noble
08-03-07, 12:02 PM
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Celebrate Birthdays?
The question is: Is it allowed for Muslims to celebrate birthdays?
Perhaps, if we elaborate on a few words it will give us the answer.
Muslim: (in general terms) a person who accepts Islam and Islam is
the way of life founded on the Quran and the authentic Sunnah
(exemplary practice of the prophet) that is perfect and complete and
needs no alternations and to make sure that these sources of Islam are
understood and practiced correctly a Muslim is to refer to scholars,
especially the first three generations, particularly the Companions.
Celebrate: Two of its definitions are: 1. to observe in some special
way (as merrymaking) and 2. to observe a special day or even (as a
holiday or anniversary) with festivities. [webster's new ideal
dictionary]
Birthday: the day or anniversary of ones birth. [ibid]
Since Islam is based on revelation [the Quran and the Sunnah] we
should see what revelations states: Anas imparted that when the
prophet (PBUH) came to Madinah the people had two days of holiday
celebrations. So he asked them about their significance and they
replied it was merriment from Jahiliyah. Then the prophet [PBUH]
rejoindered, "Allah has replaced them with something far much better:
Eid Ul-Adha and Eid Ul-Fitr. This hadith in itself is enough to answer
the question concerning Muslim celebrating Birthdays. However, some
Muslims asked for further evidence therefore we'll give some.
Precedents:
Allah told the prophet [PBUH} to say:
Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow
me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah),
Allâh will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allâh is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Let us make note that Allah loving us is conditional. He only loves
us if we follow the Prophet [PBUH]; and if you do not follow the
prophet then you do not love Allah and He doesn't love you. As is
presently known, there is not place where it is recorded (not even
unauthentically) that the prophet [PBUH} celebrated birthdays. He did
not celebrate the birthday of Khadijah or Fatimah or Abu Bakr or Zayd
or his grandchildren, etc. So if he did not celebrate birthdays, why
should we?? [Makes you really think....what do we think ourselves
making stuff up and calling it good?? I was argueing with a friend
about this today....I said ok you want to have fun and eat cake and
gather with friends...do it once a month!! do it every now and
then....not on a specific day!! would it matter much...it's only for
fun....if you start saying it's cause my birthday then you are going
in a circle!]
The companions who are and for ever will be the best generation
throughout humanity due to faith, belief, piety, practice, sacrifices,
etc never celebrated anybody's birthday – not even the prophet's
birthday – and thi sis the man whom they fought for, killed close
relatives for, and died for. So it would have been nothing for them to
say "Oh Messenger of Allah, Happy Birthday!" The reason why they did
not do this could not have possibly been because it was not a part of
their culture. Before Islam, the Arabs appreciated any opportunity to
party. The companions did not celebrate birthdays due to their
knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of the guidance. We must emulate
them for Allah says:
"Whomever opposes/contradicts the Messenger after the Guidance has
been made clear and follows a way different than that of the
believers, I allow him to continue with what he has chosen and cast
him to Hell – an unfortunate circumstance." [O Allah protect us from
the Fire and reward us with Jannah Ameen!]
And non of the trustworthy scholars from the past or present who
follow the way of the righteous predecessors have condoned the
celebrating of any body's birthday.
"Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know" (Quran: 21: 7)
Based in Polytheism:
The celebration of birthdays is something that doesn't come from
Islam. It comes from Jahilayah (non-Islam: lit. Ignorance) and has
origins in Shirk. There were people who thought that the giving of
gifts to a person on one's birthday would prevent the Jin from
attaching the person. This is shirk in Roboobeeyah because it is
thinking that something other than Allah has authority in His dominion
to prevent harm and bestow benefit. The original purpose of the gifts
is no different than believe in charms and omens. The prophet said
"Know that if the whole world were to gather to benefit you, it would
only happen because Allah had it pre-ordained for you. Likewise if the
whole world were to gather to harm you, it will only happen because
Allah has it pre-ordained for you". Furthermore, the lighting of
candles came about because some people thought that they would take
one's dua' "Wishes" to Allah. This is shirk in Ulooheeyah because
Allah doesn't need intermediaries. [Does it remind you of
something....make a wish....blow the candle??? seems familiar!!]
Following and Imitating the Disbelievers and Being Different from Them
Birthday celebrations are observed around the world. This celebration
is done differently based on culture and/or geographics. For example,
in china they are celebrated every ten years while in the United
States they are celebrated every year. Unfortunately, we are following
the disbelievers. The prophet [PBUH] said, "You will follow the Sunnah
of the people before you, foot by foot, and inch by inch. So much so
that if they crawled into a lizard's hole you would do it also!!"
[Masha'Allah....I love this....I Wish I could do it and follow that
strictly] Wouldn't it be better to follow the prophet's Sunnah so that
Allah will love us? [Sure it would...come lets try our bests!]
The celebration of birthdays by Muslims – particularly that of the
Prophet's – is an imitation of the disbelievers. Some Muslims try to
argue the point that the prophet Muhammad's birthday has more right to
be "so-called" honoured than that of the prophet Jesus as the
Christians do. This point that they tender is an admission that they
are following and imitating the disbelievers. The prophet said,
"Anyone who imitates a people is one of them" [A'ootho belAllah...
AstagferoAllah]
Additionally, the prophet has warned us on several occasions to be
different from the disbelievers. [Ohh does anyone know about this...I
heard that we are allowed to pray with shoes if they are not
najis...but we should take them off cause we use them to walk on
street and we dont know what was on the floor...but we are
allowed...(is that true?) dunno...this is what the articles says:
Islam allowed us to be different from disbelievers for example . . .
praying in shoes! If anyone has knowledge help us here!]
Some people also try to argue that celebrating the prophet's birthday
will help them remember the prophet. This is really interesting
because the people who usually say this are people who do not remember
the prophet almost every other day of the year. They harbour
misconceptions in Aqeedah, don't establish Salah regularly, dress
provocatively, and do several other things that show that they don't
really care to remember [follow the Sunnah is what we hope they mean
by remember] the prophet, and just want to have a day of merriment
that gives them a psuedo-sense of esteem and love of Islam. If these
Muslims really did want to remember the prophet they would implement
his Sunnah everyday of their lives. [We should remember him all the
time not on one day!]
Perform Ibadah
Being Muslims we should be extremely proud of Islam. Why have a
party? We have been given something better: the aqeedah for our
children. The only thing a Muslim could do on a birthday is fast for
this is what the prophet did on his. Notice what is said is birthday
and not birthdate. The prophet was born on a Monday and he did not –
nor did his companions or any of the trustworthy scholars – do
anything on the 12th of Rabi Al Awal. "…he was asked about fasting on
Mondays to which he responded: it was the day I was born on and the
day I became a prophet because revelations was given to me…"
Aside: we should research to find out what our real birthdates are on
the Hijree calendar which is based on revelations) and stop thinking
we were born on the dates from a synthetic man made calculations.
Conclusion:
Muslims do not celebrate the birthday of anybody regardless of who it
is. If we were to celebrate anybody's birthday it would be that of the
prophet and he and so many better Muslims than us did not do such and
the companions loved him immensely. So if his birthday is not
celebrated why should we celebrate someone's of lesser worthiness? To
celebrate birthdays is heresy. The prophet said: "Anyone who
introduces something into the affairs of ours (Islam) will have it
rejected"
By: Sister Asiyah S.
www.altayyeb.net
Celebrate Birthdays?
The question is: Is it allowed for Muslims to celebrate birthdays?
Perhaps, if we elaborate on a few words it will give us the answer.
Muslim: (in general terms) a person who accepts Islam and Islam is
the way of life founded on the Quran and the authentic Sunnah
(exemplary practice of the prophet) that is perfect and complete and
needs no alternations and to make sure that these sources of Islam are
understood and practiced correctly a Muslim is to refer to scholars,
especially the first three generations, particularly the Companions.
Celebrate: Two of its definitions are: 1. to observe in some special
way (as merrymaking) and 2. to observe a special day or even (as a
holiday or anniversary) with festivities. [webster's new ideal
dictionary]
Birthday: the day or anniversary of ones birth. [ibid]
Since Islam is based on revelation [the Quran and the Sunnah] we
should see what revelations states: Anas imparted that when the
prophet (PBUH) came to Madinah the people had two days of holiday
celebrations. So he asked them about their significance and they
replied it was merriment from Jahiliyah. Then the prophet [PBUH]
rejoindered, "Allah has replaced them with something far much better:
Eid Ul-Adha and Eid Ul-Fitr. This hadith in itself is enough to answer
the question concerning Muslim celebrating Birthdays. However, some
Muslims asked for further evidence therefore we'll give some.
Precedents:
Allah told the prophet [PBUH} to say:
Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow
me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah),
Allâh will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allâh is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Let us make note that Allah loving us is conditional. He only loves
us if we follow the Prophet [PBUH]; and if you do not follow the
prophet then you do not love Allah and He doesn't love you. As is
presently known, there is not place where it is recorded (not even
unauthentically) that the prophet [PBUH} celebrated birthdays. He did
not celebrate the birthday of Khadijah or Fatimah or Abu Bakr or Zayd
or his grandchildren, etc. So if he did not celebrate birthdays, why
should we?? [Makes you really think....what do we think ourselves
making stuff up and calling it good?? I was argueing with a friend
about this today....I said ok you want to have fun and eat cake and
gather with friends...do it once a month!! do it every now and
then....not on a specific day!! would it matter much...it's only for
fun....if you start saying it's cause my birthday then you are going
in a circle!]
The companions who are and for ever will be the best generation
throughout humanity due to faith, belief, piety, practice, sacrifices,
etc never celebrated anybody's birthday – not even the prophet's
birthday – and thi sis the man whom they fought for, killed close
relatives for, and died for. So it would have been nothing for them to
say "Oh Messenger of Allah, Happy Birthday!" The reason why they did
not do this could not have possibly been because it was not a part of
their culture. Before Islam, the Arabs appreciated any opportunity to
party. The companions did not celebrate birthdays due to their
knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of the guidance. We must emulate
them for Allah says:
"Whomever opposes/contradicts the Messenger after the Guidance has
been made clear and follows a way different than that of the
believers, I allow him to continue with what he has chosen and cast
him to Hell – an unfortunate circumstance." [O Allah protect us from
the Fire and reward us with Jannah Ameen!]
And non of the trustworthy scholars from the past or present who
follow the way of the righteous predecessors have condoned the
celebrating of any body's birthday.
"Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know" (Quran: 21: 7)
Based in Polytheism:
The celebration of birthdays is something that doesn't come from
Islam. It comes from Jahilayah (non-Islam: lit. Ignorance) and has
origins in Shirk. There were people who thought that the giving of
gifts to a person on one's birthday would prevent the Jin from
attaching the person. This is shirk in Roboobeeyah because it is
thinking that something other than Allah has authority in His dominion
to prevent harm and bestow benefit. The original purpose of the gifts
is no different than believe in charms and omens. The prophet said
"Know that if the whole world were to gather to benefit you, it would
only happen because Allah had it pre-ordained for you. Likewise if the
whole world were to gather to harm you, it will only happen because
Allah has it pre-ordained for you". Furthermore, the lighting of
candles came about because some people thought that they would take
one's dua' "Wishes" to Allah. This is shirk in Ulooheeyah because
Allah doesn't need intermediaries. [Does it remind you of
something....make a wish....blow the candle??? seems familiar!!]
Following and Imitating the Disbelievers and Being Different from Them
Birthday celebrations are observed around the world. This celebration
is done differently based on culture and/or geographics. For example,
in china they are celebrated every ten years while in the United
States they are celebrated every year. Unfortunately, we are following
the disbelievers. The prophet [PBUH] said, "You will follow the Sunnah
of the people before you, foot by foot, and inch by inch. So much so
that if they crawled into a lizard's hole you would do it also!!"
[Masha'Allah....I love this....I Wish I could do it and follow that
strictly] Wouldn't it be better to follow the prophet's Sunnah so that
Allah will love us? [Sure it would...come lets try our bests!]
The celebration of birthdays by Muslims – particularly that of the
Prophet's – is an imitation of the disbelievers. Some Muslims try to
argue the point that the prophet Muhammad's birthday has more right to
be "so-called" honoured than that of the prophet Jesus as the
Christians do. This point that they tender is an admission that they
are following and imitating the disbelievers. The prophet said,
"Anyone who imitates a people is one of them" [A'ootho belAllah...
AstagferoAllah]
Additionally, the prophet has warned us on several occasions to be
different from the disbelievers. [Ohh does anyone know about this...I
heard that we are allowed to pray with shoes if they are not
najis...but we should take them off cause we use them to walk on
street and we dont know what was on the floor...but we are
allowed...(is that true?) dunno...this is what the articles says:
Islam allowed us to be different from disbelievers for example . . .
praying in shoes! If anyone has knowledge help us here!]
Some people also try to argue that celebrating the prophet's birthday
will help them remember the prophet. This is really interesting
because the people who usually say this are people who do not remember
the prophet almost every other day of the year. They harbour
misconceptions in Aqeedah, don't establish Salah regularly, dress
provocatively, and do several other things that show that they don't
really care to remember [follow the Sunnah is what we hope they mean
by remember] the prophet, and just want to have a day of merriment
that gives them a psuedo-sense of esteem and love of Islam. If these
Muslims really did want to remember the prophet they would implement
his Sunnah everyday of their lives. [We should remember him all the
time not on one day!]
Perform Ibadah
Being Muslims we should be extremely proud of Islam. Why have a
party? We have been given something better: the aqeedah for our
children. The only thing a Muslim could do on a birthday is fast for
this is what the prophet did on his. Notice what is said is birthday
and not birthdate. The prophet was born on a Monday and he did not –
nor did his companions or any of the trustworthy scholars – do
anything on the 12th of Rabi Al Awal. "…he was asked about fasting on
Mondays to which he responded: it was the day I was born on and the
day I became a prophet because revelations was given to me…"
Aside: we should research to find out what our real birthdates are on
the Hijree calendar which is based on revelations) and stop thinking
we were born on the dates from a synthetic man made calculations.
Conclusion:
Muslims do not celebrate the birthday of anybody regardless of who it
is. If we were to celebrate anybody's birthday it would be that of the
prophet and he and so many better Muslims than us did not do such and
the companions loved him immensely. So if his birthday is not
celebrated why should we celebrate someone's of lesser worthiness? To
celebrate birthdays is heresy. The prophet said: "Anyone who
introduces something into the affairs of ours (Islam) will have it
rejected"
By: Sister Asiyah S.
www.altayyeb.net