Question:
what is the evidence on celebrating birthdays,is it allowed in islam?Answer:
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…?” [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).” [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!” [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.”
Fataawa Islamiyyah, 1/115
Assalaam alaikum:
It is always advisible to put forward sensible comments.
Will u say that talking, speaking, breathing, eating, playing games, sports, fighting, marrrying and etc.. can be considerd as imitating Jews and Christians? Those things are not only done by Jews and christians and those things didnt even start only from them. There are common things for the humanity. Even at the time of prophet (peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him) there were things which the people of all religions and all cultures did and Muslims did wat prophet and ALLAH allowed. eg: Horse riding was done by all.
U imagine with the imitating of the jews and christians instead of going to the mosque if a muslim start to goto church, then can u differentiate between that muslim and christians?, because that person will be doing wat the others also do and according to prophet (peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him) he will be one of them.
U also will knw that Christians started celebrating the birthday of Jesus and if the muslims celebrate the birthday of Muhammadh (peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him) then is it not a imitation which is forbidden??? then we must knw that we hav to look at wat the companions of prophet (peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him) did. Companions didn’t celebrate birth day of the person whom they all loved the most. why ddnt they celebrate???? Do you think they dnt hav money to do it??? NO, not at all. There were rich companions who will spent all their property for the prophet (peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him). They didnt even celebrate their birthdays. They didnt do it becoz its not allowed in islam. Islam prohibits copying all the things from the christianity and jews religion (not from their human behaviors and worldly doing which are allowed and common to all people).
We dnt joke at wat ALLAH and Rasul orders us and being a muslim no one can do it, instead that person must go out of the folds of islam to joke at the orders of ALLAH and Rasul (peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him).
ALLAH knows BEST.
n the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner, thank you for your question and the confidence you place in our service and we pray to Allah to enable us to render this service purely for His Sake.
Islam teaches Muslim to have a unique character and to be distinguished. A Muslim is weaned on morality and avoiding blind imitation. Islam supports the celebration of a birthday if it is an expression of gratitude to Allah for His bounties, sustenance and blessings in man’s life, as long as that celebration does not include anything that may displease Allah, the Almighty.
Focusing on the issue of celebrating birthdays, we would like to start by citing the following:
“In Islam, birthdays are not considered `eid (a festival) like `Eidul-Fitr or `Eidul-Adha, because `eids have conditions and guidelines such as not being allowed to fast during the days of Eid. Therefore, birthdays are simply occasions of a person’s date of birth and are a matter of culture. If a person wants to commemorate his/her date of birth, then he/she may do so, especially if he/she takes the opportunity to reflect on the past and pledge to be better during the following year. However, to make the birthday an important occasion is not recommended or encouraged.” (Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: http://www.islamicity.com)
Shedding more light on the issue, the prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Tajuddin Hamid Al-Hilali, Mufti of Australia and New Zealand, states:
“A Muslim has a distinguished personality. He should not imitate others in evil things and leave the good ones. Talking to our children about their birthdays, we should remind them that on such days they should remember the blessings of Allah and praise Him for giving them life and guidance. It would be better if we ask them to offer something in charity as a form of showing gratitude.
Still there is nothing wrong if we try to make them feel happy on that day as long as we are using lawful things. It is better if we make it a day ahead or a day after. You said that your children insist on having such a celebration, and this is really dangerous. If the child insists on having his desires fulfilled at this early age, what is going to happen when he grows older? We need to be alarmed and never allow Western traditions that are based on individualism, to ruin our families. Thus, calling birthdays `eids is not accepted, for this has no basis in Islam. At the same time, there is nothing wrong if we use these occasions to inculcate Islamic principles in our children, like showing gratitude to Allah, praising Him and seizing the chance of this life in performing good deeds since the older we grow the nearer to the grave we come.”
Speaking about the same issue Sheikh Faysal Mawlawi, Deputy Chairman of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, adds:
“Permissibility is the original ruling in this case, as there is no evidence of prohibition. The principle of not following the Jews and Christians is really required in matters of their false claims and beliefs in relation to religion. Such beliefs are no more than disbelief from an Islamic perspective.
Islam supports the celebration of birthdays if it is an expression of gratitude to Allah for His bounties, sustenance and blessings in man’s life, as long as that celebration does not include anything that may displease Allah, the Almighty. In this context the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about fasting on Mondays, and he answered: “It is the day on which I was born.” Muslim scholars take this hadith and the hadith of fasting on the Day of `Ashura’ (10th of Mharram) as evidence on the permissibility of celebrating good occasions, which have special significance in our religion such as occasions like the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
In this context, people must be aware that celebrating such occasions, e.g. the Prophet’s birthday, is no more than a matter of habit, and by no means a religious requirement. However, if it entails any forbidden practices, such a celebration becomes forbidden for that reason alone. Moreover, a celebration of this sort becomes recommended if it includes recommended acts of worship.
It is also right to say that such celebrations contain some aspects of innovation, however it is an innovation in matters of popular habits not in matters of religion. Actually innovation in habits is not prohibited. What is prohibited in this context is innovation in religion, as indicated in a well-known Prophetic hadith.
By analogy, there is nothing wrong in celebrating birthdays, as long as the celebration does not include any forbidden practices.”
Also read:
Muslims Celebrating the Holidays of Other Religion
talking, speaking, breathing, eating, playing games, sports, fighting, marrrying and etc.. were done by prophet pbuh
you dont see any evidence of birthdays being celebrated even though prophet pbuh and his companions did had birthdays .
you can be careless and find the easiest way to live by keeping on imitating some celebrations without any knowledge of right or wrong.
in this day and age it is easy to be normal by criticizing the right way because the whole culture is anti-religion and loose.
what seems normal by majority is not neccesarily right.
remember the early days of prophet(pbuh) he was called a majnu and stones were thrown at him and he life was put in danger for calling towards one god (allah).
nowadays many of us muslims dont pray five times dont give
zakat, are not honest to each other and commit so many sins in a day and question the scholars. isnt it ironic.
Salaamualaikum
mohammad
Hi,
I, in fact, request more than what the article has stated. 1) author’s name. 2) Hadith numbers, 3) validate ur points, just do not stop with the translation of the Verses.
Regards.
AOA,
I object to your explanation, first I need to know whether
1. Celebrating birthday has any LINK to religion i.e. Islam (Keeping in mind that we are not sending invitations and/or mix-gathering etc. what I mean is just an event at home to cheer up).
2. If its not allowed then why not any scholar what so ever speak against celebrating INDEPENDENCE day esp when it comes to celebrating independence day of a non-muslim state,
I had been referred to your site by a friend proclaiming its JUSTIFIED to celebrate independence day because somehow they believe its POLITICAL as well in Islam you should be devoted to your STATE (even if its non-islam) kafir.
Waiting for your reply
Va alaikumu assalam va rahmathullahi barakathahu.if you think it is not good to celebrate independance day just leave it off. If u imitate what prophet did, u will rewarded.and then u can offer the money to the poor ,what u r going to waste in the name of celebration.
Christains and none christains in usa celabrate birthdays.it has nothing to do with religion. But you should look at it like this.your birth day party is a thank you party to Allah.the gifts gaven should be gifts with a education purpose ether school or holy.thus is the willing slave of all that is holy words.its ok for your children to have a specail day. Alhamdulliah
I’m still waiting for the reply?
Assalaam alaykum,
The last commented user plz visit
http://english.islamweb.net/ver2/Fatwa/ShowFatwa.php?lang=E&Id=90435&Option=FatwaId
if copying a nation makes us one of them…
then why is the islamic calender based on moon sightings?
the pagan arabs did this
then why do females have to wear veils?
the byzantines started this
then if we drive a car does that make us american?
u must be and english/ western person if you are using their language right now
AOA,
It still does not say about my question yes this condition is different when you are inteacting with non-musliims anyway I am rephraising my question
“If celebrating birthdays are forbidden why not independence day”
‘u must be and english/ western person if you are using their language right now’
That’s the question I had too.
sheer nonsense !
wel ,i agree that actually “xcelebrating” birthdays is not permissible…..in the way the christians do. they cut cakes….likght candles ..sing songs…..and stuff…
but yes..as it is a remembrance of a happy moment, a happy day, we can cheer up and have a sober gathering….that too within the family.
and we for ourelves cannot forbid ie make anything haram without being sure. this is a matter of debate. so it is best to b on the safe side. we better not have parties..inviting ppl, jus the parents n siblings.
Assalaamualaikum warahmathullahi wabarakaathuhu
On the subjects of birthdays, imitating disbelievers and bid’ah (innovation), I would like to make the following points, despite what has been stated previously by others here:
1 – Birthdays are generally celebrated by the Gregorian calendar and not the Hiri calendar so when someone celebrates their birthday, they are doing so by a disbelievers calendar
2 – The prophet PBUH’s birthday is not a celebratory event. There are no parties, no special gatherings in mosques and there’s nothing in the seerah, sunnah, hadith etc to state that anyones birthday was ever celebrated in Islam.
