Is it haram to celebrate birthdays?

Answer 1

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

Principally, birthdays are not something that should be celebrated or to be happy about. When it is someone's birthday, one year of his/her life has decreased, and not increased. As such, what intelligence is there in celebrating and showing happiness when a year has decreased in one's life?

Before understanding the legal ruling with regards to birthday celebrations, it is worth remembering here that imitation of the unbelievers (Kuffar) is something that Islam strictly disapproves of.

In a Hadith recorded by Imam Abu Dawud (Allah have Mercy on him) and others, The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said:

“Whosoever imitates a nation is amongst them”. (Sunan Abu Dawud,)

It should be remembered here that not everything what the non-Muslims wear and do, is Haram and unlawful. Imitation, which is prohibited, is effected in one of the following two ways:

a) One does something with the intention of imitating the Kuffar, meaning one does so because one wants to be like a particular non-believer or non-believers.

b) Doing something that is unique and exclusive to the non-believers or it is part of their faith. This will also be considered imitation, thus Haram (unlawful). (See the Fatwa of Shaykh Mufti Taqi Usmani).

In light of the above, there are few situations with regards to the Shariah (legal) ruling on celebrating birthdays:

1)If it is celebrated by imitating the Kuffar in that all or some of the customs that are unique with the Kuffar are adopted, or acts that are unlawful in Shariah are committed, then there is no doubt in its impermissibility. The lighting of candles on a cake that number the years of one’s life and then blowing on them, playing of music, singing, extravagant and lavish spending, showing off, etc are all unlawful and forbidden practices. Thus, if birthdays are celebrated by adopting the above-mentioned customs, it will not be permissible.

2)If the above-mentioned evils are avoided, then there are two possibilities:

a) If one celebrates birthdays with the intention of imitating the Kuffar meaning one does so because one wants to be like the Kuffar, then, as stated previously, it will be considered imitating the Kuffar, thus unlawful.

b) If there is no intention of imitating the Kuffar (and also the above mentioned evils are avoided) then the ruling on celebrating birthdays will depend on whether it originated from the religious customs of the non-Muslims and it is part of their faith. (It can not be considered to be unique with the Kuffar, for celebrating birthdays has become a widespread phenomenon that is carried out in many different parts of the world). I am personally unaware of whether celebrating birthdays has a connection with the Christian faith or other wise, thus I am unable to give a decisive ruling.

However, I have mentioned the criterion of which the ruling will be based. If the origins of birthday celebrations are connected to a particular faith, then there is no doubt in its impermissibility. If, however, it has no connections with the faith of the non-Muslims, then (and Allah knows best) it seems that it would be permissible to celebrate it (provided the evils mentioned above are avoided).

3)If one thanks Allah and shows gratitude for being blessed with one more year of his life, thus expresses happiness and joy, then there is nothing wrong with that. (See: al-Fatawa al-Rahimiyya (urdu), 6/320).

And Allah knows best

Answer 2

No it is not Haram.

Please read detailed fatwas here:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503547996

I am Arab and in my culture birthday celebrations did not exist, and actually I never celebrated my own birthday. However, celebrating birthday is a cultural habit, it doesn't have anything to do with religion. Those who say that you are imitating Christians when you celebrate birthdays, are wrong. For many christians there is no religious aspect in the celebration.

Also it is not right to prohibit it on the basis that the Prophet never celebrated his birthday. This argument is faulty. The Prophet did not prohibit EVERYTHING he didn't do. He mentioned that there will be new practices after him, and that one should only follow his way. "following the ways of the Prophet" does not mean avoiding everything he didn't do. It actually means that one can do the things that are in line with the spirit of Islam, as practiced in the Quran and the Sunnah. If there is a new practice that is not against the spirit of Islam, then it is not prohibited. Otherwise, we should remember that the Prophet used to pray on the floor not on the rug, did not remove his shoes for the prayer, his mosque did not have a roof, he did not use the prayer timetables that we are using. He did not use cars or airplanes, etc etc. It would be ridiculous to say that we should avoid all of that because the Prophet didn't do that!!!

salaam-peace.

Answer 3

dear muslim,
ppl might say music, birthdays....and many more are haram but here is the thing there are other things in life that keeps you a lil busy from god, god said live your life equally dont be so religious and dont be so a life person.
So if you celebrate the gift god gave you (a birth of someone) that is good and its such a bless that is good to remember, so if you at things this way, birthdays will be a way of thinking god of ones birth then you wont be distrected from god alnd be away from him....
honey look at the full half of the glass ;)
Havent heard the story of a guy that went to muhamad and said that he was the best of muslims and said he pray all, fasts all year and so...
the prophet asked him then who feeds you, then he said his brother who prays 5 time a day and fasts ramadan only..
so yeah the prophet said that the brother was better than him..
so my point here is that god said remember me but also live your life (under line of course) so i personally read the quran myself and do everything i do from the quran and sahih sunnah and nobody tells me what to do exept those and my mind!

Answer 4

Not Haram but it is waste of money and not a good tradition. On every birthday we get closer to grave. So what is there to celebrate?

Answer 5

i wouldnt say haram, but pointless yea? i mean if ur a kid than its ok but if ur like 21 than probly not a gud idea


whats the point of celebrating when you have one less year to live?

Celebrating birthdays is actually a western tradition and it is up to the individual to decide about it. The Shari`ah has nothing to say about it. However, as is the case of all kinds of celebrations and social gatherings, these gatherings should also not be pompous in nature and should also not entail any disregard to any other directive of the Shari`ah.

Answer 6

Islam teaches Muslim to have a unique character and to be distinguished. A Muslim is weaned on morality and avoiding blind imitation. Islam supports the celebration of a birthday if it is an expression of gratitude to Allah for His bounties, sustenance and blessings in man’s life, as long as that celebration does not include anything that may displease Allah, the Almighty.

Answer 7

Dear,

Assalamu'alaikum Warahmatullah-hi Wabarakatul.

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Beneficent and Merciful.

It is "NOT HARAM" to celebrate birthdays.

We Muslim celebrate our last Prophet and the last Messenger of God ALLAH Subhanahu Wata'ala "BIRTHDAY" Prophet Muhammad bin Abdullah Salollah-hu'alaihi Wassalam on every 12th Rabiul Awal (Muslim Calender).
(August, 570, at his uncle's house, Abd'l-Muttalib in Mecca [The year of elephant])

Wabillah-hitaufiq Walhidayah Wassalamu'alaikum Warahmatullah-hi Wabarakatuh.

Answer 8

Yes it is haram Prophet Mohammad pbuh never celebrated his birthday or his companions. There is nothing about birthday in Quran or hadith. Prophet Mohammad pbuh said that whoever performes a deed which is not in accord with our affairs that deed is rejected. ( Reported by Muslim and Sahih Bukhari)
Check it out for more detail
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-UjQpBGk4dqcUImTaE9r8x4E-?cq=1&l=11&u=13&mx=13&lmt=5

Answer 9

It is not haram to celebrate them, but it is haram to throw birthday parties. Because Christians throw birthday parties, and Muslims aren't supposed to do the same. However, if you're just going out on vacation or something, that is not haram :)

Answer 10

read the article on this link it gives a very clear explanation. it basically says that it isn't haram it just depends on how you celebrate
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=2106&CATE=115