Fatwa ID: 09495
Answered by Muftiyah Maryam Badshah
Question:
I understand that celebrating birthdays are haram but if I was just to visit my dad on his birthday without saying happy birthday and maybe getting dessert or something. Is that considered as celebrating the birthday?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them “uff,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.” Surah Al-Isra’ (17:23) [1]
This would be dependent on your intent. If you are purchasing the dessert because it is his birthday, and what you are doing is intended to imitate the celebrations of another religion, then this would be impermissible and instead be considered Tashabbuh (imitation). However, if the intent is not to imitate another religion but rather it is just as a nice gesture out of gratitude to Allah ﷻ and to make your parents happy, whilst it would be best to avoid any actions that could be considered imitation, there is some leeway on the matter.[2]
For more information, see the following fatwa:
https://daruliftabirmingham.co.uk/home/birthdays/
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Muftiyah Maryam Badshah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا
Qur’an (17:23)
[2]
… لَكِنْ تَقَدَّمَ أَنَّ التَّشَبُّهَ إنَّمَا يُكْرَهُ فِي الْمَذْمُومِ وَفِيمَا قُصِدَ بِهِ التَّشَبُّهُ لَا مُطْلَقًا، وَلَعَلَّ هَذَا مِنْ الْمَذْمُومِ تَأَمَّلَ. هَذَا وَفِي حَاشِيَةِ الْبَحْرِ لِلرَّمْلِيِّ: الَّذِي يَظْهَرُ مِنْ كَلَامِهِمْ أَنَّهَا كَرَاهَةُ تَنْزِيهٍ تَأَمَّلْ
Raddul Muhtār (Vol.1, pg.646, Dār Al-Fiqr)