Father's Day in some Islamic countries

Father’s Day is a social and family event that aims at celebrating fatherhood and honoring fathers. There is nothing wrong with such social and cultural events in Islam as long as they don’t promote un-Islamic values. A Muslim should show kindness, love, and dutifulness to his parents.

Father’s Day was originally a Western celebration more so than Middle Eastern. Al-Jazeera, in looking into the Arab celebration of Fathers, found that its Western origin dates to at least 1508, where its first mention was in a southern European tradition. In the U.S., mainly Catholics originally celebrated Father’s Day, but that changed in the 20th century when the nation adopted the celebration.

Arab countries celebrate Father’s Day in different ways. According to Anyday Guide, countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, United Arab Emirates, annually celebrate Father’s Day on June 21, which is the day on which summer solstice occurs. In these countries, it is not a big celebration, in contrast to Mother’s Day.

Iranian Muslims celebrate National Fathers' Day on 13 Rajab (7th month of Hegira calendar) on the birth anniversary of Imam Ali (AS) the first Imam of Twelver Shiites. The day was designated by the government and entered the calendar as the National Fathers' Day out of respect for the Twelver Shiites' first Imam.