What Should I Do: Can I Take My Kids Out for Fun Activities During Muharram?

What Should I Do: Can I Take My Kids Out for Fun Activities During Muharram?

1. Details about the situation

Sara is a mother of three young children. With summer in full swing, Sara’s kids have been begging for a beach day and to go see the local holiday fireworks. Her husband suggests that they plan a small family outing to lift everyone’s spirits.

But then Sara checks the calendar and realizes it would fall within the first ten days of Muharram. 

She hesitates, wondering: “Is it okay to take them out for fun during these days? I don’t want them to miss out…But I also don’t want to lose the spirit of Muharram in our home.”

2. Background

Muharram, especially the first ten days, is a time of mourning, reflection, and remembrance of the sacrifices of the Ahl al-Bayt (pbut). It is a sacred period in which believers are encouraged to center their hearts around the tragedy of Karbala, to revive the values for which Imam Hussain (p) stood, and to express love, loyalty, and grief for the suffering endured by the family of the Prophet (pbuh&hp).

For families, however, this can sometimes create a genuine tension: how do parents nurture within their children a deep love and respect for these sacred days while also recognizing their emotional needs for joy, rest, recreation, and family connection?

This balance requires wisdom and intentionality. Muharram should not become a source of harshness, resentment, or emotional heaviness for children, nor should the sanctity of these days be reduced to ordinary vacation time filled with entertainment and celebration. Rather, parents can strive to create an atmosphere in the home that is both spiritually meaningful and emotionally healthy; an environment where children learn that mourning the Ahl al-Bayt is an expression of love, not merely restriction.

3. Ruling

According to Sayyid Sistani:

During the first ten days of Muharram, believers should prioritize mourning, remembrance, and reflection on the sacrifices of the Ahl al-Bayt (pbut). For this reason, it is better to postpone vacations, entertainment, and celebratory outings until after Muharram, as there are many opportunities throughout the year for such activities.

His Eminence has also stated that expressing joy and festivity, such as through birthday parties, weddings, and similar celebrations, during the days of mourning observed by the Ahl al-Bayt (pbut) is religiously prohibited.

In addition, the principle of Mawaddah (love and devotion toward the Ahl al-Bayt), which Muslims are religiously obligated to uphold, should be reflected in both attitude and conduct. Participating in public celebrations during the very days in which Imam al-Mahdi mourns his grandfather, Imam al-Hussain, is not in harmony with the spirit of true Mawaddah and loyalty to the Ahl al-Bayt (pbut).

4. Action

Sara decides to postpone the beach trip and fireworks outing until after Muharram. Instead, she plans family-friendly, meaningful alternatives for those ten days, including:

• Attending majalis that include children’s programming
• Watching age-appropriate programs about Karbala at home
• Creating traditions like bedtime storytelling or simple acts of charity as a form of remembrance for Imam Hussain (p)

She also looks into quieter, more modest outdoor options for later in the month, where the environment would be more appropriate.

When she explains it to her children, she does so thoughtfully and simply: “These are special days where we remember Imam Hussain (p). So as much as we can during Muharram, because God gives us extra blessings for doing these things now, we should try to learn about Imam Hussain (p). and listen to the story of Karbala. And God willing, after Muharram, we can have fun.” 

Parenting in Islam is about balance: creating love for faith not through restriction alone, but through meaningful alternatives and thoughtful choices.