Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 28, 2000, the Los Angeles Times printed comments from Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious leaders on whether Halloween should be celebrated as a holiday. Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi of the Islamic Society of Orange County stated that "Halloween has no place in Islam. It was an old pagan holiday of the witches and the dead. Later some Christians tried to Christianize it by calling it "All Saints Day." However, there are still many Christians who resent it and consider it a bad holiday. Some even call it a "helliday." Whether Christians accept it or not, we Muslims should never accept this holiday. This holiday has no message, and it is totally meaningless. Masquerading; going trick-or-treating; decorating shops, offices and homes with witches, spider nets and wasting so many pumpkins are all repugnant things. It is strange to see reasonable people acting weird and doing foolish things. It is also becoming quite dangerous now. Some people really act like monsters and witches." The Rev. Conrad Nordquist suggests that this secular holiday is an opportunity for fun for children and adults. Pastor Eric Heard suggests that every day is a gift to be celebrated, but there is no need to focus on unpleasantness created by humans. Rabbi David Eliezrie appreciates the customs of giving candy to children and building community bonds by visiting neighbors, but suggests that the links back to ancient Druidic practice are problematic for monotheists. Other Christian leaders are against the "dark" or occult side of Halloween.