3 – One should not attach excuses to supplicate to Allah SWT and offer gratitude for what one has, this can be done on any day of the week
4 – On the subject of imitating the disbelievers – Please stop playing stupid, you know exactly what is being referred to. ‘Imitating’ by context (which is how the qur’an is meant to be understood) referes to copying how disbelievers behave/act where this falls outside of Islam E.g. If I wear a suit with a shirt and tie, I may look like a disbeliever looks when they wear the same garment but the point and fact is that the garment covers my body to the extent that Islam requires and contains nothing (Logo’s, pictures etc) that is not permissable in Islam anyway. A similar rule can be quite easily applied to religion, food, housing, driving etc.
Basically, the point of Islam is to elevate us as humans to a better way of life. If something does not add to that (such as a birthday celebration) then why do it?
Free your minds and your Imaan of the shackles of dunya.
salam;even though i dont know much :but i heard from other preachers that; the day the prophet was born there was a fete ;cattles ; sheep and others were slaughtered ;so what do you say about that;maha salama
Assalamualaikum,
you have to understand that the prophet was born in the period of jahilliya, the days of ignorance way before islam was even born. But can you tell me this. Did they still have feats and birthday celebrations during the prophet’s lifetime(i,e his years of prophethood)? Did the kulafa ur rashidoon, who loved him more than we do, celebrate his birth or death after his time? No. The people of ignorance are not to be followed. May Allah set right your affairs.
Assalamu Alaikum. That one is another case was it celebrated by the prophet muhammed(pbuh) himself or his relatives.
Both side 50-50
so wat abt celebrating when v got a new job or sumthng to that affect….
How Birthday Parties Started Around the world, friends and relatives hold birthday parties, give gifts to the one being honored, and wish “Happy birthday!” to the one whose birthday is being celebrated. But why? Where did this universal custom originate?
The World Book — Childcraft International says regarding “Holidays and Birthdays,” “For thousands of years people all over the world have thought of a birthday as a very special day. Long ago, people believed that on a birthday a person could be helped by good spirits, or hurt by evil spirits. So, when a person had a birthday, friends and relatives gathered to protect him or her. And that’s how birthday parties began.”
“The idea of putting candles on birthday cakes goes back to ancient Greece. The Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Among them was one called Artemis.” “Artemis was the goddess of the moon. The Greeks celebrated her birthday once each month by bringing special cakes to her temple. The cakes were round like a full moon. And, because the moon glows with light, the cakes were decorated with lighted candles.”
The Greeks believed that everyone had a protective spirit or daemon who attended his birth and watched over him in life. This spirit had a mystic relation with the god on whose birthday the individual was born.
The Romans also subscribed to this idea. This notion was carried down in human belief and is reflected in the guardian angel, the fairy godmother and the patron saint. Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes. Lighted tapers and sacrificial fires have had a special mystic significance ever since man first set up altars to his gods. The birthday candles are thus an honor and tribute to the birthday child and bring good fortune.
This authority goes on: “More and more, though, people the world over attach a certain magic to their actual date of birth…We may wear a ring with our birthstone in it for good luck. And when we blow out the candles on our birthday cake, we are careful to keep what we wished a secret. If we tell, of course, our wish won’t come true.”
“In other words, Many times one follows – THE OLD BIRTHDAY BELIEFS. one pays attention to the meanings of old-time birth symbols and indulges in OLD CELEBRATIONS. one does not take them seriously – mainly for fun.
Why do people say, “Happy birthday!” to each other? Says this authority, “For the good wishes of our friends and relatives are supposed to protect us from evil spirits.”
Egyptians observed birthdays, but only for their rulers. They held parades, circuses, gladiatorial contests, and sumptuous feasts! The Romans staged parades and chariot races to celebrate birthdays; some of which were created for their gods. Mere mortals were not honored or even remembered on the day of their birth.
The birthday cake is only 200 years old! Cakes made from sweetened bread dough and coated with sugar, were the first birthday cakes and they originated in Germany.
It has been said that if the cake falls while baking, it is a sign of bad luck in the coming year. Coins, buttons, and rings were baked into cakes. The guest who receiving the slice with the coin was guaranteed riches in the future, the ring signified marriage.
In ancient times, people prayed over the flames of an open fire. They believed that the smoke carried their thoughts up to the gods. Today, the belief is, that if you blow out all your candles in one breath, your wish will come true.
