Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

what is the islamic viewpoint on celebrating/mourning anniversaries?
please explian in reference with Id-Milaad, Moharram and others that we celebrate of our kith and kin eg birthdays, marriage anniversaries etc

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Answer:

Milad birthday bida

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: what is the islamic viewpoint on celebrating/mourning anniversaries?
Every people have a culture and Islam too has its own culture; and celebrating or commemorating one’s birthday or anniversary with a feast or a party cannot be considered a part of Islamic culture.  Islam guides towards the notion that every single day one is blessed to be alive is a day of celebration and a cause to be grateful and thankful to the Lord Creator for his innumerable blessings and favors.  Besides, Islam has nominated its own special days of joyous commemoration and celebration, namely the two blessed days of Eid (Fitr and Adha) and every Friday of the week. 

If one celebrates one’s birthday or anniversary with a feast or a party amongst loved ones, cuts a cake, lights candles, sings the nominated song ‘Happy Birthday to you…..’, gives presents, etc.; one cannot say with conviction that this rite or ritual has a religious connotation…..but without an iota of a doubt, this rite and ritual of celebrating birthdays and/or anniversaries is an imitation of the culture of the unbelievers; and it definitely does not behove and befit a believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to imitate the pagans or their rituals in any matter whatsoever! 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.780         Narrated by Nafi

Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "Do the opposite of what the pagans do!”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020  Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘He who copies any people is one of them.’

Your Question: ….please explian in reference with Id-Milaad, Moharram

There is absolutely no evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (saws) or his noble companions ever celebrated or commemorated the birth or death anniversaries of any individual.

Therefore if someone starts the ritual of celebrating or commemorating the Prophet’s (saws) birthday, or the birth or death anniversary of any individual assuming it to be a religious rite which will bring about the Pleasure or Good Will of Allah Subhanah, he will be inventing a thing in the deen of Islam which is not from the deen!   And that is exactly what the Messenger of Allah (saws) termed as bidah or innovation; and every single innovation in the pure and perfect deen of Islam is an error, a sin, and absolutely detestable to the Lord Most Majestic.

Aisha narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘If somebody innovates something which is not present in our religion, then that thing will be rejected.’

Related by Bukhari.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515  Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion),  he will be responsible for it.   If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion),  he is cursed by Allah,  by His Angels,  and by all the people.”

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885     Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon:  “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran;  and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws).   The most evil affairs are the innovations,  and every innovation is an error.”

The celebrating or commemorating of the birth or death anniversary of any individual with a religious connotation is a clear and manifest bida, and the believers should fear Allah and absolutely abstain from this and all other innovations which have unfortunately crept into the pure and perfect deen of Islam…if indeed they fear Allah and the Last Day.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws),   one can be assured of never ever being misled;   but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.  

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan