Fatwa ID: 07546
Answered by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat
Question:
I want to start an Islamic gift business in the UK, the usual cakes, cards, flowers and customised gift items. I do not advertise birthdays and anniversaries in my business/website at all.
But what should I do with customers asking for a personalised message where they want ‘Happy Birthday’ typed in on a card or want it on the cake or on any other gift item, etc? Can I decline their requests? I will lose customers, as birthdays and anniversaries are not an Islamic practice, but it is widely common in Muslims today.
Even if I do this business in Pakistan (a Muslim country), they have the same requests, no difference in that.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
From a Hanafi perspective, starting an Islamic gift business and navigating customer requests for personalised messages such as “Happy Birthday” requires careful consideration, especially since birthdays and anniversaries are not rooted in Islamic tradition but are common practices among Muslims today. Here’s a breakdown of the issue from a Hanafi Fiqh standpoint:
- Permissibility of Involvement in Non-Islamic Practices
In Hanafi Fiqh, there is a distinction between things that are explicitly prohibited (haram) and those that are permissible (mubah) but have an association with non-Islamic or culturally innovative practices. Birthdays and anniversaries are generally considered cultural innovations (bid’ah) that are not part of the Islamic tradition. However, they are not directly associated with haram activities unless they involve prohibited actions (like extravagance, mixing of genders, etc.). which does fall under the rule of ‘the ruling remaining as it was unless there is evidence to prove otherwise’ Qawaaid Fiqiyyah Page 17
This means that unless there is a specific prohibition in the Qur’an or Sunnah regarding a practice, it falls under permissibility. Celebrating birthdays is not explicitly mentioned in Islamic law, but it is discouraged by many scholars due to its association with non-Islamic customs.
- Responding to Customer Requests
Since you do not promote or advertise birthdays or anniversaries in your business, you are already taking a cautious approach. The question is whether fulfilling a customer’s request for a message like “Happy Birthday” would make you complicit in a discouraged practice.
Writing “Happy Birthday” is not inherently haram, but it does involve participating in a cultural practice that is not Islamic. Based on this, fulfilling such requests could be considered makruh tanzihan (mildly disliked), but it would not be sinful if you did so.
- Can You Decline Customer Requests?
Yes, you are fully within your rights to decline customer requests if you believe that fulfilling them goes against your Islamic values and business ethics. It’s important to establish clear guidelines for your business that align with your principles. You may inform customers politely that your business does not support or promote birthday and anniversary celebrations and offer alternative messages.
If declining requests leads to a loss of some customers, this will fall under the concept of giving preference to your religious values over material gain.
- The Middle Path: Alternative Messages
If you are concerned about losing customers, you might offer an alternative that still meets their needs without directly endorsing a non-Islamic practice. For example, instead of writing “Happy Birthday,” you could offer generic messages such as:
- “Wishing you a wonderful day.”
- “May this day bring you happiness and success.”
This way, you avoid endorsing the specific celebration of birthdays but still provide a service that is neutral and respectful.
By maintaining transparency about your business values and offering alternatives, you can navigate these challenges while staying true to your beliefs.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
“إذا كان التعامل في أمر غير محرم بذاته، ولكن كان فيه تشبه بغير المسلمين فإنه يكره” (Fatawa Hindiyya, vol. 5, p. 347)
“لا حرج في ترك التعامل إذا كان فيه ما يخالف الدين أو الأخلاق” (Al-Durr al-Mukhtar, vol. 3, p. 51)
