Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Question
What is the ruling regarding celebrating an ‘Eid’ on the occasion of a child’s birth (birthday) or a wedding?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
In Islam, there are specific days that the Shari’ah has designated as ‘Eid’:
◈ Weekly Eid: Jumuʿah (Friday) has been declared a weekly Eid.
◈ Eid al-Fiṭr: Celebrated on 1st Shawwāl after the month of Ramaḍān.
◈ Eid al-Aḍḥā: Performed on the 10th of Dhul-Ḥijjah.
Apart from these specified days, Islam has not established any other day as ‘Eid’ or given it such a status.
However:
◈ Yawm ʿArafah (9th of Dhul-Ḥijjah) is referred to as an Eid for the people of ʿArafah (i.e., the pilgrims).
◈ Ayyām al-Tashrīq (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Ḥijjah) are also considered days of Eid following Eid al-Aḍḥā.
Ruling on Celebrating Birthdays
◈ For anyone to celebrate their own or their children’s birthday, or to celebrate a wedding anniversary, is not permissible in Shari’ah.
◈ There is no evidence for such celebrations in the Shari’ah.
◈ Allowing such customs is closer to bidʿah (innovation), as it is an act with no foundation in the Qur’an or Sunnah.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
