Source Attribution
This excerpt is taken from the book “Aḥkām o Masā’il in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah” by Shaykh Mubashir Aḥmad Rabbānī.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was born, and he also had marriages. Likewise, the marriages of his daughters took place. However, it is not proven anywhere that he ﷺ celebrated his own birthday, or the birthdays of his children, or that he instructed his Companions to celebrate birthdays, or that any Companion celebrated a birthday and the Prophet ﷺ approved of it by remaining silent.
Therefore, this practice is not Islamic. Had there been any importance of this act in Islam, it would surely have been mentioned somewhere. However, Muslims have adopted this practice by imitating Christians and others.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
Therefore, celebrating birthdays is not permissible.
This excerpt is taken from the book “Aḥkām o Masā’il in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah” by Shaykh Mubashir Aḥmad Rabbānī.
Question
Is celebrating a birthday permissible?Answer
Celebrating anniversaries of marriage, birth, or similar occasions is not established in the religion of Islam.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was born, and he also had marriages. Likewise, the marriages of his daughters took place. However, it is not proven anywhere that he ﷺ celebrated his own birthday, or the birthdays of his children, or that he instructed his Companions to celebrate birthdays, or that any Companion celebrated a birthday and the Prophet ﷺ approved of it by remaining silent.
Therefore, this practice is not Islamic. Had there been any importance of this act in Islam, it would surely have been mentioned somewhere. However, Muslims have adopted this practice by imitating Christians and others.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever introduces an action that is not in accordance with our command, it is rejected.”«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Aqḍiyah, Bāb Naqḍ al-Aḥkām al-Bāṭilah: 1718
Therefore, celebrating birthdays is not permissible.
