Do Muslims celebrate Birthdays?

Not allowed, really?

But still it's a disputed issue.....

Realy, what is unIslamic with birthday celebration? It is just a cultural thing like wedding more than an unIslamic fest.

format_quote Originally Posted by anatolian

Realy, what is unIslamic with birthday celebration? It is just a cultural thing like wedding more than an unIslamic fest.

It has been declared Haraam by the `Ulamaa for a number of reasons, including:

1) Tashabbuh bil-Kuffaar (imitating the Kuffaar in their celebrations).
2) In Islaam, there are only two days of celebration: `Eedul Fitr and `Eedul Adh-haa. Imaam Ahmad and others from the Fuqahaa (jurists) have said that there is no forming of a new "`Eed". So, what does "`Eed" mean? It comes from the verb عاد يعود `Aada - Ya`oodu, which literally means "to return". In other words, an annual holiday. A day which you celebrate every year. This is the meaning of "`Eed", and this is what the `Ulamaa have said is not permissible. Besides `Eedul Fitr and `Eedul Adh-haa, there is no other day of "`Eed". In Arabic, a birthday is called "`Eed-ul-Milaad". The "`Eed" of Birth.
3) Birthdays has its origin in paganism. Check up the history on it. Even the cakes. The pagans used to make round "cakes" for their god. And the giving of gifts was because they used to believe that by gifting a person presents on their birthday, you ward of bad luck, etc. otherwise they will be unlucky, and this is all Baatil superstition.

These are the main reasons. Then there's also the fact that birthday parties are generally accompanied by Haraam activities such as singing, music, free-mixing of men and women, and overall wasting time in futility.

Celebrating birthdays should be avoided.

A question might arise:

"Maulana/Mufti Saheb, I have a wife, and I've been buying her presents on her birthday every year. If I don't buy her presents, she will become sad. What should I do?"

What you can do is to give her the presents a few days before her birthday or a few days after, and in this way, you would not be taking the day as an "`Eed" (see the definition of `Eed given above), and it would not be imitating the Kuffaar on specifically giving presents on the birthday itself. But better than this is to buy her gifts every single day. If you do that, she will not worry about a birthday.

والله تعالى أعلم

والسلام

format_quote Originally Posted by Huzaifah ibn Adam

It has been declared Haraam by the `Ulamaa for a number of reasons, including:1) Tashabbuh bil-Kuffaar (imitating the Kuffaar in their celebrations).2) In Islaam, there are only two days of celebration: `Eedul Fitr and `Eedul Adh-haa. Imaam Ahmad and others from the Fuqahaa (jurists) have said that there is no forming of a new "`Eed". So, what does "`Eed" mean? It comes from the verb عاد يعود `Aada - Ya`oodu, which literally means "to return". In other words, an annual holiday. A day which you celebrate every year. This is the meaning of "`Eed", and this is what the `Ulamaa have said is not permissible. Besides `Eedul Fitr and `Eedul Adh-haa, there is no other day of "`Eed". In Arabic, a birthday is called "`Eed-ul-Milaad". The "`Eed" of Birth. 3) Birthdays has its origin in paganism. Check up the history on it. Even the cakes. The pagans used to make round "cakes" for their god. And the giving of gifts was because they used to believe that by gifting a person presents on their birthday, you ward of bad luck, etc. otherwise they will be unlucky, and this is all Baatil superstition.These are the main reasons. Then there's also the fact that birthday parties are generally accompanied by Haraam activities such as singing, music, free-mixing of men and women, and overall wasting time in futility.Celebrating birthdays should be avoided.A question might arise:"Maulana/Mufti Saheb, I have a wife, and I've been buying her presents on her birthday every year. If I don't buy her presents, she will become sad. What should I do?"What you can do is to give her the presents a few days before her birthday or a few days after, and in this way, you would not be taking the day as an "`Eed" (see the definition of `Eed given above), and it would not be imitating the Kuffaar on specifically giving presents on the birthday itself. But better than this is to buy her gifts every single day. If you do that, she will not worry about a birthday.

والله تعالى أعلموالسلام

which scholars have declared birthday as haram

format_quote Originally Posted by azc

which scholars have declared birthday as haram

That's a useless question to ask, really, because when I tell you, you'll say: "I don't follow those scholars." I can mention 100 names one after another, and after each one you'll say, "He is like this or that," "I don't follow him," "He's an extremist", etc. etc. etc.

So, useless to answer that question.

format_quote Originally Posted by Huzaifah ibn Adam

That's a useless question to ask, really, because when I tell you, you'll say: "I don't follow those scholars." I can mention 100 names one after another, and after each one you'll say, "He is like this or that," "I don't follow him," "He's an extremist", etc. etc. etc.So, useless to answer that question.

and you take their word as dalil...Anyway....

format_quote Originally Posted by Simple_Person

I believe many Muslim brothers and sisters follow a logical and rational path instead of taking somebody else's word for it. If we would use logic even with birthdays I use to call it as long as I can remember it when I came to the west and even as an atheist back then..."why celebrate when you are a year closer to your death" XD If we follow this logic even one can say indeed why celebrate even as an atheist as this world is their paradise. If you are a year closer to your death.

Birthday celebration is a cultural thing from west but sadly a large number of Muslim youth follows the western culture. I don't think if any scholar allows to celebrate birthday or follow western culture though but calling it haram is questionable.

format_quote Originally Posted by azc

Birthday celebration is a cultural thing from west but sadly a large number of Muslim youth follows the western culture. I don't think if any scholar allows to celebrate birthday or follow western culture though but calling it haram is questionable.

