Letters to the Editor

Sheikh Munazah Gull, via email

Is it permissible in Islam to celebrate anybody’s birthday including prophets (pbuh)?

YMD

The issue has been discussed several times over. Birthday celebration is a social practice imported from the Christians. However, perhaps realizing that it is futile, the practice is gradually dying out there. But, as usual, Muslims are a few decades behind them, so they will perhaps continue with the practice for next few decades.

The futility is obvious. Every year behind a man is a year lost. It is time to brood over the past, resolve on corrections, modifications, and improvements in during the next year. It is no time for celebration.

At all events, since this is a social event, without religious implications, it cannot be declared unlawful. At best, it is undesirable.

As regards celebrations of the Prophet’s birthday, we may ask ourselves: did he ask us? Would he allow us the celebrations if he was alive? We all know the answer. Is it not a kind of dishonesty with him to continue with the celebrations, despite the fact that he would not have allowed it if he was alive?

It is reported of Imam Malik that he would not accept to ride a camel within Madinah in respect of the Prophet in his grave. It is also reported that when he passed by old narrow lanes, he would pass his hands over the building-walls and kiss his hands saying, “Perhaps the Prophet’s hands would have touched these walls.” Did this lover of the Prophet celebrate his birthday? Did anyone of his time or later times celebrated the birthday of the Prophet? So, whose command and whose Sunnah are we following by celebrating the birthday of the Prophet? We know the answer. It is the Sunnah of the Christians who celebrate the lives of their Saints.

Also, is it permissible for a man to wear any kind of ornaments like rings? Please answer with proper reference from Holy Qur’an or Sahih Hadiths.

YMD

Yes, it is quite allowable for a male to wear rings. The Prophet wore a ring on his hand, which he also used as a seal.

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