Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
Is it permissible for Muslim men and women to attend or celebrate a birthday or anniversary party or buy a gift for the occasion, especially if it is for a family member?
Answer:
In the Name of Allāh, Most Merciful, Most Kind
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for your question.
In general, there is no islamic 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 is detrimental to one’s religion.
Celebrating birthdays and or anniversaries may be islamicaly allowed if the following conditions are strictly taken into consideration:
• One has no intention of imitating the disbelievers.
• All islamicaly 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 Raḥīmiyyah, ‘If one takes this occasion as an opportunity to thank Allāh 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
