Fatawa: Wedding anniversaries, Honeymoon & Birthday parties – Dr Shaykh Salman al-'Awdah

Question: Are wedding anniversaries an innovation?

Some young couples, when the date of their wedding comes around again, like to celebrate that day. The husband often presents a romantic and affectionate gift to his wife. Sometimes, they rent a room in a hotel for the night and spend a romantic time together.

Some Muslims, however, look upon this with suspicion, wondering if this comes under the prohibition of observing holidays aside from the established `ids.

Celebrating one’s anniversary in the manner described above is not in any way intended as a religious observance. I see no objection to it at all.

There is no way that the question of innovation can even come up, since an innovation in Islam is to introduce something unprecedented into a matter of religious observance or a matter of devotion to Allah.

As long as the observance of one’s wedding anniversary is just a customary occasion – neither intended as an expression of religious worship nor established as a formal festival or rite – then there is nothing wrong with celebrating it.

And Allah knows best.

Dr Shaykh Salman al-Awdah

Question: I would like to know if it is permissible in Islam for a married couple to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

Answered by Sheikh Sâmî al-Mâjid

After a careful study of the rulings pertaining to unlawful festivals and holidays, it appears to me that these rulings concern those occassions that have a single date for all the people in society – like all of the people residing in the country or who are attibuted to it – so that the day that is specified for the festival is a conspicuous, public event where the people make a public show of joy and celebration. Such festivals and holidays resemble the `îd days in Islam, and such are the holidays that are prohibited, in my opinion.

The prohibition of such days is evidenced by the hadîth where the Prophet (peace be upon him) arrived at Madinah and found that they had two festive days wherein they would play and enjoy themselves. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah – Most Blessed and High – has replaced them with what is better: `Îd al-Fitr and `Îd al-Adhâ.” [Sunan Abî Dâwûd (1134) and Sunan al-Nasâ’î (1556)]

It is only such festivals that are celebrated by everyone on a particular day that have the qualities that resemble the `îd celebrations.

As for a person celebrating the occasion of his wedding anniversary with his wife, I do not see this as coming under the ruling of prohibited festivals. Its day is different for different couples. Therefore, it is in no way comparable to the `îd days of Islam. Each couple celebrates their marriage on a different day.

The difference between general public festivals and such particular, personal days is that with respect to the personal days, the days themselves are generally not sanctified and considered sacrosanct and there is not a wholesale public display of festivity.

Therefore, I tend to the view that there is nothing wrong with a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary as long as they do not copy the particular practices of the non-Muslims in doing so, like lighting candles for each year that they were married.

And Allah knows best.

Question: What is the ruling on celebrating birthdays?

Answered by Sheikh Salman al-Oadah

If you mean celebrating the likes of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), then this is clearly unlawful. Such festive days are newly contrived innovations that conflict with the dictates of Islamic Law.

Such rites are from the traditions of the People of the Book. They have a devotional purpose and are carried out seeking nearness to Allah. This is the reason I view such occasions to be unlawful and prohibited.

If, on the other hand, you mean celebrating personal birthdays, then this is something different, since it is not intended as a devotional act or an act of worship. Therefore, it is not as serious a matter. Still, I tend to regard it as something disliked for people who are not already accustomed to celebrating this event in their culture, but do so merely to blindly ape cultural practices that are outside of their own experience.

Question: What is the ruling on making or selling birthday party decorations and balloons? Does it take the same ruling as selling Christmas trees?

Answered by Sheikh Salman al-Oadah

Participating in, making, or manufacturing anything that is used for something unlawful is also unlawful, since it is assisting in sin and iniquity. Therefore, selling Christmas trees and Christmas decorations is unlawful.

With respect to birthday parties, the situation is different. This is because birthday parties are not religious occasions and do not have an overt religious cast to them.

A birthday party is not a festival of the nature of an `îd that is a general festive day for the entire community. It is merely a personal occasion that means nothing more than a remembrance of something dear.

Question: I wanted to ask if there is anything in Islam to forbid a newly wed couple from going on what is generally knows as a “honeymoon.” The main concern I have heard concerning this practice is that it is a form of imitating the unbelievers. If the honeymoon is something that is allowed, are there any guidelines or conditions that should be followed?

Answered by Sheikh Sa`ûd al-Funaysân, former professor at al-Imâm University

A husband and wife going for a vacation after marriage is permissible and there is absolutely nothing wrong in it.

It does not matter whether its date and duration are preplanned or not.

It is of no consequence if one refers to it as a “honeymoon”.

We are ordered to be different from the unbelievers in their particular qualities that distinguish them in their faith from others.

This is not something specific and distinctive for them.

Moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Works are but by their intentions” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

In any event, the couple are obliged during their vacation to abide by all Islamic teachings and etiquettes. They are obligated to avoid suspicious places and to refrain from all wrongdoing. They should recognize that Allah watches them and knows what they are doing.

It is worth saying that the couple have the right to benefit from the permissible concessions of travel, such as combining and shortening their prayers, breaking their fasts if it is Ramadan, and wiping on their socks for wudu’ for a longer duration, and the like.

And Allah knows best.