Brother, i follow mostly the path of logic and rationality. Think with me.

The question that one needs to be asking him or her self is rather simple. If i do not celebrate my birthday, what will happen? In case of let's say if indeed is haram, you have protected yourself from it by not celebrating. If it wasn't haram, have you missed that much of life by not celebrating it?

Another approach what gives even MORE support is this approach. Iblies is aware of what is haram and what is not haram, BETTER then us Muslims or other people who believe in One Creator. In the Qur'an Allah(swt) tells us i am not sure myself how many times exactly but A LOT........A LOOOOOOT of times, sheytan indeed is a enemy to you. A enemy by definition will harm you by whatever means. This world has gone astray from a Creator as never before in the history of mankind. So the practices done in this day and age are also mostly in line with what are contradictory to the true religion. For example, alcohol is being widely promoted to drink, while Islam as only religion prohibits this practice. Or even ribba..or women "showing signs of freedom" by being naked while dressed. So in the case of birthdays, we look at this practice. Is this worldwide being widely spread and promoted? To my knowledge this indeed is being widely spread and promoted. So if this wasn't beneficial for the TRUE religion for people to practice it, then for sure sheytan will want people to practice it . So sub'han'Allah a lot of times, it is sheytan's strategy that teaches us what to do . So how foolish he is, his strategy makes us even more firm in our deen and the things we don't even know are forbidden or not. He will show it to us

Another example, when i JUST embraced Islam by choice. I suddenly got those lucid nightmares. I NEVER in my entire life had experienced such dreams. In those nightmares i was awake as and looking at the room i was in and in real life also sleeping in that room. Everything as it really was in the exact place, just like you would wake up and stay in bed and look at the room. In those dreams however i couldn't move whatsoever. In that dream some dark shadow figure was standing by looking at me, trying to scare me. The first time i had this dream, i was very scared. When i woke up i realized it was sheytan. I thanked him hahaha, because i then knew that i was on the right path hahah. Later on he tried it again, but i recited Qur'an and tried to drag myself towards him..every time again he ran away.

He is the "contradictory mufti". Everything that he says you should do, do the opposite and you are safe . And if he says something that is correct, you listen to your heart if it is at ease or not .

Simple argument right?

Culture is the tradition people produce. Sunnah is the tradition the Prophet aleyhissalam produced. As Islam came for all mankind, people need to look at the cultural elements they have whether it contradicts with Sunnah. However, an element which does not exist in Sunnah does not necceseraly mean it contradicts with Sunnah. We must compare it. Huzaifah made a comparison with Eids. This might be a rational comparison. But as for following the western culture, just as I said, if the elements do not contradict with Sunnah there is no harm in following the western or eastern or northern or southern culture. All cultures belong to people.

format_quote Originally Posted by Simple_Person

Brother, i follow mostly the path of logic and rationality. Think with me.The question that one needs to be asking him or her self is rather simple. If i do not celebrate my birthday, what will happen? In case of let's say if indeed is haram, you have protected yourself from it by not celebrating. If it wasn't haram, have you missed that much of life by not celebrating it?Another approach what gives even MORE support is this approach. Iblies is aware of what is haram and what is not haram, BETTER then us Muslims or other people who believe in One Creator. In the Qur'an Allah(swt) tells us i am not sure myself how many times exactly but A LOT........A LOOOOOOT of times, sheytan indeed is a enemy to you. A enemy by definition will harm you by whatever means. This world has gone astray from a Creator as never before in the history of mankind. So the practices done in this day and age are also mostly in line with what are contradictory to the true religion. For example, alcohol is being widely promoted to drink, while Islam as only religion prohibits this practice. Or even ribba..or women "showing signs of freedom" by being naked while dressed. So in the case of birthdays, we look at this practice. Is this worldwide being widely spread and promoted? To my knowledge this indeed is being widely spread and promoted. So if this wasn't beneficial for the TRUE religion for people to practice it, then for sure sheytan will want people to practice it . So sub'han'Allah a lot of times, it is sheytan's strategy that teaches us what to do . So how foolish he is, his strategy makes us even more firm in our deen and the things we don't even know are forbidden or not. He will show it to us Another example, when i JUST embraced Islam by choice. I suddenly got those lucid nightmares. I NEVER in my entire life had experienced such dreams. In those nightmares i was awake as and looking at the room i was in and in real life also sleeping in that room. Everything as it really was in the exact place, just like you would wake up and stay in bed and look at the room. In those dreams however i couldn't move whatsoever. In that dream some dark shadow figure was standing by looking at me, trying to scare me. The first time i had this dream, i was very scared. When i woke up i realized it was sheytan. I thanked him hahaha, because i then knew that i was on the right path hahah. Later on he tried it again, but i recited Qur'an and tried to drag myself towards him..every time again he ran away.He is the "contradictory mufti". Everything that he says you should do, do the opposite and you are safe . And if he says something that is correct, you listen to your heart if it is at ease or not .Simple argument right?

glad to know that you are a Muslim by choice... I agree with you bro

format_quote Originally Posted by ardianto

Not a rational comparison. Eid is mass event, while celebrating birthday is personal event. These two things cannot be compared. The point number 2 in maulana Huzaifah's post actually was ulama statement about celebrating Milad-un Nabi (Maulid) which is mass event, not about ordinary person who celebrate birthday.

yes, this is the point which he hints at. Whereas this issue i.e. Eid miladunnabi s.a.w is a disputed one and no scholar declared it as Haram except a certain sect.

format_quote Originally Posted by Simple_Person

Which sect are you referring to if i may ask?

madkhali or of this mentality