Salim was over joyous; he had just reached home after submitting the application form for one of the most difficult exams, the ACCA. “Wow! I am going to be a certified professional this year!” and then, a brilliant idea struck him. “Why don’t I call all my friends over for an exam party?” After doing all the planning, he called up his friends. Everyone was so eager to have another day to celebrate. While he spent the next two days going in and out preparing for a grand get-together, his mother watched worriedly.
“Salim! Are you OK? You should be calling them over to study; your exam is just a month away! I have never ever heard of anything as absurd as an exam party!” She pleaded anxiously. “You are supposed to celebrate after you succeed in the exam, are you sure you are going to clear it when you haven’t even touched your books?!”
Salim ignored his mother, “Mom, it’s the trend these days, everyone does it! Please don’t be so backward! Besides, it’s a good thing to make others happy and we are celebrating to thank this blessing.”
His mother felt like crying. “What can I do?”, she thought.
What do YOU think? Have you ever heard of a pre-exam party? No?
Well… I have! Read on…
“Afnan is turning 15 tomorrow! Masha Allah she is growing up so fast! I’ll call all her friends and aunts for a surprise party.”
The next day, when Afnan opened her Facebook account, she was shocked to see so many notifications. “Happy Birthday Afnan” they had all wished. ‘Oh’ she remembered. On her arrival at home, she was even more surprised to find that her relatives and friends had come over to celebrate her birthday. It was a day full of wishes, hugs, gifts and a grand cake -to celebrate the day she entered this world…
Can you relate between the first and the second scenario? No? Well…Read on…
We all live according to our views and perspectives about life. The non-believers regard this life as everything; enjoy it to the utmost, enjoy it before it ends. For them, this is the time to gain all that they can; to them there is no hereafter.
For a Muslim on the other hand, life is a serious matter, it is a responsibility that they shall be accountable for. Life is a tough exam; based on the curriculum of Quran, Seerah and Sunnah. It is a journey on a thorny road to Hell-fire or a blissful road towards Paradise. A Muslim is not free to do anything and everything that they desire. They willingly bind themselves in the boundaries set by Allah so that they can be free in the eternal life; in the gardens of Paradise, near their Lord who is pleased with them. When a Muslim enters this world, their assessment begins.
Prophet Muhammad 
explained the reality of this world in a beautiful parable. He said: “The world is a prison-house for a believer and Paradise for a non-believer.” 1
With this in mind, does celebrating birthday really make sense? Does it make sense to rejoice on the commencement day of your examination each year? Have you ever seen a prisoner partying the day he entered his prison cell? No! The reason to celebrate will only come afterwards…
This is why we see the best generations of Muslims far from such celebrations. We never hear the Sahaba, the tabi’en or later scholars celebrating various days: Badar day, Fatah Makkah (conquest of Makkah) day or Ahzaab day. Instead, we read about them being hasty in racing after good deeds, seeking forgiveness and wishing they were birds and trees from the fear of accountability before Allah
.
The History
One of the effects of colonialism and media is the rising tide of western values and culture which has brought with itself their futile celebrations. It is the nature of human beings that they copy those who overpower them with a sense of inferiority. Same is the case with Muslims today, having forgotten their own glorious civilization, they are ready to accept everything being handed down to them by the West.
A little research will show that birthdays were originally celebrated by the pagans, the pharaohs and the ancient Greeks to honor their ‘gods’. Even the Christians believed it to be a pagan celebration and admonished it at first, until the 4th century, when they themselves started celebrating the birthday of Isa 
. It is a celebration rooted deeply in shirk (polytheism).
“Lighting candles on a birthday cake originates from pagan beliefs in gods. People had believed that their gods lived in the sky among the stars. Lighting candles or torches during ceremonies was a way for people to send messages and prayers to the gods. Making a wish and blowing out the candles on the cake personified the idea of sending prayers up to the gods. Germans were recorded putting candles on birthday cakes over 100 years ago. The number of candles on the cake represented the age of the birthday honoree. Blowing out all the candles in one breath would give your wish a better chance at coming true.” 2
Stand Apart – From those who Disbelieve
The Prophet warned us about imitating the non believers. He said: “He who imitates any people (in their actions) is considered to be one of them.” 3.”
In every sphere of life he wanted us to be distinguished from the non-believers. He once said: “Act against the polytheists, trim the mustache closely and grow the beard.” 4
At another point he said: “Act differently from the Jews, for they do not pray in their sandals or their shoes.” 5
These are some of the many examples from ahadith that instruct us about not imitating the non-believers in their customs, traditions and celebrations. We the Ummah of Muhammad are a distinct nation.
The irony is that the non- believers, as a whole, continue to oppress and support the oppression of Muslims throughout the world. Countless children, women and men are their victims each day. Whereas, turning a blind eye to this, Muslims are busy in celebrating the days and events borrowed from them.
So, the next time we wish someone on their birthday, or think of celebrating it, let us review the purpose of life in our minds. Let us take pride in our exclusive 1400 year old Muslim identity and culture given to us from the Lord of the worlds. Let us be the trendsetters for the world and not let the tides set our course. Let us distribute to the world the true perspective of life. Let us stand apart – from those who disbelieve.
May Allah make our best day the day we meet Him. Ameen!
Please share your suggestions in the comments section below. We would love to hear what you to say. 🙂
- Sahih Muslim ↩
- http://history.answers.com/language/the-history-of-birthdays ↩
- Abu Dawud; Sahih ↩
- Sahih Muslim ↩
- Abu Dawud; Sahih ↩
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153 replies on “Birthday – Happy or Not?”
Loved it dear Umm Salih..
Jazakillah Khair Laila 🙂
Thank you very much. It is a new perspective of thinking. Afterthis, on our birthday, we should donate more to the poor and do more good deeds.
masha allah and jazaka allah ghairan my sister.
May allah quide us to the right path!!!
Ameen! Wa iyyaki
Alhamdulillah for this very informative article. May Allah reward you for throwing light on the issue
Jazakumullah Khairen, It is good for those who think about the right path
Jazak allahu khayran
Wa iyyakum!
Jazakillah Umm. I always knew in the back of my mind that birthdays are not islamic but the idea was not really substantiated. May Allah guide all the muslims still in he dark about this issue.
Alhumdulillah that the article benefited you..Ameen!
It is very informative and a good parable is made to make it understanding easily.Exams in life in different phases in the worldly affairs and exam for the hereafter; So we should prepare for it wisely to succeed in both the worlds. May Allah(swt) bless you with health and prosperity and continue you to write such inspirational doses for muslim ummah.
Jazak Allah Khair!
Its a pity for one to celebrate everytime he/she is a year less to his grave.
Indeed! May Allah give us the true understanding of life. Ameen
SubuhanaLlah. If we think of growing older, we will under stand that we are going near the grave. Though ve not celebrate birthday or anything cos I dnt believe in it. But I pray to almighty Allah to forgive me for people ve wish so.
You can celebrate as long as it is celebrated in a way where there isn’t anything like alcohol, partying with songs, instead party hard with food, be thankful and greatful to Allah for giving u this life and relax and chill with family obviously do what u like how u like as long as u think Allah will be Happy with and not upset and if you need further guidance u can always refer to Dr Bilals article and no need to get so serious guys just use ur own initiative as to what’s right and wrong! Gods given everyone a brain..
Jazak Allah Khair for the comment Taz,
If everyone uses their own initiative for right and wrong…won’t there be a haphazard situation? Allah (swt) has given us the Quran and Sunnah to refer to in all big and small matters of life, they are the criterion for right and wrong. They’ve also guided us on how to thank Allah; by obeying Him, by doing Sujood ash Shukr (prostration of thankfulness) and by being more humble before Allah. Not by celebrating days rooted in paganism.
I’d appreciate if you read the whole article 🙂
Regards,
Umm Salih
Salaam Alaykum Sister,
Allah the almighty tells us that actions are judged by intentions. So if we are not intending to worship any other God and want to celebrate with a cake and candle and do not intend to worship any one other than Allah SWT then I do not see that this is Haram.
Bukhari and Nawawi Hadiths
Also we are told not to be extreme in the religion.
Salaam Alaykum my lovely Sister MashaAllah
my dear sister
do not imitate the kuffaar in their religious belief… whatever your intention is, this culture of celebrating birthdays is deep rooted in paganism… why imitate them when we are clearly told not to imitate them?