All these customs and traditions connected with the observance of birthdays have to do with guessing the future, good wishes for the future, good luck charms against evil spirits, and the like. All the birthday rituals, games, and ceremonies are a form of well-wishing toward the birthday child, which are supposed to work their magic in the year ahead. But, as we have seen, the custom is totally PAGAN!
The tradition of birthday parties started in Europe a long time ago. It was feared that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. To protect them from harm, friends and family would to come to be with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Gifts brought even more good cheer to ward off the evil spirits. This is how birthday parties began.
At first it was only kings who were recognized as important enough to have a birthday celebration (maybe this is how the tradition of birthday crowns began?). As time went by, children became included in birthday celebrations. The first children’s birthday parties occurred in Germany and were called Kinderfeste.
Should a Muslim have anything to do with ceremonies that trace back to pagan times, and pagan rituals? Should a true Muslim indulge himself or his or her children in pagan birthday parties, just because they seem so attractive, fun, and “innocent”?
These birthday celebrations, therefore originated from pagan belief. These also involve imitation of the Jews and Christians in their birthday celebrations. Warning us against following their ways and traditions, The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said : “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 Allah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?” He said, “Who else?” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (Abu Dawood)
In the Sunnah: Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came (to Madinah) and they had two days in which they would (relax and) play. He said, What are these two days? They said, We used to play
(on these two days) during the Jahiliyyah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Allah has given you something better instead of them: Yawm ul-Duha (Eid al-Adha) and Yawm ul-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr). (Reported by Abu Dawood).
This indicates clearly that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) definitely forbade his ummah to celebrate the festivals of the kuffaar, and he strove to wipe them out by all possible means. The fact that the religion of the People of the Book is accepted does not mean that their festivals are approved of or should be preserved by the ummah, just as the rest of their kufr and sins are not approved of. Indeed, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went to great lengths to command his ummah to be different from them in many issues that are mubaah (permitted) and in many ways of worship. This being different was to be a barrier in all aspects, because the more different you are, the less likely you are to do the acts of those who go astray.
The hadith “Every people has its festival, and this is our festival ” implies exclusivity, that every people has its own festival, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers) (al-Baqarah 2:148) and
to each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way” (al-Maaidah 5:48). This implies that each nation has its own ways. The laam in li-kulli (for every, to each) implies exclusivity. So if the Jews have a festival and the Christians have a festival, it is just for them, and we should not have any part in it, just as we do not share their qiblah (direction of prayer) or their laws.
Sallam Alaikum mashallah you all have very good points in this debate I would like to ask one question please when it is someones birthday is it not good for him/her to ask Allah for something as in to maybe bring change in the person in this new year of their life? and also can family members give u gifts on this day?
Asalam o aliakum i want ask a question is islam allowed to wish birthday ?
please reply must
CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS IS HAREM IN THE TORAH, THE BIBLE, AND THE QURAN “FOLLOW WHAT HAS BEEN SENT DOWN TO YOU FROM YOUR LORD” (SURAH AL ARAAF) IN THE TORAH AND THE BIBLE WHEN MOSES CAME DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN WITH THE COMMANDMENTS ALLAH ALSO SPELLED ELAH IN HEBREW TRANSLITERATION ALSO CALLED YAHUWA ELAH WHICH MEANS OH(YAH) HUWA(HE IS) ELAH (ALLAH). THE WORD HUWA IS ALSO FOUND IN THE QURAN IN SURAH 3 AALI-IMRAAN AYAH 6 “HUWA” AND AYAH 7 “HUWA” HUWA MEANS HE IS (NOT HE IT IS)MISTRANSLATION. HUWA BEFORE THEY MESSED UP THE LANGUAGE THE FALSE JEWS AND FALSE ARABS JUST MEANS “IS” FOR HE IS A PRONOUN, IT TAKES THE PLACE OF A NOUN IN ENGLISH. ALLAH IS RUACH. THUS, A NOUN IS A PERSON, PLACE OR THING, ACCORDING TO THE ENGLISH. ALLAH IS NOT A PERSON, A PLACE, OR A THING. ALLAH IS. IS MEANS TO BE. THE REASON WHY THE JEWS SPELL THE ALEEF WITH AN E BECAUSE THE SOUND OF THE ALEEF IS A SHORT E SOUND AS IN THE WORD “LET”. THUS INSTEAD OF WRITING THE A (ALEEF) THEY WRITE THE SOUND E AS IN LET. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT PRONOUNCE THE SACRED NAMES OF YAHUWA ELAH(ALLAH) SO THEY REPLACE THE SACRED NAME WITH THE NAME OF ADONAI OR HASHEM. WHEN YOU SEE YAHUWA ELAH IN THE TORAH IT IS DESCRIBING ELAH. OH HE IS ALLAH OR READING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT OH ELAH IS , OH ALLAH IS.
THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE BIBLE IS THE TORAH. NO BIRTHDAYS CELEBRATIONS IN THE TORAH THE INJIYLL OR THE QURAN. PEACE.
celebrating birthdays is not an innovation to religion as far as i believe, meaning if am celebrating my birthday am not copying someone,…and as i understand what is not allowed it doing unislamic things during the celebration…different interpretations can be made from the aayath and hadith which have been quoted as evidence.
i quote here from http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503547996
“Permissibility is the original ruling in this case, as there is no evidence of prohibition. The principle of not following the Jews and Christians is really required in matters of their false claims and beliefs in relation to religion. Such beliefs are no more than disbelief from an Islamic perspective.
Islam supports the celebration of birthdays if it is an expression of gratitude to Allah for His bounties, sustenance and blessings in man’s life, as long as that celebration does not include anything that may displease Allah, the Almighty. In this context the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about fasting on Mondays, and he answered: “It is the day on which I was born.” Muslim scholars take this hadith and the hadith of fasting on the Day of `Ashura’ (10th of Mharram) as evidence on the permissibility of celebrating good occasions, which have special significance in our religion such as occasions like the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
In this context, people must be aware that celebrating such occasions, e.g. the Prophet’s birthday, is no more than a matter of habit, and by no means a religious requirement. However, if it entails any forbidden practices, such a celebration becomes forbidden for that reason alone. Moreover, a celebration of this sort becomes recommended if it includes recommended acts of worship.
It is also right to say that such celebrations contain some aspects of innovation, however it is an innovation in matters of popular habits not in matters of religion. Actually innovation in habits is not prohibited. What is prohibited in this context is innovation in religion, as indicated in a well-known Prophetic hadith.
end quote…
from this I understand that prophet pbuh used fast on Mondays which ws prophets birthday ….so we can do islamic things to celebrate …
If the prophet (Sal) didn’t celebrate his own birthday and never recommended it , why should we? You have to see the wisdom behind this ruling. Say you’ve turned 17 and want to celebrate. Who would want to celebrate 17 years cut off from his or her life span? You must enjoy but in the right way. Instead, celebrate the praises of Allah and thank Him for letting you live this year, but not in ways that resemble the ways of the jews or christians or any other religion.
Well said Zahra. One may be aware of how many people (even of Western society) feel depressed and lost inside amid their birthday celebration (Denys on his birthday in the book Out of Africa may be an example); for adults, oftentimes birthday celebrations become a forced display of gaiety over the birthday person’s sadness and anxiety about having aged another year, and the conflict of real emotions and outward behaviour only makes the person more discontent and confused. My mother always says that she cannot see the point of “celebrating” one’s own birthday: shouldn’t one be grateful and reflective, above all, that one was born into the world and brought safe thus far; and shouldn’t one be giving out grateful thanks and gifts on this day instead of DEMANDING well-wishes and gifts from OTHERS?
In the name of Allah,the most beneficient the most merciful. All praise is due to Allah and we seek His blessings upon Muhammad,his household and companions.(AAMIN). Celebration of birthday was not laid down by the prophet and nothing is says on it by Allah (SWT) and the prophet had already prophesied that “Those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly guided caliphs. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties,for every novelty is an innovation and every innovation is an error.”Nowadays, a lot of matters brings confussion and as a muslims, we supposse to accept and practise what there is evidence for but if there is no evidence that negate or approve that act, it is advisable to leave such an act for the one that there is clear evidence for. May Allah guides us to the straight path.
In the name of Allah,the most beneficient the most merciful. All praise is due to Allah and we seek His blessings upon Muhammad,his household and companions.(AAMIN). Celebration of birthday was not laid down by the prophet and nothing is says on it by Allah (SWT) and the prophet had already prophesied that “Those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly guided caliphs. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties,for every novelty is an innovation and every innovation is an error.”Nowadays, a lot of matters bring confussion and as a muslims, we supposse to accept and practise what there is evidence for but if there is no evidence that negate or approve that act, it is advisable to leave such an act for the one that there is clear evidence for. May Allah guides us to the straight path.
i need ten facts about celebrating b’days in islam….. i go islamic school and it’s my homework
pls. help
Its not Haram persay but its not permissible, why are you defending such a pointless act. This life is not worth celebrating we will get our reward in the next life! We are suppose to live our way as the prophet did, no questions asked!
I can’t believe all this comments people are giving. From both sides, none of you are alims right? So why are you arguing about this subject? Find suitable websites and ask your questions. Usually they have a section where most of these questions have already been answered.
Two great websites:
sunnipath.com
seekersguidance.org
Concentrate on your five pillars first…then the rest will come automatically. Usually people forbid other people to celebrate birthdays yet they don’t pray five times a day or do other great sins…
well sed hungryhippos!
…The most evil of things are those which have been newly invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going astray… (-Saheeh)
Please take note that birthdays are not religious activities and therefore not religious innovations. The religion (Islam) is wholesome, strict and complete enough, our help is not required to make it more so. Or would you then say that since using the internet (A non-muslim invention) is an invention and not done by the prophet (pbuh), then it must be forbidden?
Birthdays are not important but are not haram.
Salaam Alaiykum
Assalamu’alaikum,
Okay, I am utterly confused and bedazzled and super overwhelmed. As long as we don’t have a rather large gathering and that we use the day (“birthday”) as a reminder to be grateful of the past year, and to look forward to being a better Muslim in the next year, and to be Syukr of having Allah Subhannahu Wata’ala make our lives a little longer to be able to reach a certain age and to hope to be a wiser person. We just need to du’a and pray that ‘Allah Subhannahu Wata’ala bless us and help us face our tests that He will gives us. MashaAllah, we must believe in Allaah, In sountries I know, on their “birthdays”, they have a small gathering, read Du’a Selamat (سَلامات) and have a meal together.
I agree with “Birthdays are not important but not haraam”
And of course we should not have unlawful activities such as drinking on little birthday celebrations, these things, we all, as a Muslim, should know.
Bismillaah wal hamdolillaah, wasalaato wasalaam ala rasoolallaah, amma ba’ad. Asalaam wa alaykum.
There shouldnt be any confusion. Many here have answered this issue with information showing that it is haraam to celebrate Birthdays annually. U may ask, What abt those who riuled it was permissible? Well those who ruled that celebrating B’days was permissible were simply not aware of the additional information showing its harraam, when they ruled. This is normal in Islaam. The Prophet salalaaho alayhiwasalam taught us that the Qaathi / Judge (similar to the Muhadith Schollars) sometimes have to rule on a matter that is not clear to them or is a grey matter. The reason for a grey area can be due to a complicated matter between a family that the judge is rulling on or perhaps a Fique issue (Islamic jurispudence matter) e.g can i smoke ciggerettes or not, although they didnt exist when Islam was revealed. He salalaho alayhiwasalam said that the Judge gets one reward for striving to find an answer, even if he rules incorrectly (due to absense of info or ilm), and is rewarded twice if he is corrrect in his rulling, once for striving and once for getting it right. So about 30+ years ago some ruled that ciggerettes were not haraam but only makroo / detested. They made this rule based upon what info was available. They knew it gives bad breath and so was like eating onions b4 going to masjid which hadith had stated was makroo. However, many years on, when it was discovered smoking very easy and often causes fatal cancer, Schollars ruled it haraam because it was the same as the ayaat “and do not kill yourselves” and much more.
So now that people here have shown that Celebrating Birthdays annually first began from Paganism and specifically related to their false beliefs, then it is DEFFINATELY HARRAM for a Muslim to do. We are not allowed to celebrate their celebrations. We are even recomended to make fasting on the day of Ashura over two days in order to be different to some jews who do it on only one day!
For all those trying to make excuses and say “oh ermm well i’ll make sure i’ll do duas on the birthdays and ermm thank Allaah.. oh then its ok” NO it isnt.
Ask yourself. HOW DID ANY YOU HEAR OF CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS? FROM WHO? FROM WHICH SOCIETY?
Answer: FROM NON MUSLIMS.
So my advice is that u all stop trying ‘Islaamatize’ something by adding that youl include duas and thank Allaah during the birthday. If you were raised in an environment where u never heard abt non muslims celebrating Birthdays… wud u be doing it? No.
*countries.
Asalamualaikum!
My question is that “is wishing teacher’s day prohibitted in Islam and giving them gifts on the occasion?”
Assalamu Alaikkum WRWB,
1) Is B’day of individuals celebrated as a religious ritual or custom? NO
2) Is celebrating Jesus B’day or our Prophet (PBUH) B’day is innovation? YES, because, people celebrate those days to praise the prophets and even equate them to the Almighty Allah, which is a KUFR! Hence these are surely prohibitted.
3) What if I celebrate my child’s birthday, only for his/her happiness and to promote her to do some charity? How does that will become a Bid’ah? I am not celebrating with unislamic/haram activities! I am just cutting a cake (no candles, no songs etc), whats wrong in that? how that is like practicing others religious activities??!!!!!
4) Islam is a very broad path of life, look into that with braod mindedness! Silly fatwas and debates may complicate such a simple but elite religion.
ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST!
Masalama,
Regards,
Mohamed Subuhan Sultan,
KSA
@ Mohamed Subuhan Sultan.
Your views are simple expressed yet mighty in their clarity and objectivity. i totally agree, He has “perfected” His religion, let’s stop chasing shadows and focus on true worship and connection.
Ma Salam
i read my 5x daily namaz and follow every sunnah i can find, but today iam thrilled to find out about birthdays i didnt have a clue it wasnt allowed, my 6year old is turning 7 on th 24th october and iv bought balloons and ordered cake and bought presents, and at this very minute i found, can anyone tell me how to tell her its cancelled and its not allowed in islam? i dont know what to do, am gobsmacked. but i didnt invite anybody though its just me her sis and her dad, no music no singing no games nothing out of context.
wasalaam
I believe it is allowed. Your interpretations from the Qur’an verses are very exaggerated. It means we have to worship Allah(s.w.t.) alone and do good deeds. Celebrating birthdays could mean we thank Allah(s.w.t) for giving us one blessed year and besides it feeds other people specifically our relatives so it’s a form of good deed. Allah(s.w.t.) created us to worship Him and also to enjoy our life without doing bad deeds. And those people said that it originated from pagans, so what? People’s intent is not to imitate them, nor imitating jews and christians, it’s simply celebrating your birthday and it’s more like cultural not religion based. Hey and do you know internet was invented by a christian?(sarcasm) So you guys really should stop using internet, it’s made by kafirs.(sarcasm again). c’mon guys, use some logic.
subhanallah youv opened eveyones eyes thankyou to you who seems to sense!
You say you want to thank Allaah. Well my dear fellow muslim, please remember that the Prophet Muhammad salalaaho alayhiwasalaam said (words to this effect): … Everything that can get you closer to Allaah, I have informed u about, and everything that wud draw you away from Allaah i have warned / taught u about…..
So, when any of us begins something related to worship (trying to please Allaah), be it as a one off or something which might end up as a regular personal custom done in a certain manner each time, you have to have been proceeded by it from Islaam.
Its not good enough even if your intention is good. A good action to be accepted in Islam has two conditions. 1. Intention to please Allaah alone. 2. Done in the Prophets salalaaho alayhiwasalams prescribed manner.
It was ibn masood or ibn abbaas radiyallaaho anho who came accross a people remembering Allaah by reciting Subhanallaah etc but using daal or seeds or beeds to count on. He said reminded them that the prophet salalaaho alayhiwasalam had only just recently passed away n they were already inventing / adding to the method of worship. They replied ” we only intended good by this counting… ” but he said maybe u shud count ur bad deeds i.e what they were doing was not right.
By the way, The sunnah recommends fasting on Mondays and Thrurdays weekly. So ignore those who say that the Prophet salalaaho alayhiwasalam was born on a monday n becuase he fasted on mondays, proves we can celebrate birthdays. lol, not true. Even if it was (which is isnt) why dnt ppl then celebrate by fasting on their Bday and telling their children to fast on theirs too? Why bake a cake or even any other special food or candles and presents on tst day when it isnt our Prophets way!!! but rather the way of the Pagans of Old and which the jews n xtians have adopted? Sadly just like many jews n xtians arent away of Bdays originally comming from Paganism related to their false gods and blasphemy, insulting Allaah, I think Muslims are going down the same path. Infact Muslims have moved on to also celebrating “Barsees” i.e. making a special day for specific religious rituals and worship on the Death aniversary of loved ones.
IT IS ONE THING TO HAVE A OPINION BUT TO INJECT YOUR OPINION IN ISLAM AS IF YOU HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF A SHAYKH IS INCORRECT, U ARE GIVING A FATWA. U R NOT ON THAT LEVEL TO GIVES FATWAS. NIETHER AM I U WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING PEOPLE ASTRAY
MAY ALLAH GUIDE THE MUSLIMS AMEEN
assalualaikum……. just answer me from quraan reference whether i wish birthday or not???????????
you can Do drugs, drink alcohol, commit every sin an YET you are a Muslim…just because you recite the Calima and your mOm and Pa are Muslims…(SARCARTIC?)
others say: you recite the Calima out of your tongue not your Heart falls to Kufar or Munafiqoun…(EXTREME?)
I say: let one of your fingers stay in a fire for just only 1 Minute and give me a good reason not to be afraid of NAAR…..Practice your own version of Islam (Moderate or traditional) with pride and well see each other in the day of resurrection….Only Allah (SWT) knows our destiny….
Assalamualikum,
From reading the entire biog, it seems that some of you are clear that celebrating birthdays is a bidah and not been prescribed in Islam.
For others it is not clear but rather doubtful. For these people, please follow the Hadith below:
On the authority of Aboo `Abdillaah an-Nu`maan the son of Basheer (radiAllaahu ‘anhumaa), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) say:
That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honour, but he who falls into doubtful matters [eventually] falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allaah’s sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh, which, if it be whole, all the body is whole, and which, if it is diseased, all of [the body] is diseased. Truly, it is the heart.
[Related by al-Bukhaari and Muslim.]
http://muslimways.com/imam-an-nawawi-s-forty-hadiths/hadeeth-6-the-halaal-is-clear-and-the-haraam-is-clear.html
Just tell the jews and christians, “To you is your religion, and to me, mine!!!”
[…] these people is not easily known or accepted. Birthdays were not a part of that culture… See: https://noorulislam.wordpress.com/200…s-not-allowed/ Meanwhile marital age in the Byzantine court is also fairly young: “Agnes was only eight on […]
Thank you very much for your beautiful Islamic enlightment. Pls. Is it allow for a Muslim to ask for forgiveness to a disease(dead) Christian?
Gud post
a/a celebrating birthdays comes from a pagan practice of birth of the star to gather and ward off evil by lighting candles shouting and singing an the pagan practice in december could not be stopped in the northern hemisphere so the birth day of jesus was practiced and introduced .
Shalom People, Hope all is well. Reading the blogs was interesting, but what would have been more interesting for you guys out there is to focus in your life after death. Instead of making the religion more complicated and getting people confused, you bloggers better off go and pray, fast, give money to charity and read the quran…. Beg for forgiveness and ask God to reward you for all your good deeds. Amen. The President and Executive Board of Arab League.
Birthdays was pagan, hahahahahahahahahahhaahahahahahah lmao sure dude go take your hit off your bong man!
birthdays are linked to horoscopes and astrology , pagans celebrated birthdays of gods, may Allah save us from that
assalaamualaykum
I have heard many things
however celebrating birthdays is not permitted
only two holidays are permitted in islam eidul fitr
and eidul adah that’s it there are not real scholars that say
it is permissible to celebrate holidays other than these
we do not do everything the non believers do
the sahabah didn’t celebrate birthdays
no one in the first three generations did
72 sects in the fire (because of their deviance) one sect goes straight to paradise. who is that ??? the prophet (SAW) answered the ones who are on what me and my companions are on today.
we must also interpret the quran and sunnah correctly according to how the prophet (saw) TAUGHT IT TO THE SAHABAH AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING
TO REMEMBER ALLAH BY FASTING PRAYER DIKR THESE ARE ACTS OF WORSHIP WORSHIP HAS TO BE EARN THIS DEEN CORRECTLYLEGISLATED FOR IT TO BE ACCEPTED AS A GOOD DEED. IF NOT THEN IT IS REJECTED’; PRACTICE WHAT THE PROPHET (SAW) PRACTICED LEARN A SURAH
LEARN A NEW DIKR GIVE CHARITY STUDY THE DEEN ATTEND A CLASS LEARN THE RULING TO THE PRAYER
GET UP IN THE MORNING AND GO TO FAJR PRAYER
BIRTHDAYS ?????
FORGET IT
Salam, the issue of celebrating birthdays now seem to be a challenge because we want to be happy and our children love to and we want them to be happy. We can be happier on our birtdays if we can observe fasting on that day and also encourage our children to fast on such days,prepare a very nice breakfast for them or go to a very nice restaurant and pray all together.That will be great and fun while at the same time observing the fasting sunnah of our beloved prophet Muhammad (SAW).May Allah guide us to the right path,ameen
May Allah grant you all peace.yes pagens celbrated birthdays.because adam and eve did to its not a relgion base its a common sence its they day you get to thank Allah for your child brother sister friend.and they get to feel special because everyone thanks Allah for gaving the gift of this person to the world.Allah loves us his children.and wants us to be happy..gifts should be edcuational. As Allah wants us to strive to learn all that is.alhamdullaih the willing slave of Allah.