Holding Celebrations
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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, as well as individual birthdays and other pleasant occasions, during which the Noble Qur'an is recited, hymns of praise are sung for the Noble Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the event concludes with 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 commanded the announcement of marriage. Celebrating the occasion of marriage and moving the bride to her husband's home is part of announcing the marriage; thus, it is prescribed unless it contains forbidden singing, the free mixing of women and men, or similar prohibitions. Second: There are three festivals in Islam: the Day of 'Id al-Fitr, the Day of 'Id al-Adha, and the Day of Jumu'ah. As for individual birthdays and other pleasant occasions that are gathered
in, such as the first day of the Hijri or Gregorian year, the middle of Sha'ban or the night of its middle, the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or 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 newly invented religious innovations that spread to the Muslims from others, and they were tried thereby, and they began to celebrate them as they celebrate the Islamic festivals or even more. Exaggeration regarding persons, extravagance in wealth, the free mixing of women and men, and imitating the people of disbelief in what is customary for them in their celebrations of what they call their festivals may occur in some of these celebrations. 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 the hope of its blessing, or the reward for 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, and for the exaltation of the days and nights celebrated, and the hope of reward for celebrating them and 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
nearness, seeking closeness, and intending reward. As for what is not intended for seeking blessing or reward, such as celebrating the birth of children, the first of the Hijri or Gregorian year, or the day leaders assume their positions—although it is among the innovations of custom—it contains imitating the disbelievers in their festivals and is a means to other types of forbidden celebrations in which the meaning of exaltation and seeking closeness to other than Allah appears. Thus, it is prohibited; to block the means and to avoid resembling 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 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, in which case it is not permissible; due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 329Sahih (Zubair `Aliza'i) , and he said (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 3029Sahih (Darussalam) ,
nor is it permissible to designate a specific day for it to be taken as a season and a festival. Fourth: Concluding the celebration by standing in respect for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and appreciation for him is a bad conclusion that Allah and His Messenger do not approve of, and the Shari'ah does not endorse; rather, it is among the forbidden religious innovations. 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, as well as individual birthdays and other pleasant occasions, during which the Noble Qur'an is recited, hymns of praise are sung for the Noble Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the event concludes with 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 commanded the announcement of marriage. Celebrating the occasion of marriage and moving the bride to her husband's home is part of announcing the marriage; thus, it is prescribed unless it contains forbidden singing, the free mixing of women and men, or similar prohibitions. Second: There are three festivals in Islam: the Day of 'Id al-Fitr, the Day of 'Id al-Adha, and the Day of Jumu'ah. As for individual birthdays and other pleasant occasions that are gathered
in, such as the first day of the Hijri or Gregorian year, the middle of Sha'ban or the night of its middle, the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or 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 newly invented religious innovations that spread to the Muslims from others, and they were tried thereby, and they began to celebrate them as they celebrate the Islamic festivals or even more. Exaggeration regarding persons, extravagance in wealth, the free mixing of women and men, and imitating the people of disbelief in what is customary for them in their celebrations of what they call their festivals may occur in some of these celebrations. 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 ردnearness, seeking closeness, and intending reward. As for what is not intended for seeking blessing or reward, such as celebrating the birth of children, the first of the Hijri or Gregorian year, or the day leaders assume their positions—although it is among the innovations of custom—it contains imitating the disbelievers in their festivals and is a means to other types of forbidden celebrations in which the meaning of exaltation and seeking closeness to other than Allah appears. Thus, it is prohibited; to block the means and to avoid resembling 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 in religious matters for those who came before you were doomed because of exaggeration
إياكم والغلو في الدين، فإنما أهلك من كان قبلكم الغلوnor is it permissible to designate a specific day for it to be taken as a season and a festival. Fourth: Concluding the celebration by standing in respect for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and appreciation for him is a bad conclusion that Allah and His Messenger do not approve of, and the Shari'ah does not endorse; rather, it is among the forbidden religious innovations. And 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.