Celebrating birthday parties
Question:-
1. Can birthdays be celebrated to uphold family ties, either by having a party or preparing a meal and saying ‘Happy Birthday’?
2. Upon receiving gifts for one’s birthday, can one say ‘Jazakallahu Khair’ to the one that gave the gift? On the other hand, if the person receiving the gift states that he/she really likes the gift, and the donor says ‘Alhamdulillah’, then what is the ruling?
3. Can the gifts received on one’s birthday (clothing, chocolates, Itr etc.) be utilized? Are the meals prepared for the function Halaal to partake of?
4. What is the ruling in regards to lighting candles on the cake?
Answer:-
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Celebrating birthdays is a Kuffar custom. We have been prohibited from inclining towards the ways and customs of the Kuffar hence, gathering family members for a birthday party with the intention of joining family ties is incorrect.
وَلاَ تَرْكَنُواْ إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاء ثُمَّ لاَ تُنصَرُونَ (سورة هود اٰية 113)
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Since celebrating a birthday is not acceptable in Shariah, the Kuffar custom of sharing gifts with one on his/her birth date should be totally discarded. It is recorded in Mirqaat that those who imitate the Kuffar will be sinful. It is not permissible to take the name of Allah Ta’ala on any act of sin hence, one should refrain from saying ‘Jazakallahu Khairan’ on receiving gifts, or ‘Alhamdulillah’ on the recipient expressing gratitude for the gifts received, as these gifts were shared on an occasion of a sin.
من تشبّه بالكفار مثلا في اللباس وغيره او الفساق او الفجار او اهل التصوف الصلحاء الابرار منهم اي في الاثم والخير عند الله تعالي (مرقاة المفاتيح ص255 ج8)
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If the gift or chocolate was purchased with Halaal funds and the ingredients of the food items are Halaal, then the items will remain Halaal. However, one should return the items to the owner since it was given on an occasion of a Kuffar celebration which we have been commanded to disassociate ourselves from. The same ruling will apply to the food, that is, it will be considered as Halaal if the ingredients and income was Halaal.
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The usage of candles on cakes is yet another Kuffar custom which is impermissible and should be discarded. If one had celebrated birthday parties in the past, then he/she should sincerely repent and refrain from doing so in the future.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 22 Shawwal 1443 / 24 May 2022