CELEBRATING INDIVIDUAL BIRTHDAYS IS NOT ALLOWED IN ISLAM
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NASIHA AND DAWAH OCTOBER 2016
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
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/175577
https://islamqa.info/en/14355
https://islamqa.info/en/90026
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