Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Is it prohibited for muslims to celebrate ( buy gifts to each other) marriage anniversary.

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Marriage anniversary

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Every people have a culture and Islam too has its own culture; and celebrating or commemorating one’s birthday or anniversary with a feast or a party cannot be considered a part of Islamic culture.  Islam guides towards the notion that every single day one is blessed to be alive is a day of celebration and a cause to be grateful and thankful to the Lord Creator for his innumerable blessings and favors.  Besides, Islam has nominated its own special days of joyous commemoration and celebration, namely the two blessed days of Eid (Fitr and Adha) and every Friday of the week. 

 

If one celebrates one’s birthday or anniversary with a feast or a party amongst loved ones, cuts a cake, lights candles, sings the nominated song ‘Happy Birthday to you…..’, gives presents, etc.; one cannot say with conviction that this rite or ritual has a religious connotation…..but without an iota of a doubt, this rite and ritual of celebrating birthdays and/or anniversaries is an imitation of the unbelievers; and it definitely does not behove and befit a believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to imitate the pagans or their rituals in any matter whatsoever! 

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.780         Narrated by Nafi

Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "Do the opposite of what the pagans do!”

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020  Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘He who copies any people is one of them.’

 

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws),   one can be assured of never ever being misled;   but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.  

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan