Guidance on Celebrating Birthdays
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
You are asking about birthday parties, Shaykh Abdul Aziz, and you seek your guidance in this matter?
Answer:
Birthday parties are among the religious innovations 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 as authentic from the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her).
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said:Sahih Muslim 1718b Imam Muslim narrated it in his Sahih. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the Friday sermon: Sahih Muslim 867a Muslim narrated it in his Sahih. Al-Nasa'i added with a sound chain: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1578Sahih (Darussalam) So it is obligatory for Muslims, whether male or female, to beware of all religious innovations.
And Islam, praise be to Allah, is sufficient and it is complete. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ma'idah: 3].
So Allah has completed for us the religion with what He legislated of commands and acts of worship, and what He prohibited of prohibitions. So people are not in need of an innovation that someone invents, whether it is celebrating birthdays or anything else.
So celebrations of the birth of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or the birth of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, or 'Umar, or 'Uthman, or 'Ali, or al-Hasan, or al-Husayn, or Fatimah, or al-Badawi, or Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, or so-and-so or so-and-so, all of that has no basis. It is all reprehensible, it is all prohibited, and it all falls under his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):.
So it is not permissible for Muslims to engage in these religious innovations, 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 customs 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 He the Exalted said: [An-Nisa: 59].
May Allah guide everyone and lead everyone to His straight path.
You are asking about birthday parties, Shaykh Abdul Aziz, and you seek your guidance in this matter?
Answer:
Birthday parties are among the religious innovations 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 ردAnd he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said:
He 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 النارAnd 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 الإِسْلامَ دِينًاSo Allah has completed for us the religion with what He legislated of commands and acts of worship, and what He prohibited of prohibitions. So people are not in need of an innovation that someone invents, whether it is celebrating birthdays or anything else.
So celebrations of the birth of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or the birth of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, or 'Umar, or 'Uthman, or 'Ali, or al-Hasan, or al-Husayn, or Fatimah, or al-Badawi, or Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, or so-and-so or so-and-so, all of that has no basis. It is all reprehensible, it is all prohibited, and it all falls under his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
And every religious innovation (bid'ah) is misguidance
وكل بدعة ضلالةSo it is not permissible for Muslims to engage in these religious innovations, 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 customs 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 He the Exalted said:
And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِMay Allah guide everyone and lead everyone to His straight path.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.