Home » Hanafi Fiqh » Muftionline.co.za » Celebrating the birthday of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

Celebrating the birthday of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Muftionline.co.za

Q:

1. According to the hadith, immitation of kuffar is haram. So if I eat a birthday chocolate someone gave me and went away, is it harasm? Because its a non-Muslim practice to celebrate birthdays.

E.g. If I got a chocolate on someone’s birthday and I kept it and after 2 days I ate it, is it haraam because that chocolate was purchased for a haraam act which is celebrating a birthday which itself is immitation of kuffar?

2. Ruling regarding celebrating Nabi Muhammad’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) birthday. Is it imitation of Christians, because they celebrate Christmas like Isa (alaihis salaam) birthday?

3. If a Quran is printed in an industry, like from softcopy to hardcopy, then is it man made or Allah made it? I mean if everything Allah created then what about the above case where hard copy of Quran was made by using a machine. Is it then machine made? Also if a man writes whole Qur’an, just as one photocopies, was the Quran made by a human because a human was the one who took ink and paper and wrote the Quran and compiled it or Allah made it?

Bismillaah

A:

1. It will not be haraam.

2. There is no basis for celebrating the birth of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Nabi ( sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) cannot be treated as any ordinary person. This practice had originated on account of many Muslims being overawed by the ways of Christians and disbelievers. The only respect that they show to their nabi is on his birthday by making an exclusive celebration. Thereafter they are not at all committed to his teachings,ways and behaviour. The favours of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) are so great that every day some time should be dedicated for his remembrance. Our ulama say that at least 300 durood shareef should be recited everyday. Leaving this mubaarak method of the auliyaa and the sahaabah and adopting the ways of the Christians where they dedicate just one day in his remembrance is a clear indication of not understanding and appreciating the greatest man of all times. May Allah Ta`ala grant us the ability to understand.

3. The revelation is from Allah. Printing or writing happens all the time by people.

And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

This answer was collected from MuftiOnline.co.za, where the questions have been answered by Mufti Zakaria Makada (Hafizahullah), who is currently a senior lecturer in the science of Hadith and Fiqh at Madrasah Ta’leemuddeen, Isipingo Beach, South Africa.

Read answers with similar topics: