Wedding Celebrations, Birthdays, and Other Occasions
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 1002 )
Q1: What is the opinion regarding the joyous celebrations that Muslims hold in ( Trinidad ) on the occasion of marriage and moving into a new home, individual birthdays, and other pleasant occasions, during which they recite the Noble Qur'an, sing hymns of praise for the Noble Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and then conclude the celebration by standing in respect and appreciation for the Noble Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?
A1: First: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade secret marriage and ordered the announcement of marriage. Celebrating the occasion of marriage and moving the bride to her husband's home is part of announcing the marriage, so it is prescribed (mashru') unless it involves lewd singing, the mixing of women and men, or similar forbidden things. Second: There are three festivals in Islam: the Day of 'Id al-Fitr, the Day of 'Id al-Adha, and Friday. As for individual birthdays and other pleasant occasions that are gathered together, such as the first day of the Hijri or Gregorian year, the middle of Sha'ban or the night of the middle of Sha'ban, the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the day a leader assumes power or the presidency, for example, these and their like did not exist in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor in the time of his Rightly Guided Successors, nor in the three centuries for which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) testified to goodness. They are among the religious innovations (bid'ah) that were introduced
and spread among the Muslims from others, and they were tried by them, and they began to celebrate them as they celebrate the Islamic festivals or even more. In some of these celebrations, there may be exaggeration regarding persons, extravagance in wealth, the mixing of women with men who are not their mahram (relatives one may not marry), and imitating the disbelievers in what is customary for them in their celebrations of what they call their festivals. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4607Sahih (Al-Albani) And he said: Sahih Muslim 1718a This is clear in the case where the celebration is for the exaltation of the person for whom the celebration is held, or for hoping for his blessing, or for the reward of performing it; such as the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the birthday of al-Husayn , the birthday of al-Badawi , and others. It is also for the exaltation of the days and nights being celebrated, and hoping for the reward of celebrating them and the blessing from that; such as celebrating the night of the middle of Sha'ban or its day, the night of the Isra and Mi'raj, and the like. Celebrating what is mentioned and its like is a type of seeking nearness and approaching with the intention of reward. As for what is not intended for seeking blessing or reward, such as celebrating the birth of children, the first day of the Hijri or Gregorian year, and the day leaders assume their positions, although it is among the innovations of custom, it involves imitating the disbelievers in their festivals and is a means to other types of
forbidden celebrations, in which the meaning of exaltation and approaching is apparent, so it is prohibited to block the means (sadd al-dhara'i') and to avoid imitating the disbelievers in their festivals and celebrations. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4031Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) Third: Reciting the Qur'an is among the best of nearness to Allah and righteous deeds, but making it the conclusion of innovative celebrations is not permissible; because it involves humiliating it by placing it in a place other than its proper place. As for singing hymns in praise of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is good, unless it contains exaggeration regarding him. And making it the conclusion of the aforementioned occasions and the like is not permissible; due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 329Sahih (Zubair `Aliza'i) And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan al-Bayhaqi 4:875 It is also not permissible to restrict that to a day that is made a season and a festival. Fourth: Concluding the celebration by standing in respect for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and appreciation for him is a bad conclusion, which Allah does not approve of and the Shari'ah does not endorse. It is among the types of shirk (associating partners with Allah) that Allah has forbidden for His servants. Standing in respect for one who has met his Lord is a type of approaching him and worshipping him, just as standing in prayer is a nearness by which one approaches Allah the Exalted. It is a type of exaggeration regarding the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has forbidden us from that.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q1: What is the opinion regarding the joyous celebrations that Muslims hold in ( Trinidad ) on the occasion of marriage and moving into a new home, individual birthdays, and other pleasant occasions, during which they recite the Noble Qur'an, sing hymns of praise for the Noble Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and then conclude the celebration by standing in respect and appreciation for the Noble Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?
A1: First: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade secret marriage and ordered the announcement of marriage. Celebrating the occasion of marriage and moving the bride to her husband's home is part of announcing the marriage, so it is prescribed (mashru') unless it involves lewd singing, the mixing of women and men, or similar forbidden things. Second: There are three festivals in Islam: the Day of 'Id al-Fitr, the Day of 'Id al-Adha, and Friday. As for individual birthdays and other pleasant occasions that are gathered together, such as the first day of the Hijri or Gregorian year, the middle of Sha'ban or the night of the middle of Sha'ban, the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the day a leader assumes power or the presidency, for example, these and their like did not exist in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor in the time of his Rightly Guided Successors, nor in the three centuries for which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) testified to goodness. They are among the religious innovations (bid'ah) that were introduced
and spread among the Muslims from others, and they were tried by them, and they began to celebrate them as they celebrate the Islamic festivals or even more. In some of these celebrations, there may be exaggeration regarding persons, extravagance in wealth, the mixing of women with men who are not their mahram (relatives one may not marry), and imitating the disbelievers in what is customary for them in their celebrations of what they call their festivals. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error.
إياكم ومحدثات الأمور، فإن كل محدثة بدعة، وكل بدعة ضلالة'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردforbidden celebrations, in which the meaning of exaltation and approaching is apparent, so it is prohibited to block the means (sadd al-dhara'i') and to avoid imitating the disbelievers in their festivals and celebrations. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He who copies any people is one of them.
من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم‘Do not extol me as the Christians extolled [Jesus] the son of Mary. I am merely a servant,’ so say: '[He is] Allah’s servant and His Messenger.’
لا تطروني كما أطرت النصارى ابن مريم وإنما أنا عبد، فقولوا: عبد الله ورسولهBeware of exaggeration, for it is only the exaggeration that destroyed those who came before you.
إياكم والغلو، فإنما أهلك من كان قبلكم الغلوAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.