Rasullulah Sallalahu Allayhi Wassallam mentions in a hadith:
عن أبي عبيدة بن عبد الله، عن أبيه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم التائب من الذنب كمن لا ذنب له
Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah ibn Abdullah narrates from his father that Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said, “One who repents from the sin is like one who has no sin.” [2]
In your scenario you were unaware that such an action was linked to Greek gods, this has not lead you to committing Shirk. However then too you should make Istighfar and seek forgiveness for falling into such a predicament.
And Allah Ta‘ala knows best
Mufti Luqman Hansrot
Fatwa Dept.