We hold a special celebration every year called Mother's Day, which is on March 21, and all people celebrate it. Is this forbidden or permissible, and are we required to celebrate it or not?
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The questioner : We hold a special celebration every year called Mother's Day, which is on the twenty-first of March, and all people celebrate it. Is this forbidden or permissible, and are we required to celebrate it or not, and to give gifts? Please inform us about this, and may you be rewarded?
The Shaykh : The answer to this is that all celebrations that contradict the legislated celebrations are all religious innovations that have occurred and were not known in the time of the righteous predecessors. They may also originate from non-Muslims, in which case they contain, along with the religious innovation, an imitation of the enemies of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
The legislated celebrations are known among the people of Islam, and they are the festival at the end of Ramadan, the festival of sacrifice, and the weekly festival. There are no celebrations in Islam other than these three. Any celebrations introduced after that, or any celebrations introduced other than these, are rejected by their innovators and are invalid in the Shari'ah of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1718a meaning it is rejected and not accepted by Allah. In another wording: Sahih Muslim 1718b When this is clarified, it is not permissible in the celebration mentioned by the questioner, which she named Mother's Day, to introduce any of the rituals of a celebration, such as displaying joy and happiness, giving gifts, or the like.
It is obligatory for the Muslim to take pride in his religion and be proud of it, and to restrict himself to what Allah and His Messenger have defined in this noble religion that Allah (the Exalted) has chosen for His servants, so that he does not add to it or subtract from it. It is also befitting for the Muslim not to be a follower who follows every caller, but rather he should form his personality in accordance with the Shari'ah of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), so that he becomes a leader rather than a follower, and a model rather than one who imitates. This is because the Shari'ah of Allah, praise be to Allah, is complete in all respects, as Allah (the Exalted) said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:3] The mother is more deserving of being honored on a single day in the year. In fact, the mother has the right over her children that they should care for her, attend to her, and obey her in everything other than disobedience to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) at all times and in all places. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
This is a letter from Fathi Ahmad, an Egyptian resident in Iraq, who says in his letter.
The Shaykh : The answer to this is that all celebrations that contradict the legislated celebrations are all religious innovations that have occurred and were not known in the time of the righteous predecessors. They may also originate from non-Muslims, in which case they contain, along with the religious innovation, an imitation of the enemies of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
The legislated celebrations are known among the people of Islam, and they are the festival at the end of Ramadan, the festival of sacrifice, and the weekly festival. There are no celebrations in Islam other than these three. Any celebrations introduced after that, or any celebrations introduced other than these, are rejected by their innovators and are invalid in the Shari'ah of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
'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 ردHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملاً ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردIt is obligatory for the Muslim to take pride in his religion and be proud of it, and to restrict himself to what Allah and His Messenger have defined in this noble religion that Allah (the Exalted) has chosen for His servants, so that he does not add to it or subtract from it. It is also befitting for the Muslim not to be a follower who follows every caller, but rather he should form his personality in accordance with the Shari'ah of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), so that he becomes a leader rather than a follower, and a model rather than one who imitates. This is because the Shari'ah of Allah, praise be to Allah, is complete in all respects, as Allah (the Exalted) said:
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلامَ دِينًاThe questioner : May Allah bless you.
This is a letter from Fathi Ahmad, an Egyptian resident in Iraq, who says in his letter.