Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1
Is it permissible to celebrate birthdays in Islam? And is it correct to attend such events?
According to Islamic teachings, celebrating birthdays is a bidʿah (innovation)—a newly invented practice in religion without any basis in the Sharīʿah. Participating in such gatherings is also impermissible, as it constitutes support and promotion of innovation.
﴿أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَن بِهِ اللَّـهُ﴾
"Do they have partners who have prescribed for them a religion which Allah has not authorized?"
— Surah al-Shūrā: 21
﴿ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَىٰ شَرِيعَةٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
"Then We put you on a path of the religion, so follow it, and do not follow the desires of those who do not know."
— Surah al-Jāthiyah: 18–19
﴿اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ﴾
"Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord, and do not follow others besides Him as protectors."
— Surah al-Aʿrāf: 3
"من عمل عملاً ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد"
"Whoever does an action not in accordance with our matter (religion), it is rejected."
— Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
"خير الحديث كتاب الله وخير الهدي هدي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، وشر الأمور محدثاتها وكل بدعة ضلالة"
"The best speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muḥammad ﷺ. The worst of affairs are newly invented matters, and every innovation is misguidance."
— Sunan al-Nasāʾī
Celebrating birthdays is not only an innovation, but also an imitation of non-Muslim cultures, particularly Jews and Christians. The Prophet ﷺ warned strongly against adopting their ways.
"لتتبعن سنن من كان قبلكم حذو القذة بالقذة حتى لو دخلوا حجر ضب لدخلتموه"
"You will surely follow the ways of those who came before you, step by step, until even if they entered the hole of a lizard, you would follow them."
The Companions asked: "O Messenger of Allah, do you mean the Jews and Christians?"
He replied: "Who else?"
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī & Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
"من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم"
"Whoever imitates a people is from among them."
— Sunan Abū Dāwūd
Based on the clear teachings of the Qur’ān, Sunnah, and the consensus of scholars, celebrating birthdays has no place in Islam. It is a bidʿah (innovation) and a form of imitation of non-Muslim practices, which are strictly forbidden.
Therefore, neither celebrating nor attending birthday events is permissible for a Muslim who wishes to follow the path of the Prophet ﷺ and preserve the purity of Islamic practice.
❖ Question
Is it permissible to celebrate birthdays in Islam? And is it correct to attend such events?
❖ Answer
According to Islamic teachings, celebrating birthdays is a bidʿah (innovation)—a newly invented practice in religion without any basis in the Sharīʿah. Participating in such gatherings is also impermissible, as it constitutes support and promotion of innovation.
❖ Evidence from the Qur’ān
﴿أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَن بِهِ اللَّـهُ﴾
"Do they have partners who have prescribed for them a religion which Allah has not authorized?"
— Surah al-Shūrā: 21
﴿ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَىٰ شَرِيعَةٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
"Then We put you on a path of the religion, so follow it, and do not follow the desires of those who do not know."
— Surah al-Jāthiyah: 18–19
﴿اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ﴾
"Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord, and do not follow others besides Him as protectors."
— Surah al-Aʿrāf: 3
❖ Evidence from Ḥadīth
"من عمل عملاً ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد"
"Whoever does an action not in accordance with our matter (religion), it is rejected."
— Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
"خير الحديث كتاب الله وخير الهدي هدي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، وشر الأمور محدثاتها وكل بدعة ضلالة"
"The best speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muḥammad ﷺ. The worst of affairs are newly invented matters, and every innovation is misguidance."
— Sunan al-Nasāʾī
❖ Imitation of Jews and Christians
Celebrating birthdays is not only an innovation, but also an imitation of non-Muslim cultures, particularly Jews and Christians. The Prophet ﷺ warned strongly against adopting their ways.
"لتتبعن سنن من كان قبلكم حذو القذة بالقذة حتى لو دخلوا حجر ضب لدخلتموه"
"You will surely follow the ways of those who came before you, step by step, until even if they entered the hole of a lizard, you would follow them."
The Companions asked: "O Messenger of Allah, do you mean the Jews and Christians?"
He replied: "Who else?"
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī & Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
"من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم"
"Whoever imitates a people is from among them."
— Sunan Abū Dāwūd
❖ Conclusion
Based on the clear teachings of the Qur’ān, Sunnah, and the consensus of scholars, celebrating birthdays has no place in Islam. It is a bidʿah (innovation) and a form of imitation of non-Muslim practices, which are strictly forbidden.
Therefore, neither celebrating nor attending birthday events is permissible for a Muslim who wishes to follow the path of the Prophet ﷺ and preserve the purity of Islamic practice.
