Celebrating special occasions and festivals – what is permissible and what is not?
Amin Makeen
Celebrating special occasions and festivals – what is permissible and what is not?
In these times, when we are living in a global village with all other communities, is it permissible to celebrate people’s birthdays and weddings in an Islamic fashion, in which we do not engage in any un-Islamic practices, so long as these special occasions and celebrations are not connected to any religion, as is the case with regard to Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day, which have Christian roots, the Hindu festival of Diwali, and so on? Is it permissible to celebrate special occasions that have nothing to do with religion? I know that it is possible to hold a simple celebration as mentioned in the fatwas on the websites islamonline.net and daruliftaa.com. I find it very difficult to convince my children that what we have been doing for fifteen years and everything that is practised around us is not Islamic and is not acceptable in our religion. Please answer me, bearing in mind everything I have mentioned.
Praise be to Allah.
According to Islamic teaching, there is nothing wrong with having celebrations on the occasions of marriage or other worldly occasions, on condition that they are free of reprehensible matters such as free mixing and music. These celebrations do not come under the heading of acts of worship that are intended to bring one closer to Allah, may He be exalted; rather they are gatherings to express joy and happiness, and the basic principle with regard to customs and traditions is that they are permissible. This is in contrast to acts of worship, concerning which the basic principle is that they are not allowed unless there is evidence to show that they are prescribed.
Among the celebrations that are prohibited according to Islamic teaching – apart from those which involve reprehensible practices and sins – are those in which there is any imitation of the disbelievers, such as birthday celebrations and Mother’s Day. The prohibition is more emphatic if they take a form which resembles the festivals prescribed in Islam. This is the case with regard to those occasions, as they are called “ ‘eid al-milaad (lit. “festival of birth” i.e., birthday) and “ ‘eid al-umm” (lit. festival of mothers, i.e., Mother’s Day) [the objection is to use of the word eid in Arabic to refer to them]. These are occasions which involve imitation of the disbelievers and those whom we are forbidden to imitate. The prohibition is more emphatic if the aim of the one who celebrates it is to draw closer to Allah, may He be exalted, thereby, because this is combining sin and innovation (bid‘ah). The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked:
What is the ruling on celebrating children’s birthdays? There is a saying among us that it is better to fast on that day instead of celebrating it. What is the correct view?
They replied:
Celebrating birthdays or fasting because it is one’s birthday is all innovation (bid‘ah) for which there is no basis. Rather the Muslim should seek to draw closer to Allah by doing that which He has enjoined upon him and by doing supererogatory acts of worship. In all cases he should be grateful to Him and praise Him for all the days and years during which he has been sound in body and he, his property and his children have been safe. End quote.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah (2/260, 261)
Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam was always worried (about the hereafter). And always busy thinking (about the attributes of Allah and the betterment of the Ummah). Because of these things he was never free from thought and never rested (or because of worldly affairs he did not gain rest, but gained rest and contentment from religious well being. It is mentioned in the hadith that the coolness of my eyes is in salaah). He always spoke clearly from beginning to end. (He did not speak in a manner where only half sentences are spoken and the other half remained in the mind of the speaker, as is prevalent among snobbish high-minded and proud people). He spoke concisely, where the words are less and meaning more. (Mulla Ali Qaari has collected forty such ahaadith in his commentary which are very short. Those who wish may refer to it and memorise it). Every word was clearer than the previous one. There was no nonsensical talk, nor was there half-talks where the meaning was not complete and could not be grasped. He was not short-tempered, nor did he disgrace anyone. He always greatly appreciated the blessings of Allah even though it might be very minute, he did not criticize it.
He did not criticize food, nor over-praised it (The reason for not criticizing food is clear, that it is a blessing from Allah. The reason for not praising it is because it might be felt that one is gluttonous. Nevertheless, he praised food if it was to make someone happy, and sometimes praised some special things). He was never angered for anything materialistic. (The reason being that he did not pay much attention, and did not care much about materialistic things).
If someone exceeded the limits in religious matters or against the truth, he became so angry that no one could endure it, nor could anybody stop it till he avenged it. If for some reason he made a gesture or pointed at something, he did it with a full hand. (The ulama say the reason being that it is against humbleness to point with one finger only. Some ulama say it was his noble habit to signal oneness of Allah with one finger, therefore he did not signal anyone in that manner). When he was surprised by something he turned his hands, and when he spoke sometimes while talking, he moved his hands, he sometimes hit the palm of his right hand with the inside part of his left thumb. When he became angry with someone, he turned his face away from that person, and did not pay attention to that person or he forgave that person. When he was happy due to humility it seemed as if he had closed his eyes. The laugh of Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam was mostly a smile, at that moment his mubarak front teeth glittered like white shining hailstone