Attending Birthday Celebrations

Birthday celebrations are NOT permissible in Islaam. These celebrations are an innovation of the Kuffaar who are the enemies of the truth. It is they who have created the concept of celebrating a person’s birthday.

The true and perfect Shari’ah recognizes and permits happiness on certain occasions, such as at the time of Nikaah, the two Eids, etc. But on these occasions too, the happiness and ‘celebration’ should be within the limits of Shari’ah. On these occasions, instead of disobeying Allah Ta’aala, Shari’ah expects us to increase our good actions. For example, on the day of Eid, we are commanded to perform an extra Salaah (viz. the Eid Salaah); similarly, we are told to eat and drink that which is Halaal and thank Allah Ta’aala for it.

But, NEVER was a birthday celebrated by Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa SAllam, the SahaabahRadiallahu Anhum or our pious predecessors, neither does Shari’ah recognize it as an occasion of happiness. Instead, the birthday of a person should remind him about his death, that the older he gets, the closer he moves towards his grave. There is NO scope in Shari’ah for the celebration of birthdays.

If a person feels that he has to express his happiness upon Allah Ta’aala granting him life until that age, he may do so by performing two Rakaat of Salaah, thanking Allah Ta’aala for his favour and asking Him to forgive his sins of the past and to grant him a pious life until his death.

Birthday celebrations are actually being ungrateful to Allah Ta’aala for His bounties and favours, because a person cannot be grateful to Allah Ta’aala by aping and emulating the Kuffaar, thereby disobeying and displeasing Him.

Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam is reported to have said that the one who imitates a nation is from them. Due to this Hadeeth, the Ulama state that it is prohibited to imitate the Kuffaar.

As we have mentioned above that never were birthdays celebrated in the history of Islaam, but rather, it is a Kuffaar initiated action. Therefore having such parties are NOT permissible due to the fact that the Kuffaar are being emulated. This fact alone is sufficient to render it as unlawful.

Furthermore, the various evils being committed when celebrating birthdays is not hidden from any one. Some of the evils are WASTAGE of money and food, getting involved in useless talks and activities, discarding the ways of our beloved Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, etc. Therefore, organizing or participating in such celebrations is PROHIBITED.

If a person holds a high rank in the community and people look up to him/her, then he/she can definitely use their status to change these evil practices. If such a person informs the people inviting him/her, that the reason for them not attending is that birthday parties are prohibited and are against the Shari’ah, then Insha Allah, it can be a means of them reforming and changing their ways. However, if a person does not hold such a position, and people will not take heed to his/her advice, then one should make an excuse in such a manner that it will not be considered as lying, such as “I have other commitments”, keeping in mind their commitments to their husband and family, and refrain from attending.

The following Aayat should also be borne in mind during such occasions:

And do not >assist each other in sin and transgression. Fear Allaah! Most surely, Allaah is severe in punishment.