Celebrating Birthdays & Marriage Anniversaries

Celebrations of birthdays, celebrating marriage anniversaries, why is it forbidden or is it forbidden?

The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) is the guide for us. If he did something, you should do it. When he saw other people having different kinds of celebrations, he said himself that we have two celebrations. This is from him, it’s called “Eidayn” (the two Eids) and this is what he said. So, with respect to those who like to celebrate things and say, “we celebrate his birthday, we celebrate our birthday, we celebrate Washington's birthday and all these different things” this is not what he told us, and when he comes to celebrate his birthday, he says specifically don’t eulogize me as the Christians eulogized my brother Jesus. Meaning, don’t fall into the same trap.

And usually when we find people who celebrate the birthday of the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him), we find that they also have other innovations they like to add along with that too, and where will it stop?

The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) warned us about the things which are in doubt. He said Halal is clear and Haram is clear and then there is these doubts, leave the doubtful. This is preservation of your own Deen. And if you want to celebrate his birthday, at least I warned you, and on the day of judgment, I’m free from that. But I won’t say that it’s Haram because if I did that, that might be too far. But it’s not good.

Sheikh Yusuf Estes