Jazak ALLAH u khair …
we are blindly following the things that fascinate us.May ALLAH guide us and about the birthday issue,then its simple.Our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) never celebrates and so should we !!
ALLAH hafiz.
Exactly! But we soo far today from the ways and teachings of the Prophet (sa)…
Jazakillahu khairan for this enlightening article.
I’ve always been against this birthday celebration phenomenon and I’m glad I now have some solid reasons for not indulging in it. But there’s something else, you wrote:
“This is why we see the best generations of Muslims far from such celebrations. We never hear the Sahaba, the tabi’en or later scholars celebrating various days: Badar day, Fatah Makkah (conquest of Makkah) day or Ahzaab day.”
Does that mean it isn’t appreciable to celebrate other occasions like passing an exam, someone completing their hifz of the Quran or anyone’s accomplishments?
Wa iyyaki Haleh 🙂
In the quoted paragraph I did not mean we cannot celebrate any joy or accomplishment, or be happy. What I wanted to highlight is that Islam has only two eids; Eid ul Adha and Eid ul Fitr (the word eid means days of festivity that return each year) and that we must not fixate some ‘days’ to celebrate each year, because it is the way of non-muslims.
Insha Allah you can find a detailed answer to your question here:http://islamqa.info/en/145427
I hope it helped…Jazakillah Khair
It has indeed been of help. Jazakillah Khair : )
What about celebrating after i havegraduated from a degree?is that permisible?
Jazakillah Khair for your comment..
There is nothing wrong, in sha Allah, in celebrating any joy so long as it is limited to the occasion only, and will not become something that is repeated. Wallahu A’lam.
Please refer here for a detailed answer:http://islamqa.info/en/145427
A great article that clearly unfolds the true reality of the shirk belief of birthday.
Turn your life around, there is still chance to realise repent and come close to Allah. Who has blessed you with every niyama.
Be thank to Allah the Lord of the worlds.
Jazak Allah Khair for your feedback.
jazakAllahu bil Khairi, may Allah swt bless u with more healthy years and Ikhlas to contribute more to HIS Deen.
Such a beautiful Du’a! Ameen!
the Jews and the Christians have a way of luring and packaging their paganism culture I’m a way that it will interest the Muslims so that they will be able to achieve their goal of idolizing Islam which can never be possible so Muslims in the world should take heed
True..and the Muslims get lured in it because they have forgotten and have been disconnected from their own glorious culture.
May Allah guide us all…Ameen
very knowledgable article. loved it.
Jazak Allah Khair!
Subhanallah!!! I May Allah SWT continue to make it easy for us
Ameen..!
Jazakillahu khairan .Thank may ALLAH BE WITH US
Wa iyyakum.
Umm I really appreciate the message. May Allah guide us aright. I pray Allah forgives me all my past sins. I don’t celebrate birthday but I only make cake for my friends n family whenever its my date. Pls is it haram too?
May Allah forgive us all…Ameen! Dear sister, I’m quoting the answer of a scholar for you, as I am not one.
‘Making a cake and giving it to the child on this day, and telling him that this is his birthday so as to make him happy, comes under the heading of celebrating, even if his family do not call it a celebration. Undoubtedly celebration may take many different forms, but this does not mean that it is permissible. They have only chosen this day to give the child a gift because in their hearts they feel some love for this occasion and are trying not to let the day pass without celebrating it, even if that is only by giving a gift to the child.
And Allah knows best.’ Source: http://islamqa.info/en/175577
I hope it helped..:)
My suggestion- If you want to call over friends and family, why not make a cake on any other day and have a nice time together? 🙂
Jazakillah Khair
MashaaAllah wonderful article.I read it with my son who turned 9 yesterday.He already understands why we don’t celebrate birthdays.This article gave more insight Alhamdulillah.
May Allah guide us all and the generations to come to the path of righteousness.Aameen
Alhumdulillah! Ameen.
Very nice and clearly explained article Umm.. Jazakillah khair.
I have i question. I was born on December 25 and I did not celebrate my birthday.
But… Some of my friends know my birth date and send me lots of birthdy wishes via facebook or whatsapp messenger.
I wonder what is the best way to reply ? Or I just simply say thank you?
Thanks for your advice
Wassalamualaikum
Assalam u alaikum,
I think you should thank politely and also tell them that you don’t celebrate birthdays. Another suggestion would be to make your birth date ‘private’ in facebook, as many people wish after getting a notification from facebook reminding of someone’s birthday.
For a detailed response: https://islamqa.info/en/146449
Jazakillah Khair
Aside from birthdays not been islamical, it does not appeal to the human sense.
MashAllah this lecture will benefit a lot of people (InshAllah) Ofcourse i’m sad how can i be happy when i grow older..year by year…and the time go soo fast.. in fact i make every day party for my children and i don’t need to waith to come that b day, we enjoy every day in the little things in life, becouse one day you will look back and realize they were the big things…
Masha Allah! Love what you wrote: in fact i make every day party for my children and i don’t need to waith to come that b day, we enjoy every day in the little things in life.
Jazakillah Khair for your comment 🙂
So if I have a child I should despair rather than celebrate because it’s the start of a test or “imprisonment”? I think intention does come into it, I’d rather celebrate the birth of my child and thank Allah for the blessing. As for birthdays, it’s not celebrating a year won over death but a reminder of the blessing of Allah. Surely this life being a test does not mean that we have to be miserable all the time, Allah has allowed us some pleasure, as long as we don’t exceed limits.
I hope you read the whole article Hana as I surely did not mean that 🙂 Ofcourse we are not to ‘despair’ and should be thankful to Allah. However, is celebrating birthday the correct way to show gratitude?
It is perfectly okay to celebrate joy and accomplishments. What I wanted to highlight is that Islam has only two eids; Eid ul Adha and Eid ul Fitr (the word eid means days of festivity that return each year) and that we must not fixate some ‘days’ to celebrate each year, because it is the way of non-muslims.
Insha Allah you can find a detailed answer to your question here:http://islamqa.info/en/145427
I hope this made it clear…Jazakillah Khair
I have a question..
It is permissible to wish your friend Christian Happy Birthday?
Please see this: https://islamqa.info/en/213243
Jazak Allah Khair
Such an enlightening article. JazakAllah for the reminder!
Clearly a non believer’s festivity
Jazakumllah khairan.I really do appreciate your effort in bringing to light the islam stand point on this issue.May Allah continue to increase u in knowledge.Thank you
Jazak Allah Khair
Jazakallah khairan… for this eye opening article
Wa iyyakum
mashallah very knowledgefull very effective and a good trend to do the good for muslims and ummah and i am very glad to see this type of work mashallah may Allah bless u eiman as to sahaba qaram r.a.
jazak allah.
Ameen! Jazak Allah Khair for your feedback
Tnx umm salih ****Let us be the trendsetters for the world and not let the tides set our course. Let us distribute to the world the true perspective of life. ****
Jzakalla kheyr ..
Lets be de difference Brothers nd sisters of eeman
Asc i undastand celebration of birthday and especialy the view of islam on xchams day but what if your neighbour who is a christian brought gift like maney or drinks on that day would you take it ?
Wa alaikum Assalam,
“It is permissible to accept a gift from a non-Muslim because he is a relative or neighbour, or for the purpose of softening his heart and calling him to Islam, but it is haraam if it is done as an act of friendship or love,…”
https://islamqa.info/en/128632
Jazak Allah Khair
May this article benefit all Muslims on earth inshaa Allah
Ameeen 🙂 !
I wanna ask.. What about Eid-E-Miladunnabi??
Mmm, Abu Lahab just pointed a finger to release a slave because our Nabi Karim (sm) was born.
Because of that Every monday Abu Lahab get Honey in hell..
And another one, When Adam (A) was sent to the earth Allah bless us with Jummah..
So,My ask is why Can’t we celebrate eid e miladunnabi??? 🙂
yes,we can’t celebrate our birthdays.. I agree with that
Please see this: http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/celebrating-the-mawlid-by-dr-bilal-philips/
Jazak Allah Khair
Assalamalykum! You have beautifully explained smthg I believe in as well. Jazakillah khair
Wa iyyakum. May Allah accept it.
The article is very informative.Anticipating more articles like this.Assalamu Aleykum.
Assalamualaikum wa rehamatullah Hi barkatu
Its very informative and becomes valuable whenen things are made understandable with the help of example. May Allah guide all to follow the teaching of Islam refrain from doing wrong
I dont know why people should be confused anytin our dear Prophet SAW didnt do dont also do it. Wrong is clear no matter how it has been decorated.Lets remember dat we shall be in our graves alone wit our deeds! May Allah guide us all Aameen!
if someone say happy birtday thenwhat we should do in replay
Smile, say thankyou, and tell them ‘but I don’t celebrate birthdays’..and then explain why if you need to.
nice
MashAllah an awesome article.
This bidah is celebrated in whole Muslim world too with great fervour.
You have shown the right perspective of Islam on celebrating these parties.
alhamdulilah in my area we don’t celebrate birthdays but what is giving as he’ll is miladinabi which is bond
Jazakumullah bilkhair.what about when you are on social media eg (fb) and each year frnds and family are sending you their congratulatory on your birthday is haram to accept those congratulatory
Well, this article above was written simply as a reminder, by me, and I am not a scholar to label anything Haram. My suggestion would be to make your birth date ‘private’ in facebook. This way nobody will know and nobody will wish. And even if anyone does, we can always thank them politely and tell them that we don’t celebrate birthdays and the reason why.
Jazak Allah Khair for your comment. I hope this answers your question.
alhamdulillah for this article yesterday I tried to explain the same to my family I think it should help more in clarifying the matter.
for the one who asked eid miladunabii first what he said regarding abu lahab getting honey in hell he needs to come up with an authentic dalil for it as Allah clearly said in Qoran that his wealth and what he’ve done (of the releasing of the slave and of help to the nabi) will not benefit him.
and the Friday (jummah) is not a great day for Adam descending on it but that is among the great things that happened on this great day. the day is great in its own nature and that descending and other things (creation, judgement day and others) were made to be on this day same as his descent.
so if we need to celebrate eid miladunabii we need to come forth with more clear dalil.
if it were a good thing (basing on what you said on abu lahab) then I ask three questions,
1. did the prophet know of this good thing!?
if no then we can’t consider it to be good as he didn’t know amongst good deeds
2. if yes he knew then did he order that it be done?
if he didn’t order that a good deed be done then you arw accusing him of leaving behind some of the revelations
3. if you say he prescribed it to be done, then bring your proof if you are truthful!?!?
Jazak Allah Khair for you input.
Lets agree with you brother and turn the tables for sometime and this time your provide us with proper hadiths with references and authentication mentioning from Huzoor ﷺ and Sahaba رضي الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰعنه said Not to celebrate Huzoor ﷺ birthday or to be happy on it. I repeat with clear words mentioning Not To.. Please revert
Jazakallah khairan sister umm salih.
Totally convinced. Best explaination for no celebration of birthdays.
But what about celebrating marriage anniversaries? For Some people say that there’s a reason to be happy
Wa iyyaki Munazza 🙂
The main point to understand here is that Islam has given us two Eids, Eid ul Adha and Eid ul Fitr and the word Eid itself means a day of festivity that returns each year. It is perfectly okay to celebrate joy and accomplishments, however to fixate some ‘days’ and celebrate them ‘each year’ is not.
The answer to your question can be found here: http://islamqa.info/en/145427
Jazakillah Khair
What about celebrating marriage anniversaries
Jazakillahu khairan, this article has conviced me and cleared my doubts from shubuhaats by some that birthdays can be celebrated, so those celebrating(what they called) maulidun-nabiyyi should refrain from that evil. May Allah help us and add us beneficial knowledge, ameen.
Alhumdulillah! Ameen to your duas.
Thank you so much for clearing the doubts and worries of Muslims. But I have a very big worry I usually fast on my birthday, and how do you see that action.
Assalam u Alaikum,
Please refer here for the answer: https://islamqa.info/en/137931
Jazak Allah Khair
Well actually i stoped celebrating my birthday with a logic made in my own head. I thought Hey why celebrate a day that says another year of your life is gone. Now i read this i feel good about my decetion.
Alhumdulillah
Its sad people are engaged in worldly matters so badly that they have lost the sense of right and wrong.
good article!!
AA. Does Islam forbid every other thing that was not done or celebrated by our Aslaf? Is it not a very late trend…. to define Islam in reaction to west. As Tariq Ramadhan points out ” more Islamic less western, less western more Islamic”. Can y explain the term Mubah for me?.
Wa alaikum Assalam,
Please keep in mind that this is not a ‘scholarly article’ or ‘fatwa’. This is simply a reminder to stay away from the customs, festivals and celebrations of the non-Muslims, as was commanded by the Prophet (sa) to stay distinct from them and not imitate them.
Please see this: http://islamqa.info/en/145427
Jazak Allah Khair.
May ALLAH guide the entire muslims’ communities and bless the Dr philip more.I’am Nigerian where the celebration of birthday of our beloved prophat(MUHAMMAD) became national anthen(it public holiday) but i never involved in it becouse our founding fathers(ff) was decieved by the colonial masters(cm) as follow; =cm: we saw christians celebrating the birthday of their prophat,what of you? =ff: it is not permissible. =cm:but your prophat(muslims) is greater/mightier then theirs(christians) =ff:yes =cm: why not celebrat the birthday of Muhammad,becouse HE deserved to be remembered by you(muslims) =ff:ok let mark it as public holiday =cm:it is better. that is how it was started and it is baseless to every genue (sunni) muslim
Very true..May Allah give us understanding of Deen..
Mashaa Allah..One f d best article..very much informative..jaxakallahu khairan kaseera.
Well Then Dr. Bilal Philips how you would convey Surah Ar-Rahman
As Salaamu Alaikum, very insightful. Where would Mawlid or Milad fall in this concept… Halal or Haram?
Wa alaikum Assalam,
Please see this: http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/celebrating-the-mawlid-by-dr-bilal-philips/
Jazak Allah Khair
ASLAM O ALIKUM….
Please give the reference of the ahadith given in the article… your way of conveying the message is very impressive.. Thnak you
Wa alaikum Assalam Hina,
The references are given below the article with their respective number.
Jazakillah Khair 🙂
MashAllah,anytime i read anytin about my deen,i feel blessed.Alhamdulillah!
Alhumdulillah!
So is celebrating a birthday haram?
Please see this: http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/celebrating-the-mawlid-by-dr-bilal-philips/
Jazak Allah khair
jazakallah khaira for this beautiful reminder must of us were carried away especially by the Facebook alert on our birthdays and we even take it serious gradually but Alhamdulillah with a reminder piece am now OK.
Alhumdulillah..glad to hear that!
Timely need!
Jazaakillaahu Khair yaa ukhthi!
May I have the permission for translating this into Tamil?
Sure Insha Allah! Wa iyyakum
Mashallah…Jazak Allahu khairan
jazakallah khairan ukhti, for your explanation. i hope we can all meet in jannah. Amin.
Insha Allah! 🙂 wa iyyaki ukht
You guys should stop speaking English and definitely stop using the internet. Both of these originate from non Muslim and western countries. Stop imitating western culture. That’s bidah of the highest order!
Jazakillah Khair for your comment Concerned Muslim
Well, the Prophet (sa) spoke the same language and rode the same vehicles and tools as that of the Kuffar. The hadith clearly states that ‘Be distinct from those who disbelieve’, what does it mean then? Can you explain in the light of authentic references?
Assalamoalaikum,
JazakAllahukhairun for such an informative and up to date article. May Allah (SWT) increase all of us in beneficial knowledge and accept our efforts towards good deeds.
Ma-assalama.
Wa alaikum Assalam,
Jazakillah Khair. Ameen!
Well said! Masha Allah.
Alhamdulillah. Jazakallah khairun for the reminder. May Allah give you and all of us more beneficial knowledge.
Jazak Allah Khair sister for this article
Very informative it’s now a trend among muslims,you are seen as an outdated dude if you don’t celebrate your few years to death(birthday)why wont we use the money and help the poor and the needy?
Jajhakallah for such a beautiful article.
Sometimes our younger brothers and sisters insist & cry to celebrate their birthday like others. In this regard, what should i do as they cannot perceive the true.
