by Asma bint Shameem
ANSWER:
Most of the ulama do not allow celebrating birthdays because it’s a tradition of other religions.
However, those who do allow celebrating birthdays here and there OCCASIONALLY, allow it on the basis that they don’t consider it a specifically ‘religious’ celebration as such.
If we keep it very OCCASIONAL and ONLY for kids, it ”might” be considered allowed.
🔺So what to do?
When faced with situations such as this one, I always remind myself and others with the beautiful hadeeth of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam:
“Leave that which makes you doubt, for that which does not make you doubt.” (at-Tirmidhi - saheeh by al-Albaani)
So it’s best to avoid such situations to protect oneself from falling into doubtful matters.
Besides, think about birthdays this way:
Our life has been determined by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala, 50,000 years before He created the heavens and the earth.
The life span starts at the time of our birth and ends at the time of our death.
That day, that minute and that second when our death will occur is FIXED and it does not move.
As we grow older, we come one step closer to that point of death every single day.
And every single month.
And every single year.
It’s like a countdown timer that started ticking the second we were born.
And the time that each of us was allocated, is ticking down slowly to zero.
As each year passes, we are coming closer and closer to that fixed point of death and our meeting with Allaah.
So how can we be ‘happy’ or ‘celebrate’ when we know that our life span is getting shorter by the day as we come yet another year closer to that point of death?
Wouldn’t that be something to make one worry and be concerned about, rather than be ‘happy’?
As Shaikh Sa’ad ash-Shathari said:
“A birthday is a day a person should comfort/console himself because a year of his life has passed.
Following that, he should be given condolences [on such a day], NOT congratulations.
The arrival of such a day should [result in to him being] given condolences.
The legislated congratulations should be given in an issue that benefits a person in the worldly life or hereafter. If he is granted a child, money comes to him, if he earns [a profit] in business, he performs a righteous action etc.; a person is congratulated for that.
As for his days passing away and he did not use this time in the obedience of the Lord of Might and Honor, then he is not congratulated on account of it.
So like that, you find the festivals in Islaam are connected to acts of worship.
Eid ul-Fitr is after fasting Ramadhaan and giving Zakatul-Fitr [and congratulations are given] to the people for these actions, which they performed in this virtuous month, from fasting, standing in prayer, and recitation.
Likewise, Eidul-Adha.
It is after the season of worship, the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, a season that is virtuous wherein the deeds are multiplied, and it is specified with something of righteous deeds.
Or that which is connected to the Day of Nahr wherein there is slaughter and it has a high status and lofty station.
Or that which is connected to the rites of Hajj to the Sacred House and a person participating himself or hoping to participate in it while he is not able to.
He is rewarded.
Likewise what is connected to the day of ‘Arafah and the congratulations here is due to a time period wherein there are acts of worship at that time. As for making the passing of time [i.e. birthdays] the reason for congratulating [others], then this is not from the Legislated affairs”.
🔺Now someone might say:
“I’m just celebrating to ‘thank’ Allaah”
Well, your birth day is not the only day you should thank Allaah;
there are 360 other days to thank Him, and not just the day of your birth.
So why not thank Allaah ALL the days of the year?
Why just “ONE” day?!
And the best way to thank Him is to OBEY Him to the best of your ability, follow His commands, stay away from His prohibitions and avoid the doubtful matters.
Also Subhaan Allaah, staying away from birthdays, anniversaries, and all these others celebrations cuts out soooo much competition, comparison, jealously and unnecessary buying and wastage of money.
Instead, that money can be used in something good and beneficial.
And Allaah knows best.
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