My family does not believe in goblins, witches or in roaming souls of the dead, but we love to celebrate Halloween. We have a giant pumpkin on our porch and although we are not farmers we decorate the outside of our house with the symbols of autumn harvest.

Since we're atheists, we're obviously not celebrating any pagan holiday. Whatever it used to be doesn't matter - it is now simply a venue for our children to enjoy putting on costumes, playing make-believe, and trick-or-treating even if it's only for one day.

But before that day, for at least a week before, we can go to a pumpkin farm, carve pumpkin faces, shop for or make our own costume, and decorate the home with orange and other fall colors.

Sadly there are Christians in this country who are Halloween Grinches who miss the point of Halloween: it's a children's holiday and nothing to do with pagans anymore.

Halloween is also a test for Muslims. Those who do not allow their children to be part of this American tradition prove what I have said all along, Muslims cannot be good Americans:

About.com, Halloween in Islam
Should Muslims celebrate?

Virtually all Halloween traditions are based either in ancient pagan culture, or in Christianity. From an Islamic point of view, they all are forms of idolatry (shirk). As Muslims, our celebrations should be ones that honor and uphold our faith and beliefs. How can we worship only Allah, the Creator, if we participate in activities that are based in pagan rituals, divination, and the spirit world? Many people participate in these celebrations without even understanding the history and the pagan connections, just because their friends are doing it, their parents did it ("it's a tradition!"), and because "it's fun!"

So what can we do, when our children see others dressed up, eating candy, and going to parties? While it may be tempting to join in, we must be careful to preserve our own traditions and not allow our children to be corrupted by this seemingly "innocent" fun. When tempted, remember the pagan origins of these traditions, and ask Allah to give you strength.

Devout Muslims cannot accept anything un-Islamic and 100% of American culture is un-Islamic.

But I do have a suggestion to help Muslims accept Halloween: carve an infidel face, douse it with gasoline and set it on fire as Muslims like to do to Christian devils.