What is the ruling on birthday celebrations?
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Question: What is your guidance, Your Eminence, regarding birthday parties? And what is your opinion of them?
Answer: Birthday parties are among the religious innovations (bid'ah) that the scholars have explained, and they fall under the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1718a It is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim from the hadith of A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). He (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: Sahih Muslim 1718b Imam Muslim recorded it in his Sahih. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the Friday sermon: Sahih Muslim 867a Muslim recorded it in his Sahih, and al-Nasa'i added with a sound chain: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1578Sahih (Darussalam).
Therefore, it is obligatory (wajib) for Muslims, whether male or female, to beware of all religious innovations (bid'ah), for Islam, praise be to Allah, is sufficient, and it is complete. Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Ma'idah: 3].
So Allah has completed the religion for us with what He legislated of commands and what He prohibited of prohibitions. Thus, people have no need for an innovation that someone invents, whether it is celebrating birthdays or anything else.
So the celebrations of the birth of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or the birth of al-Siddiq, or 'Umar, or 'Uthman, or 'Ali, or al-Hasan, or al-Husayn, or Fatimah, or al-Badawi, or Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, or so-and-so or so-and-so, all of this has no basis, and all of it is reprehensible, and all of it is prohibited, and all of it falls under his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:.
So it is not permissible (la yajuz) for Muslims to engage in these religious innovations (bid'ah), even if some people do them. The actions of people are not legislation for Muslims, and the actions of people are not a model to follow, except if they agree with the Shari'ah. The actions and beliefs of people are all weighed against the Shari'ah scale, which is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So what agrees with them is accepted, and what contradicts them is abandoned, as Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Nisa: 59]. May Allah guide everyone and lead everyone to His straight path.
Answer: Birthday parties are among the religious innovations (bid'ah) that the scholars have explained, and they fall under 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 عملًا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردThe best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of the guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error.
أما بعد، فإن خير الحديث كتاب الله، وخير الهدي هدي محمد ﷺ وشر الأمور محدثاتها، وكل بدعة ضلالةand every going astray is in the Fire
وكل ضلالة في النارTherefore, it is obligatory (wajib) for Muslims, whether male or female, to beware of all religious innovations (bid'ah), for Islam, praise be to Allah, is sufficient, and it is complete. 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 الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًاSo Allah has completed the religion for us with what He legislated of commands and what He prohibited of prohibitions. Thus, people have no need for an innovation that someone invents, whether it is celebrating birthdays or anything else.
So the celebrations of the birth of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or the birth of al-Siddiq, or 'Umar, or 'Uthman, or 'Ali, or al-Hasan, or al-Husayn, or Fatimah, or al-Badawi, or Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, or so-and-so or so-and-so, all of this has no basis, and all of it is reprehensible, and all of it is prohibited, and all of it falls under his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:
And every religious innovation (bid'ah) is misguidance
وكل بدعة ضلالةSo it is not permissible (la yajuz) for Muslims to engage in these religious innovations (bid'ah), even if some people do them. The actions of people are not legislation for Muslims, and the actions of people are not a model to follow, except if they agree with the Shari'ah. The actions and beliefs of people are all weighed against the Shari'ah scale, which is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So what agrees with them is accepted, and what contradicts them is abandoned, as Allah the Exalted said:
And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.