Halal Tube

As salaamu alaikum brother Mohammed,

From my understanding, the Hadith that you mentioned is in reference to a celebration, not worship. Although, the below story is not the same…it shows how the Prophet (saw.) seperated the Ethiopian’s Dance from a religious act.

The story of the “sons of Arfida”—a familiar Arabian linguistic reference to Ethiopians—provides a telling illustration of the place of culture (here, of course, Black African culture) within the Prophetic dispensation. In celebration of an annual Islamic religious festival, a group of Black African converts began to beat leather drums and dance with spears in the Prophet’s mosque. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab—one of the chief Companions—felt compelled to interfere and stop them, but the Prophet intervened on their behalf, directing ‘Umar to leave them alone and noting to him that they were “the sons of Arfida,” that is, not his people. The Prophet invited his wife ‘A’isha to watch the dance, took her into the crowd, and lifted her over his back, so that she could watch them clearly as she eagerly leaned forward, her cheek pressing against his. The Prophet made it a point to dispel the Ethiopians’ misgivings about ‘Umar’s intrusion and encouraged them to dance well and, in one account of this authentic story, reassured them to keep up their drumming and dancing, saying: “Play your games, sons of Arfida, so the Jews and Christians know there is latitude in our religion.”

from “Islam and the Cultural Imperative” by Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah

To brother Mohammed
Sorry, a few months late, but could you please tell me which edition and publishers is your Imam Nawawi’s Riyadh-as-Saliheen. I have one printed by Kazi publications (Lahore) 1984 edition, and I can’t find in it the statement you have stated. (i.e “Imam Shafi’i (RA) said that it is better to recite Qur’an near the grave. It would still be better if all join in completing the recitation of the Holy Qur’an”.)
Plus do you have a narration from the Prophet (SAW) or the Sahaba stating what you have qouted from Imam Shafi (RA).

salam rawnock,

im not very knowledgable however I have heard lectures from different scholars who say celebrating birthdays haram because it is something that was practiced in the agw of ignorance and has no basis in pur religion. It is a practice for the kaffirs and we are not allowed to follow any of their ways or traditions.

For further info please have a look at the following:

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503547996

Hope this helps.

Eid Muabark to everyone at Halal Tube.

Salam.

Muslimah 84 – By the way you just gave a fatwa that celebrating B’days are haram without any reference apart from a link that actually doesn’t say that.

Do you realise the implications of this?

May Allah bless Rasool Allah (SAW) our leige lord, illuminating light, noor and pole; all the companions, the 4 great imams and all the sheikhs and mashaikhs on the path of traditional Islam. Following them is the only path.

دابة العنكبوت تكشف عن موقع سفينة نوح علية السلام من القران الكريم وهي حاليا موجودة في حضرموت.شبوة. اليمن ادخلshipnoah.com Noah’s Ark Hadramout Yemen. سفينة نوح علية السلام MUST WATCH!!!shipnoah.com

As salamu alaykum.

Personally, I find this hard to understand. It is haram to celebrate birthday (the day you were born) because it was from the days of ignorance. However, bridal and birthday showers have been in the days of ignorance too, is it not haram? It is also a cultural practice. If that is the case, then it is not haram for me to receive money for Chinese new year?

I do not understand. As a new Muslim (alhamdulilah), I have highly disliked and avoided baby showers and bridal showers. First, for a baby shower, you are celebrating when the baby is not even born yet. What if (God forbid) the baby is a miscarriage or stillbirth? What will all the celebrations be for?

And also, you can celebrate and give gifts to a baby who isn’t born yet, but you cannot celebrate the day the baby is born with gifts (birthday)?

Also, no offense, but many parents would be happy to be given free gifts to care for their child even though it’s supposed to be the husband’s responsibility. If they really made it for the get-together rather than the gifts, then they could’ve done a get-together anytime, besides a baby shower. And as a guest, I never attended baby showers because I cannot afford to constantly get gifts for someone else’s child.. you are pressured to getting something otherwise it will seem rude. Might I also point out that these gatherings are somewhat boring, pointless and most mothers do not even pay attention to you because there are so many people?

And for bridal showers, out of kindness and my own will, I do not mind giving a gift if I can afford one, but if I cannot, I do not know why brides are pushing people to get them gifts before a wedding and then after one. And a bridal shower is for gifts (hence, bridal SHOWER) not for a get-together. My mother was a bride and obviously a mother, but she had neither of these showers. My relatives gave her gifts out of their own will (not stupid pointless things), and she did not ask anyone to buy her stuff for HER marriage and new home.

As much as they are deemed not haram, I would avoid them in all costs regardless.

The only question is, did the prophet (peace be upon him) give it out in his presence, over his 23 years life as the last messenger with the mission from Allah?
If the prophet did not give it out, then if somebody intentionally accepts it as integral part of the teaching of Islam, then that somebody is committing biddah?
As a matter of fact, if somebody intentionally attribute to Allah & his rasool,then it is innovation & shirk.
Is intentional innovation also shirk?
I know from hadeeth & the answer is yes.
In answer to the question, the prophet told one of his companion that jews also committed shirk by following the rabbis who changed things on their own.
Allah knows better.
I don’t remember the exact words of the hadeeth.
“Give out” means what he did, what he saw, what he said.
Once we agree in princple that it must have been given out in his presence and witnessed by him, our intention is good, and then it is also obligatotry on us to be throrough & establish the truth.

There are many things we do in life for which there may be no ajar or reward of jannah & there may be no sin & and we may or may also not earn the intended worldly good will from the other party right away.
Birthday is one of those things, celbrating your graduation is one of those, doing fireworks on independence day is one of those things, cooking turkey on thanksgiving is one of those thing.
Celebrating memorial day is one of those things.
Family get to gether during the same holidays every year is one of those things.
There is a huge list of things in life, which may or may not give us ajar in akhira, depending on niyya.
And niyya is not to be rebellious to Allah anyway, but we do it to feel good, without violating the requirments of slavery to Allah.
As long as we are not violating the requirments of slavery to Allah, we ar okay.
Nonethless, Allah’s knows better.
By requirments of slavery to Allah, I mean the belief should be the same the prophet held in his 23 years & gave it out in the 23 years, witnessed it in the 23 years, salaat, saum, zakaat, Haj.
It also includes not doing haraam things, being humble & not egoistic.
Following desires in moderation in a halaal way is also requirment of slavery to Allah.
Becoming slave of one nafs & slave of Allah cannot happen together, like we cannot toss head & tail both. Nonethelss, it is okay to follow ones desire moderately.
A certain village or town may have the tradition of celebrating on a specific day, and holding competititions. This may or may not bring ajar in akhira, depending on niyya & creativity.
i think we should go to masjid in the morning for fajr, never indulge to remain a slave to Allah, and feel the confidence meeting the challenges of life.
And, if we ever slip a little bit, do astaghfar, and get back on track right away. Don’t dwell. Allah is indeed ghafoor raheem, if you niyyah is good.
Never expect that we will not fall.
We will fall into pits from time to time.
We are humans always under the influence of the evil of our soul & shaitan, even if we stay most of the time focused on the straight path.
Nonetheless, going to masjid for fajr in the morning, praying regularly, reading the Quran with meaning, focusing on justice to oneself, thinking aobut the white shroud around our body when we are in the grave & acccountablity, should keep us on the straight path & away from the total fall.
Bidaah is when we do to earn rewards or get jannah or attributes it to Allah and/or his rasool. Bidah can be shirk also. Allah may forgive everything, but not transgression.