It has come to my attention that some people, in refuting the innovation of birthday celebrations, argue that birthday celebrations fall under the category of mu'amalah or worldly matters. Hence, they conclude that it's permissible to celebrate birthdays.
We know of the principle in fiqh which states that in matters of worship, the origin of it is haram unless there is Shari'i evidence that proves it to be halal.
Hence, if we refer to the fatwa of our mashayikh, they state that birthday celebration is an innovation in religion, as it has no basis in the religion.
"Whoever does something that is not part of the a part of this matter of ours (i.e. Islam), will have it rejected." [Reported by Muslim]
This is even more so if people gathered to recite some dhikr and supplications when celebrating a person's birthday.
However, as I mentioned earlier, there are some people who argue that birthday celebrations do not fall under matters of worship but under mu'amalah or worldly matters.
And they state the fiqh principle that states that in worldly matters (mu'amalah), the origin of it is halal unless there is Shari'i evidence that proves it to be haram.
Hence, they argue that birthday celebration is permissible.
Subhanallah.. didn't they read the fatwa of the mashayikh clearly? Didn't the mashayikh state that birthday celebrations is an imitation of the Jews and the Christians?
Thus, the daleel or Shari'i evidence which prove it to be haram is the hadeeth that states that whoever imitates a people, he is among them.
Hence, my advice to my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters.. abandon birthday celebrations.. we are in no need of it.
Wallahu a'lam.
4 comments:
Assalamu 'alaykum brother,
from my observation, people celebrate birthdays to make the celebrated individual feels special (everyone loves gifts on any other day actually. well who doesnt?).
Since it is haraam to celebrate birthdays because it is imitating the kuffar, why not we treat the people around us right and indulge them with gifts that are within our means instead of doing so only on one day in a year. (Think about all surprises/gifts you will get!)
No one will complain about leaving birthdays now, I'm sure.
Wa 'alaykum as-Salamu wa rahmatullah.
Giving another fellow Muslim gifts without specifying the occasion, to the best of my knowledge, there's nothing wrong with it.
Rather it is something good and encouraged especially when it strengthens ukhuwwah.
If one happens to pass by a shop and sees something that his good friend likes, and he decides to buy it as a gift for him, by all means.
Giving gifts is not restricted to any particular time or occasion. When you feel like it, do it. Especially if you seek the satisfaction of Allah by doing it. In other words, you are giving the gift out of sincerity.
Wallahu a'lam.
One point to note though.. In birthday celebrations, one buys a gift for a friend when in fact his friend is well-off (such as coming from rich family) and can afford it himself.
It would be good if one can spend some money buying gifts for orphans.. they need it and would appreciate it more.
assalamualaikum,
if let say i buy for my special friend say a girl, is that ok??
Wa 'alaykum as-Salamu wa rahmatullah.
I hope from the answers that I'm giving, readers are aware that i'm not giving a fatwa.. because i'm not qualified to do so.
I'm merely sharing my knowledge.
To answer the question, as I've mentioned previously, so long as one do not specify the timing or occasion, there's nothing wrong with it.
Rather, it can be something encouraged if it is intended to strengthen ukhuwwah.
There's the hadith that states that a believer is one who loves for his fellow muslim brother/sister what he loves for himself.
(Sorry for not being able to quote the source of this hadith. Hence do double-check the authenticity of the hadeeth just in case I might be mistaken as I merely quote it from memory.)
This includes giving of gifts.
Wallahu a'lam.
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