CELEBRATING INDIVIDUAL BIRTHDAYS IS
NOT ALLOWED IN ISLAM
The evidence in the Qur’aan and
Sunnah indicates that celebrating birthdays is a kind of bid’ah or innovation
in religion, which has no basis in the pure sharee’ah. It is not permitted to
accept invitations to birthday celebrations, because this involves supporting
and encouraging bid’ah. Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):
“Or have they partners with Allaah
(false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not
allowed…?” [Holy Quran Chapter al-Shoora 42:21]
“Then We have put you (O Muhammad)
on a plain way of (Our) commandment. So follow that, and follow not the desires
of those who know not. Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allaah (if He
wants to puish you). Verily, the zaalimoon (wrongdoers) are awliyaa’
(protectors, helpers, etc.) to one another, but Allaah is the Wali (Protector,
Helper) of the muttaqoon (pious).” [Holy Quran Chapter al-Jaathiyah 45:18-19]
“Follow what has been sent down unto
you from your Lord, and follow not any awliyaa’ (protectors, helpers, etc.)
besides Him. Little do you remember!” [Holy Quran Chapter al-A’raaf 7:3]
According to saheeh reports, the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does
something that is a not part of this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) will have it
rejected” (reported by Muslim in his Saheeh); and “The best of speech is
the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The most evil of things are those which
have been newly invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going
astray.” There are many other ahaadeeth that convey the same meaning.
Besides being bid’ah and having no
basis in sharee’ah, these birthday celebrations also involve imitation of the
Jews and Christians in their birthday celebrations. The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, warning us against following their ways
and traditions: “You would follow the ways of those who came before you step by
step, to such an extent that if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would
enter it too.” They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, (do you mean) the Jews and
Christians?” He said, “Who else?” (Reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim). The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also said: “Whoever
imitates a people is one of them.”
2. Is not permissible to make a cake
to give to a child on his birthday without having a party?
In Islam there are only two
celebrations, namely Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha; anything other than these two
celebrations is an innovated festival or occasion and it is not permissible to
celebrate it or to help others to do so.
The scholars of the Standing
Committee said:
It is not permissible to celebrate
the occasion of Laylat al-Qadr or any other night, or to commemorate other
occasions, such as the night of the fifteenth of Sha‘baan (laylat an-nusf min
Sha‘baan), the night of the Mi‘raaj (Prophet’s ascent to heaven), and the
Prophet’s birthday (Mawlid), because these are innovations that have been introduced
into Islam and that were not narrated from the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) or from his Companions. The Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever does an action that is not part of this
matter of ours (i.e., Islam) will have it rejected.” It is not permissible to
help others to hold these celebrations by means of money, gifts or distributing
cups of tea, or by giving speeches and lectures on these occasions, because
that comes under the heading of approving of them and encouraging them. Rather
one should denounce them and not attend them. End quote from Fataawa
al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah, 2/257-258
Based on that, it is not permissible
for you to make cakes for these and similar occasions, because that comes under
the heading of helping others to celebrate them. Celebrating them is not
permissible, so helping others to do so is not permissible either, because of
the general meaning of the words of Allah (interpretation of the
meaning):
“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and
At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin
and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”
[Holy Quran Chapter al-Maa’idah 5:2].
The scholars of the Standing
Committee also said:
Exchanging gifts is something that
creates love and harmony among people, and dispels resentment and hatred. It is
something that is encouraged in Islam; the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) used to accept gifts and reciprocate, and that is something
that is commonly done among the Muslims, praise be to Allah. But if the gift is
accompanied by a reason that is not acceptable in Islam, then it is not
permissible, such as giving gifts on the day of ‘Ashoora’ or in Rajab, or on
the occasion of birthdays and other innovated occasions, because that is
helping in falsehood and participating in bid‘ah (innovation). End quote from Fataawa
al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah, 16/176
Making a cake and giving it to the
child on this day, and telling him that this is his birthday so as to make him
happy, comes under the heading of celebrating, even if his family do not call
it a celebration. Undoubtedly celebration may take many different forms, but
this does not mean that it is permissible. They have only chosen this day to
give the child a gift because in their hearts they feel some love for this
occasion and are trying not to let the day pass without celebrating it, even if
that is only by giving a gift to the child.
And Allah knows best.
Sources
https://islamqa.info/en/14355
https://islamqa.info/en/90026
No comments:
Post a Comment