Ruling on Celebrating the Anniversary of a Person's Birth
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Q: What is the ruling on celebrating the passage of one or two years, for example, or more or fewer years, since a person's birth? This is what is called a birthday, or blowing out the candles. What is the ruling on attending the feasts of these celebrations? And if a person is invited to them, should he accept the invitation or not? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
A: The evidences from the Book and the Sunnah indicate that celebrating birthdays is an innovation introduced into the religion, having no basis in the pure Shari'ah. It is not permissible to accept an invitation to them, because doing so supports and encourages innovations. Allah said: : [Surat al-Shura: 21]. And He, the Exalted, said: [Surat al-Jathiyah: 18-19]. And He, the Exalted, said: [Surat al-A'raf: 3]. It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sahih Muslim 1718b, narrated by Muslim in his Sahih. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 867a. There are many hadiths to this effect.
Moreover, these celebrations, in addition to being a reprehensible innovation with no basis in the Shari'ah, also involve imitating the Jews and the Christians in their celebration of birthdays. He (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against their way and their method, saying:. They said, "O Messenger of Allah, the Jews and the Christians?" He said: . Both were narrated in the two Sahihs.
The meaning of his statement: is that they are the ones referred to by this statement. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 4031Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani). There are many well-known hadiths to this effect. May Allah guide everyone to what pleases Him.
A: The evidences from the Book and the Sunnah indicate that celebrating birthdays is an innovation introduced into the religion, having no basis in the pure Shari'ah. It is not permissible to accept an invitation to them, because doing so supports and encourages innovations. Allah said: :
Or have they other deities who have ordained for them a religion to which Allah has not consented?
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَنْ بِهِ اللَّهُ(18) Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know. (19) Indeed, they will never avail you against Allah at all. And indeed, the wrongdoers are allies of one another; but Allah is the protector of the righteous.
ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ * إِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يُغْنُوا عَنْكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَإِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُتَّقِينَFollow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember.
اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ قَلِيلًا مَا تَذَكَّرُونَHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملا 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.
خير الحديث كتاب الله، وخير الهدي هدي محمد ﷺ، وشر الأمور محدثاتها، وكل بدعة ضلالةMoreover, these celebrations, in addition to being a reprehensible innovation with no basis in the Shari'ah, also involve imitating the Jews and the Christians in their celebration of birthdays. He (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against their way and their method, saying:
You will surely follow the ways of those who came before you, heel following heel, so much so that if they were to enter the hole of a scorpion, you would enter it too.
لتتبعن سنن من كان قبلكم حذو القذة بالقذة، حتى لو دخلوا جحر ضب لدخلتموهWho
فمنThe meaning of his statement:
Who
فمنHe who copies any people is one of them.
من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.