Question:
Is it permissible to decorate the house with balloons and streamers to celebrate the birth of a baby?
Answer:
Being blessed with a child is indeed a Great Bounty of Allah Ta’la. Therefore utmost gratitude and contentment should be showed to Allah Ta’aala. While enjoying this great Ni’mah (bounty) from Allah.After the child is born, the following Sunnats should be observed;Firstly, Azhaan and Iqamah should be said in the child’s right and left ear respectively. This is done immediately after the baby is bathed after delivery.When Hadhrat Faatimah Radhiallahu Anha gave birth to Hadhrat Hasan Radhiallahu Anhu, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam had said the Azhaan in his ear. Narrated ‘Ubaidullah bin Abi Rafi’: that his father said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam say the Azhaan in the ear of Hasan bin ‘Ali Radhiallahu Anhu – when he was born to Fatimah Radhiallahu Anha – the same as the Azhaan of Salaah.” (At-Tirmidhi 1514)Seconldly: Tahneek. This is a Sunnah wherein a pious person will chew something like a date and a portion of the date will be placed on the palate of the child so that it goes down the child’s mouth easily. If dates are unavailable, anything sweet will suffice, like honey.Aisha (Radhiallahu Anha) narrates that “the people used to bring their new-born children to Nabi Sallahu Alahi Wasallam and he would perform the Tahneek” (Sahih Muslim 2147).Thirdly, naming the child, selecting a beautiful and honourable name is very important. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam always chose names with good and beautiful meanings. Names of Ambiyaa Alaihimus-Salaam, Sahaabah Radhiallahu Anhum and other pious people may be chosen. A good name is said to have a good and positive effect on the child.The naming of the child will be confirmed on the seventh day as indicated in the Ahadeeth along with Aqeeqah. Confirming the name of the child can also be done on the day of the birth; there are also narrations where Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam named children on the day of their birth.Fourthly, Aqeeqa (slaughtering one goat or sheep if it is a girl and two if it is a boy); this is a form of Sadaqah whereby the child is safeguarded against misfortunes. The practice of Aqeeqah is recommended for those who have the means and it is the responsibility of the father.Rasuullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said; “Babies that are born, are mortgaged (i.e. protected from harm) with this Aqeeqah on the 7th day by slaughtering; they should also on that day be named, and their hair should be cut.” [Shahih, Abu Dawud and Tirmidzi]Perform ‘Aqeeqah on the seventh day or any day in multiples of 7 thereafter. It is a preferable and desirable act according to the Hanafi school of thought. Slaughter two goats or sheep for a male and one for a female. However, slaughtering two animals for a male child is recommended but not necessary.Ibnu Abbas Radhiallahu Anhu mentioned that Rasulullah sallalhu alayhi wasallam said,” Do Aqeeqah for Hasan and Hussein (Radhiallahu Anhuma) one goat for each of them.” [Abu Dawud (2841), Tabrani (11/316)] (This Hadith shows the permissibility of slaughtering even one goat for a male).If one has does not have means to sacrifice even one animal, then there is no harm and he would not have to make up for it later. Fifthly, the shaving of the hair on the head, this is done regardless if the child is a boy or a girl and will be done on the 7th day. It is Mustahab (desirable) to give silver in Sadaqah to the poor and needy equal to the weight of the hair.Muhammad bin ‘Ali bin Al-Husain narrated: that Ali bin Abi Talib Radhiallahu Anhu said: ” Rasulullah sallalhu alayhi wasallam had the ‘Aqeeqah for Hasan Radhiallahu Anhu done with one sheep, and said: ‘O Fatimah Radhiallahu Anha! shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver as charity.” He further said: “So I weighed it, and it was the weight of a Dirham or a bit of a Dirham.” (At-Tirmidhi 1519)Finally, circumcision (Khatnah) of a boy, this should be done before he reaches maturity. It is advisable to do it in infancy with the Aqeeqa. At this age he does not suffer much pain. Rasulullah sallalahu Alahi wasallam had the Aqeeqa and circumcision of Hasan and Hussain Radhiallahu Anhuma performed on the seventh day after their birth.As we can see, Islam has prescribed to us how we must go about celebrating the birth of a child, and in following the commands of Shari’ah is the success of our Dunya and Aakhirah. Following any other way which is contrary to our pristine Deen is sure to lead to damnation in this temporary world and in the everlasting hereafter.Celebrating birthdays in the way we see today (with balloons, streamers, etc) is the way of disbelievers and we have been warned against following such people. Rasulullah sallalahu Alahi wasallam has said:“Whoever emulates a nation is from amongst them.’ (Abu Dawud pg.559)Furthermore, the wealth we possess is an Amanat (trust) given to us by Allah Ta’laa and we will be questioned on the day of judgement on how we spent this trust entrusted to us.Islam forbids us from being extravagant. The implementation of moderation and refraining from extravagance has also been emphasised in many Verses of the Holy Quran.
وكلوا واشربوا ولا تسرفوا إنه لا يحب المسرفين
Eat and drink and do not be extravagant. Surely, He (Allah) does not like the extravagant. (Verse: 7:31)
إن المبذرين كانوا إخوان الشياطين وكان الشيطان لربه كفورا
Surely, squanderers (the extravagant) are brothers of the devils, and the devil is very ungrateful to his Lord. (Verse: 17:27)
والذين إذا أنفقوا لم يسرفوا ولم يقتروا وكان بين ذلك قواما
(The true servants of Allah are) those who, when they spend, are neither extravagantnor miserly and it (i.e. their spending) is moderate in between (the two extremes). (Verse: 25:67)
Mufti Shafi (Rahimahullah) explains that this ruling of moderation is not restricted only to eating and drinking, but will apply in clothing, living standards and every other aspect of life.(Ma’arif al-Quran (English Translation) Vol.3 Pg.569/570 – Maktabah Darul Uloom Karachi)Sayyiduna Mughirah ibn Shu’bah (Radhiyallahu’anhu) reports that Rasulullah sallallahu’alayhi wasallam said: Allah has detested for you three things: useless talk, wasting of wealth and asking too much (useless questions or continuously asking others for money).(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 5975, 6473, 1477and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 4458-4461. Also see Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 4456)It is due to the extravagance and the squandering of wealth by the affluent ones that the poor of this Ummah will enter Jannah 500 years before the affluent. In fact, the affluent will be held back and be subjected to accountability.Islam does not permit waste by spending on such occasions in the way that Christians and other non-Muslims do, such spending will fall under the category of extravagance as mentioned above. Going against the Commands of Allah and His Deen is sure to bring about more harm that will far outweigh the temporary enjoyment.Such events lead to showing off, pride swells in ones heart. The less fortunate are grieved. The results of such events, more often than not, are jealousy and the evil eye. Islam promotes simplicity and teaches us the safest way to live our life.
إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ لَكُمۡ عَدُوّ فَٱتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّاۚ
Indeed shaytan is your (open) enemy, so treat him as an enemy
May Allah give us the proper understanding and protect us from the ploys of Shaytan the accursed who has been declared by Allah as our open enemy.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.