Explain to them why we should not celebrate birthdays, and give them some fun alternatives, like celebrating Eid with the same fervour, or celebrating other accomplishments. Sister Umm Maryam’s comment will be of help Insha Allah:
“I can add that we can celebrate many things especially for children or new Muslims such as the child reaching the age of prayers or memorising a number of juzz or Surah of the Quran or the decision made by a girl to wear hijab and so on.
The most important thing for a child to understand is that we celebrate an important achievement after understanding it’s purpose and it shouldn’t be on yearly date.
Gradually the child should learn that we seek the pleasure of Allah by doing every action and not expecting any gift or reward from any one for any of our good deeds.
Allah knows best.
Um Maryam”
What can you say to Muslims that are saying Happy Birthday” to other Muslims and are noan-Muslim family and friends??
well done for the reminder !
What can we say to Muslims who are saying “Happy Birthday” to other Muslims and our non-Muslim family and friends? (What can we say that would be pleasing to Allah, and better)?
We can first gain knowledge of why is it not permissible to celebrate birthdays, and then give them sincere advice, while making Dua.
The first thing, however, to call them towards, are the teachings of the Quran. Once they are connected to it, the understanding of these things will become easier Insha Allah.
We should stop acting on behalf of Allah. He has created each one of us and has sent comprehensive guidance for all and given us the free will.No compelling. Each one is accountable for himself or herself.If we can not join others happiness,we must not make their lives a misery.Allah made the world for us to thank him for His blessings.Let us take care of our selves without being a nuisance to others.Let Allah do his justice in time.Allah did not make this world as Hell.This has both. It is for us to choose. No imposition of will on each other .Hidayat yes.Let us worry about ourselves.World will be a much better place to live.Allah is Rabbal mashrqain and maghrbain.It is not for us to mark distinction.
Ofcourse one cannot impose their choices on others. You may respectfully disagree with what is written. However, we have been commanded by Allah to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and this is the purpose of this blog. We are all accountable for ourselves and equally accountable for sharing our acquired knowledge with others 🙂
Moreover, not celebrating a birthday does not make life miserable or unhappy, there are many other things to be grateful for. Each day and each minute can become a source of happiness.
Jazak Allah Khair for your comment.
Jazak Allahu Khairan for the information. Masha Allah it’s very good. I can add that we can celebrate many things especially for children or new Muslims such as the child reaching the age of prayers or memorising a number of juzz or Surah of the Quran or the decision made by a girl to wear hijab and so on.
The most important thing for a child to understand is that we celebrate an important achievement after understanding it’s purpose and it shouldn’t be on yearly date.
Gradually the child should learn that we seek the pleasure of Allah by doing every action and not expecting any gift or reward from any one for any of our good deeds.
Allah knows best.
Um Maryam
Jazak Allah Khair for your comment..truly beneficial 🙂
Zazakillahu khair.The post is really hearttouching.
Asalamualikum wa’rehmat ul allah wa’barakatuhu….. MashaaAllah its a very good article and a nice step towards abrogative activities being added in our life style. But I would have appreciated it even more if it was much more well explained and added with some more references from quran n sunnah….. nevertheless a great work
Wa alaikum Assalam,
Yes, it would have been better with more references. Jazak Allah Khair for a constructive feedback.
Um Salih Assalamu Alaykum ,
What a great article, mashaa Allah tabaarak Allah, may Allah make you benfit more from you knowledge and make you sincer in all your actions, and also bestow happiness upon you and your household, Ameen.
I am a 27 years old young man from Algeria, but i used to live in England for many years, hamdulilah I do master the arabic language, as well as french and english. I need many advice related to my life, and I was wondering if you can hook me up with brothers from where you are in US, because i returned to my home country presuming it is a Muslim country that should help me increase my Eeman, but i realised i was better and ery close to Allah when i was in UK, i am lost and feel worse year after year.
jazaak Allahu khayran for letting me know.
Regards,
Riadhfoukrache@gmail.com
Sister Umm Salih,
Jazak Allahu Khairan for your reply. I wrote a booklet about the heart of the believer. i need some writers to read it and send me their comments. Please email me if you are interested to do so.
Barak Allahufik
Um Maryam
Can’t we even wish people on birthdays or buy them gifts
Assalam u Alaikum,
Please see this: https://islamqa.info/en/213243
Jazak Allah Khair
Allah bless you, Ummu Salih. Both the article and the responses to the questions are very comprehensive. May Allah increase you in knowledge.
Jazakillah Khair Aliyu! Ameen
Jazaakillaahu khairan katheeran fiddaarain ukhtee! It’s indeed a much essential and excellently written article along with your replies to the comments alhmdulillaah. May Allaah increase u in knowledge, sound health & iman. May Allaah bless us with sound understanding of what pleases Him through our beliefs, words & actions; and enable us to adhere to it till we meet Him! Aameen! Aameen!
Wa iyyaki Bukhra! Ameen your duas 🙂
shukran ukhtee … u v enlightened me … i was one of those people who actually get annoyed if i dont celebrate my birthday .. but alhamdulillah for ur acknowledgement
now ill stop doing the birthdays
Alhumdulillah! May Allah keep you steadfast Mariam 🙂
Jazakillah hu Khaira Sister , The article was wonderful i shared it with many .However some of my friends criticised i am stating ones argument here
““The world is a prison-house for a believer and Paradise for a non-believer.
With this in mind, does celebrating birthday really make sense? Does it make sense to rejoice on the commencement day of your examination each year? Have you ever seen a prisoner partying the day he entered his prison cell?
This is part of the article let’s analyze it…
So if you want to take this Hadith literally, please tell me why in Islam death is not celebrated?
Because according to Article’s logic the person got free from prison so his relatives should be very happy and celebrate it.
You tell me If you have a baby next year, will you be happy or sad?
According to that Hadith you should be sad if your son/daughter is born (since he/she is coming to prison)
You tell me when Prophet Muhammad’s son Ibrahim was born , was he happy or sad?
And when his son died, was he happy or sad?
2nd Reference: The Prophet (P.B.U.H) warned us about imitating the non believers. He said: “He who imitates any people is considered to be one of them.”
Why you wear pent shirt and use laptops and mobile? Why do you have account on Facebook and whatsapp?
Why you drive car? Why motorcycle? You are imitiating non-belivers :-/”
Please give appropriate response about this. I want to learn hikmah of tackling questioners of this kind
Jazakillah hu Khair
Wa alaykum Assalam,
Jazak Allah Khair for your question. I feel I should not have used that example as the introduction as many people objected on it. We all learn from our mistakes. However, the things to understand is,
1) There are people who want to understand something and then there are those who only want to argue and stick to their beliefs and practices. This article was a reminder for the first kind of people and these lines are just like a parable. They are not explaining the actual reason for not celebrating birthdays, the reason is mentioned in the last few paras, and most did not read the article to the end.
2)The reason we don’t celebrate all these days is because Islam has only two Eids; Eid ul Adha and Eid ul Fitr (the word eid means days of festivity that return each year) and that we must not fixate some ‘days’ to celebrate each year, because it is the way of non-muslims.
This is explained in detail here:http://islamqa.info/en/145427
3) The second response is to the hadith of the Prophet (sa). Ask them back: “The Prophet (sa) used the same language and rode the same vehicles as that of the Kuffar, and at the same time he told us not to imitate the non-believers. What does it mean then? Can you explain in the light of authentic references?”
(btw, the reason is explained in these links: https://islamqa.info/en/108996,https://islamqa.info/en/21694 and http://islamqa.info/en/121554.
I hope this helps.
Jazak Allah Khair
Jazakillah hu Khaira sister
Alhamdulillaah! I finally found a better, solid answer with evidence, to answer anyone who may think ‘just a birthday’ is a non-issue! Jazaakillaahu khayran.
Jazakillahu khairan! May Allah give us all the strength to follow and spread the Truth. Aameen!
Jazakallah khairan for this enlightened article. I know much better now and IN SHA ALLAH will desist from the act for myself and my family whether on social media, party celebration or any other form. May ALMIGHTY ALLAH make it easy for me and the rest umah. Amin
Jazzaakillaahu khayral jazaa
My Allah guide all of us , forgive us and help us with His mercy , indeed this is a good article which made me sense .
Thanks sister , Allah yahfazki
very educating. jazakumullah
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