More on Birthdays, Anniversaries & Valentine's Day

I ask Allah to protect the Muslims from the harm of temptations and from the evil of their own selves and the plots of their enemies, for He is the All-hearing Who answers prayers. May Allah send blessings upon His slave and Messenger Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions.

The evidence in the Qur’aan and Sunnah indicates that how it is forbidden for Muslims to celebrate Birthdays, Anniversaries and Valentine's Day as this is an imitation of disbelievers because Muslims didn't know this custom before. It came from the disbelievers as it is one of their customs. And, the Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) ordered us to disagree with them. This is made evident from many sound Hadith. Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said also:" Whoever imitates a people (kaffir), he is one of them".

Besides being bid’ah and having no basis in sharee’ah, these celebrations also involve imitation of the Jews and Christians in their celebrations. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, warning us against following their ways and traditions: “You would follow the ways of those who came before you step by step, to such an extent that if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would enter it too.” They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?” He said, “Who else?” (Reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

Allaah, says (interpretation of the meaning): “Or have they partners with Allaah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not allowed…?” [al-Shoora 42:21]

“Then We have put you (O Muhammad) on a plain way of (Our) commandment. So follow that, and follow not the desires of those who know not. Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allaah. Verily, the zaalimoon (wrongdoers) are awliyaa’ (protectors, helpers, etc.) to one another, but Allaah is the Wali (Protector, Helper) of the muttaqoon (pious).” [al-Jaathiyah 45:18-19]

“Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord, and follow not any awliyaa’ (protectors, helpers, etc.) besides Him. Little do you remember!” [al-A’raaf 7:3]

The original background of BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES:

A Birthday or Anniversary seems like a really fun event, right? Lots of cake, gifts and all the attention is focused on you for an entire day. What could be better? But if you delve a little deeper into the background of birthdays & anniversaries you will find that it is steeped in paganism. The actual lighting of candles to adorn the cake was originally done to appease what pagans worshipped as the ‘God of Fire’. So, a Muslim who celebrates birthdays or anniversaries are not only ignoring the decree from Allah to only celebrate the two Eids but they are also engaging in an act of shirk, or ascribing partners to Allah. And shirk is the one and only unforgivable sin.

The original background of VALENTINES DAY:

In recent years, a new phenomenon has spread among the Muslim youth – males and females alike – which does not bode well. This is manifested in their imitation of the Christians in their celebration of the Valentine’s Day. Muslims who follow the Quran and Sunnah adhere strictly to only celebrating the two Eids but some, who are perhaps starved for a party, go a little overboard in their Eid preparations.

The story of the Festival of Love (Valentine’s Day)
The Festival of Love was one of the festivals of the pagan Romans, when paganism was the prevalent religion of the Romans more than seventeen centuries ago. In the pagan Roman concept, it was an expression of “spiritual love”. There were myths associated with this pagan festival of the Romans, which persisted with their Christian heirs. Among the most famous of these myths was the Roman belief that Romulus, the founder of Rome, was suckled one day by a she-wolf, which gave him strength and wisdom. The Romans used to celebrate this event in mid-February each year with a big festival. One of the rituals of this festival was the sacrifice of a dog and a goat. Two strong and muscular youths would daub the blood of the dog and goat onto their bodies, then they would wash the blood away with milk. After that there would be a great parade, with these two youths at its head, which would go about the streets. The two youths would have pieces of leather with which they would hit everyone who crossed their path. The Roman women would welcome these blows, because they believed that they could prevent or cure infertility.

The connection between Saint Valentine and this festival
Saint Valentine is a name which is given to two of the ancient “martyrs” of the Christian Church. It was said that there were two of them, or that there was only one, who died in Rome as the result of the persecution of the Gothic leader Claudius, c. 296 CE. In 350 CE, a church was built in Rome on the site of the place where he died, to perpetuate his memory. When the Romans embraced Christianity, they continued to celebrate the Feast of Love mentioned above, but they changed it from the pagan concept of “spiritual love” to another concept known as the “martyrs of love”, represented by Saint Valentine who had advocated love and peace, for which cause he was martyred, according to their claims. It was also called the Feast of Lovers, and Saint Valentine was considered to be the patron saint of lovers.

Such so called Birthday, Anniversary & Valentines Day celebrations results in evils and haraam things such as wasting time, singing, music, extravagance, unveiling, wanton display, men mixing with women, women appearing before men other than their mahrams, and other haraam things, or things that are a means that leads to immorality. That cannot be excused by the claim that this is a kind of entertainment and fun. The one who is sincere towards himself should keep away from sin and the means that lead to it.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Every nation has its festival, and this is your festival." As far as celebrations in Islam go there are only two that Muslims are allowed to celebrate. The first is called ‘Eid Al Fitr’ and it marks the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The second is called ‘Eid Al-Adha’ and it comes after the Hajj, or pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah, is complete. Aside from these two holidays it is forbidden for Muslims to celebrate any other holidays, especially KUFFAR Celebrations.

A Muslim should be proud of his religion and should not be a weak character who follows every Tom, Dick and Harry. I ask Allah to protect the Muslims from all temptations, visible and invisible and to protect us and guide us.