format_quote Originally Posted by
honey123
Assalam Alaikum brothers and sisters!
Last week I had a discussion with another sister about baby showers and birthdays, she's with me in Quran class. She says that baby showers and birthdays r forbidden in Islam but i wasnt very convinced with what she had to say. My point is dat y r dey forbidden in Islam? Some of my muslim friends are throwing a baby shower for me, it is a ladies only function, they are gonna serve food and have some games over, the guests are gonna bring gifts and that's all. But this friend of mine is very against it n she told me I should stop my other friends from throwing a baby shower for me because this way I am following the culture of american ppl but I don't understand what's wrong in it. It's just a simple function, there's no such thing in the function that is against Islam, it's just that em sharing my happiness with my other muslim sisters and in a way it's gonna b a financial help for me too, they are gonna bring stuff for my baby which is gonna lessen the burden of my expenses for baby shopping.
Similarly she's very against birthdays too but i dont get the point. for example lets say if it's my birthday and i only invite some of my friends which are all ladies obviously, v just have dinner and some good chit chat n dey bring gifts for me dats all, I asked her if it's such a birthday party what's wrong in it according to Islam. she said dat v shud b sad on our birthdays as v r getting one year closer to death but my point is dat v all muslims know dat or life here is just an exam so instead of getting sad on our birthday y dont v think positive and be happy by considering dat v r one year closer to our result day.
I completely understand dat it's totally wrong to celebrate events like christmas, easter, diwali, holi etc cuz dese r the religious festivals of other religions and being muslims we shouldnt celebrate them but when it comes to anniversaries, birthdays, baby showers, these are all man made festivals, dey arent religious festivals, then why is it forbidden to celebrate them??
As far as i know Islam encourages socializing, exchanging gifts with friends and family and sharing your happiness with them. These kind of discussions really confuse me. I hope u guys cud help me out
Jazakallah!
:sl:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
Principally, birthdays are not something that should be celebrated or to be happy about. When it is someone's birthday, one year of his/her life has decreased, and not increased. As such, what intelligence is there in celebrating and showing happiness when a year has decreased in one's life?
Before understanding the legal ruling with regards to birthday celebrations, it is worth remembering here that imitation of the unbelievers (Kuffar) is something that Islam strictly disapproves of.
In a Hadith recorded by Imam Abu Dawud (Allah have Mercy on him) and others, The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said:
"Whosoever imitates a nation is amongst them".
(Sunan Abu Dawud,)
It should be remembered here that not everything what the non-Muslims wear and do, is Haram and unlawful. Imitation, which is prohibited, is effected in one of the following two ways:
a) One does something with the intention of imitating the Kuffar, meaning one does so because one wants to be like a particular non-believer or non-believers.
b) Doing something that is unique and exclusive to the non-believers or it is part of their faith. This will also be considered imitation, thus Haram (unlawful).
(See the Fatwa of Shaykh Mufti Taqi Usmani).
In light of the above, there are few situations with regards to the Shariah (legal) ruling on celebrating birthdays:
1)If it is celebrated by imitating the Kuffar in that all or some of the customs that are unique with the Kuffar are adopted, or acts that are unlawful in Shariah are committed, then there is no doubt in its impermissibility. The lighting of candles on a cake that number the years of one's life and then blowing on them, playing of music, singing, extravagant and lavish spending, showing off, etc are all unlawful and forbidden practices. Thus, if birthdays are celebrated by adopting the above-mentioned customs, it will not be permissible.
2)If the above-mentioned evils are avoided, then there are two possibilities:
a) If one celebrates birthdays with the intention of imitating the Kuffar meaning one does so because one wants to be like the Kuffar, then, as stated previously, it will be considered imitating the Kuffar, thus unlawful.
b) If there is no intention of imitating the Kuffar (and also the above mentioned evils are avoided) then the ruling on celebrating birthdays will depend on whether it originated from the religious customs of the non-Muslims and it is part of their faith. (It can not be considered to be unique with the Kuffar, for celebrating birthdays has become a widespread phenomenon that is carried out in many different parts of the world). I am personally unaware of whether celebrating birthdays has a connection with the Christian faith or other wise, thus I am unable to give a decisive ruling.
However, I have mentioned the criterion of which the ruling will be based. If the origins of birthday celebrations are connected to a particular faith, then there is no doubt in its impermissibility. If, however, it has no connections with the faith of the non-Muslims, then (and Allah knows best) it seems that it would be permissible to celebrate it (provided the evils mentioned above are avoided).
3)If one thanks Allah and shows gratitude for being blessed with one more year of his life, thus expresses happiness and joy, then there is nothing wrong with that.
(See: al-Fatawa al-Rahimiyya (urdu), 6/320).
And Allah knows best
Source: http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.a...=2106&CATE=115
There is some evidence that birthday celebrations come from paganistic beliefs. The same goes for baby showers. Read more here:
http://www.pregnancy-period.com/baby...r-history.html
So it would be far better to avoid celebrating birthdays. Instead just make dua for a better year etc. The same goes for baby showers. Maybe re-structure your event towards something more Islamic rather than calling it a birthday or baby shower. Just make it like a dawah for happiness of the birth of your child your friends where they may give you gifts etc.
And Allah knows best in all matters