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.