Dought & clear,- Her Christian family areorganizing a running contest in memory of their deceased loved one; what should she do about that?.

I lost one of my family members this year, who was a Christian, as my
family is Christian and I am a Muslim woman. Hence my mother wants to
organize a marathon in honour of this deceased relative. I do not know
the nature of this thing they want to do, but what I do know is that
the teams will gather, and other people will gather with them; each
team has a different colour and the teams will start running;
whichever team completes three circuits first will be the winner and
will be give a cash prize. I do not know the ruling on this, but they
are going to do it in memory of the deceasedperson. What is the ruling
on this in Islam? What should I do with regard to this matter?.
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
If a person dies following a religion of kufr, whether he was a
Christian or a Jew, then he is one of the people of hell and will
abide therein for eternity. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted,
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in
worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He
pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has
indeed invented a tremendous sin"
[an-Nisa' 4:48]
"Surely, they have disbelieved who say:"Allah is the Messiah ('Eesa
(Jesus)), son of Maryam (Mary)." But the Messiah ('Eesa (Jesus)) said:
"O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Verily,
whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, then Allah
hasforbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for
the Zalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers.
Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allah is the third of the
three (in a Trinity)." But there is no ilaah (god) (none who has the
right to be worshipped) but One Ilaah (God -Allah). And if they cease
not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the
disbelievers among them.
Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
The Messiah ('Eesa (Jesus)), son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a
Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away beforehim. His
mother (Maryam(Mary)) was a Siddiqah (i.e. she believed in the words
of Allah and His Books (see Verse 66:12)).They both used to eat food
(as any other human being, while Allah does not eat). Look how We make
the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations,
etc.) clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the
truth).
Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind): "How do you worship besides Allah
something which has no power either to harm or to benefit you? But it
is Allah Who is the All-Hearer, All-Knower"
[al-Maa'idah 5:72-76].
"This is the Guidance of Allah with which He guides whomsoever He will
of His slaves. But if they had joined in worship others with Allah,
all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them"
[al-An'aam 6:88].
In Saheeh Muslim (153) itis narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be
pleased with him) from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) that he said: "By the One in Whose hand is the soul
of Muhammad, no one among this nation, Jew or Christian, hears of me
then dies not believing in that with which I was sent, but he will be
one of the people of the Fire."
As that is the case, if a person dies in a state of kufr, his good
deeds are rendered invalid before his Lord and none of them will
benefit him before Allah in the hereafter; similarly, no action,
intercession or supplication on the part of other people will benefit
him.
Allah, may He be exalted,says concerning the situation of the people
of Hell (interpretation of the meaning):
"And it will be said to them: "Where are those (the false gods whom
you used to set up as rivals with Allah) that you used to worship
Instead of Allah? Can they help you or (even) help themselves?
Then they will be thrown on their faces into the (Fire), They and the
Ghawoon (devils, and those who were in error).
And the whole hosts of Iblees (Satan) together.
They will say while contending therein,
By Allah, we were truly in a manifest error,
When We held you (falsegods) as equals (in worship) with the Lord of
the Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists);
And none has brought usinto error except the Mujrimoon (Iblees (Satan)
and those of human beings who commit crimes, murderers, polytheists,
oppressors, etc.).
Now we have no intercessors,
Nor a close friend (to help us).
(Alas!) If we only had a chance to return (to the world), we shall
truly be among the believers!
Verily! In this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers"
[ash-Shu'ara' 26:92-103].
Secondly:
Honouring the memory of the deceased by organising a marathon is not
part of the way prescribed by Allah; rather it is something that has
been introduced by non-Muslims according to their way of honouring the
memory of the dead. It is a false kind of honour for which there is no
basis in the religion of Allah. Even if there was some basis for it,
we have stated above that if a person dies in a state of disbelief, no
deed will benefit him in the hereafter; the deceased will not benefit
because of his disbelief and that of those who do this action. This is
darkness upon darkness.
In Islam there is no kind of honouring the dead or celebrating their
memory; rather what Islam prescribes is to remember the deceased by
praising him, praying for forgiveness for him, offering supplication
forhim, giving charity on his behalf, and other kinds of good deeds
the reward for which will reach him, if he died in Islam.
Thirdly:
According to Islamic rulings, competitions fallinto three categories.
Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
1. Those that are haraam, with or withoutprizes, such as competing
in something that is haraam.
2. Those that are halaal if no prize is offered and are haraam if
a prize is offered, such as foot races and the like, in which it is
permissible to compete.
3. Those that are halaal with or without prizes, such as
competitions in archery and horse and camel racing.
End quote from Fataawa Noor 'ala ad-Darb, 9/311
See also the answer to questions no. 114530 , 131652 , 153574
To sum up:
It is not prescribed to take part in activities to honour the memory
of the dead among the disbelievers, or to keep their memory alive. If
you cannot prevent that,then at least do not take part in that and try
to excuse yourself from your family whilst avoiding confrontation with
them. If they respect your religious feelings, then this is good,
otherwise give them any excuse that they will accept from you.
And Allah knows best.