Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
Are birthday celebrations for children and adults alike permissible and to what extent?
Answer:
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for your question.
There is no virtue in engaging in such celebrations nor is there any sin if such events are not celebrated. In some of these celebrations, there is imitation to the actions and beliefs of disbelievers [which are contrary to islamic principles of worship to One God, the Almighty].
Celebrating birthdays may be allowed if the following conditions are strictly taken into consideration:
- One has no intention of imitating the disbelievers [in actions contrary to Islamic creed].
- All Islamically prohibited acts are prevented during the celebrations such as music, imitation of non-Muslim acts, dance, intermingling of genders, wine etc.
- One does not believe or intend it to be an established Islamic practice.
- One does not believe it to be binding or necessary.
- One does not look down upon someone who does not participate or engage in such celebrations
The following concept is referenced to Fatāwā Raḥimiyyah:
‘If one takes this occasion as an opportunity to thank Allah Almighty and express gratitude for being blessed with another year in one’s life then there is nothing wrong with that’.
And Allāh Knows Best