I am studying in Aligarh Muslim University, and here, on every 17th of September all the students and staff of AMU celebrate Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s birthday. They organize functions followed by special S.S. (Sir Syed) Day dinner. Now my question is that is it permissible in Islam to do so? The S.S. Day Dinner charges are included in our fee structure, which means they charge us for that? I am concerned because a few months ago I watched a video of Dr. Zakir Naik in which he marked this thing as inappropriate. I do not know on what ground he said that.
Answer
(Fatwa: 1799/1799/M=1432)
The ceremony of Birthday Celebration is the invention of the English. It is not proved from the holy Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and Sahabas (رضوان الله عليهم اجمعن) as well as our Aslaf (رحمهم الله). Therefore, Muslims should avoid it.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband