Celebrating birthdays
Q: If someone follows the opinion that celebrating birthdays is halaal as long as they are not extravagant and as long as they don't include something haraam, then if that person says happy birthday to non-Muslims who are celebrating it, are they still Muslim?
Because I've heard from people that if a Muslim participates in a kaafirs events then they have committed kufr (atleats that is what I understood) but what if that person thinks its ok to celebrate birthdays?
A: Celebrating birthdays is a custom of the kuffaar. As Muslims, we are commanded to refrain from emulating the kuffaar as well as adopting their ways. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم (the one who emulates a people will be counted from amongst them [in the court of Allah Ta’aala]). Hence, it is not permissible for a believer to celebrate birthdays or to support this kuffaar custom or to share in the happiness of someone celebrating his birthday by saying “happy birthday” to him or to make a birthday cake or to send gifts on that occasion.
All these things are showing one's support to the kuffaar customs and promoting them. Hence, all these things will be impermissible in shariah. If a Muslim feels that there is no problem in celebrating birthdays, then though he will not become a kaafir, but he will be sinful for subscribing to such wrong customs. Certainly such a person does not have the true understanding of Islam.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Checked & Approved:
