In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Indeed, it is pleasing to the hearts when one sees Muslims supplicating for their rulers and ignoring the provocations of the internal reckless instigators and the external opportunistic western ideologues- those who want to sow the seeds of animosity and hatred between the Muslim rulers and their subjects; however love for the Muslim rulers and the Muslim nations should not lead us to oppose the authentic Prophetic Tradition. This is a reminder to those Muslims who have recently been wishing a “Happy Birthday to a Muslim ruler”.

[A] Birthday Celebrations:

Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

Everything that is taken as a day of day of celebration [Festival and Annual Celebrations], repeated every week and every year and is not legislated in Islaam, then it is a Bidah [i.e. religious innovation]. The evidence is because the One Who [i.e. Allaah] legislates everything [i.e. either in the Qur’aan and the authentic Prophetic Tradition] has legislated the “Aqeeqah” for the newly born baby and did not legislate anything after that. So, taking these celebrations [festivals] that are repeated every week or every year means that they [i.e. the people who do so] have likened them to Islamic festivals [days of celebrations, days set aside for religious observance] and this is forbidden- not permissible. There is nothing in Islam related to festivals [celebrations or days set aside for religious observance] except for the three: Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, and Eidul Usboo, which is Friday. [Ref 1]

[B] Celebrations for such and such person:

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

All of this is Munkar [i.e. considered evil in the Islamic legislation], whether for the person, his mother, his daughter or son. All this that has been newly invented – nowadays – is an imitation of the Christians or the Jews [i.e. those amongst them who changed the religion after the departure of their Prophets]. It has no basis nor a foundation [i.e. in the Islamic legislation]. Mother’s day, Father’s Day, Uncle’s Day, the day for a particular person (as celebration or congratulation), or the day for his daughter or son, then all of this is Munkaraat [considered evil in the Islamic legislation]. All of it is an innovation in religious affairs, an imitation of Allaah’s enemies and nothing from it is permissible. [Ref 2]

[C] National Day Celebrations:

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

National day Celebration is an innovation in religious affairs [i.e. because only the two Eeds have been legislated for that purpose]. As for “Week of the Scholars”, it is not a religious innovation. During this week, their books are presented and it is not a religious innovation. It is a week in which books are presented, so it is said, “The week for the book of such and such person, the week thereafter the book of such and such, and the week after it, the book of such and such”. This is not a religious innovation. This is a presentation of books, a clarification of what such and such person has authored and the those books of his that have been printed. If it is said, “This is Muhammad’s week, this is Shaikhul Islaam’s week, this is the week of Izz Bin Abdis Salaam and Al-Qurtubee’s week, in which their books are presented, then this is not a newly invented matter into the religion, (rather) it is to present their books openly, sell and distribute them amongst the people. As for National Day and celebrating National Day on any day or celebrating the night of Raghaa’ib, then all of this is an innovation in religion and an imitation of Allaah’s enemies. [Ref 3]

The Imaam [may Allaah have mercy upon him] also said:

This National Day (celebration is tantamount to) an imitation of Allaah’s enemies. The National Days of celebration are an imitation. It may have occurred due a good intention and based on a judgement made by some after striving to reach the correct verdict in an affair; but what is apparent to us is that it is not legislated and it is not from that which is befitting; rather imitation of Allaah’s enemies is found within it, even if worship is not intended by way of it. As for if worship was intended by way of it, then it would be an innovation in religion, but worship is not intended by way of it; rather what is intended is to congratulate, manifest what the country has established and done, therefore, this is considered to be similar to the other days initiated by the Jews and Christians [i.e. those amongst them who changed the religion after the departure of their Prophets] for remembrance or for other reasons. So, it is not befitting [or not permissible] to imitate them- neither in this affair nor in other than it [i.e. those affairs which the Islamic legislation has neither allowed nor legislated]. [Ref 4]

What is Aqeeqah For The Newly Born?

Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said: One of the rights of the child upon his father is that he should slaughter a sacrifice for him. He should slaughter for the Aqeeqah on his behalf as an act worship and thanks-giving to Allaah (The Most High). There is seeking nearness to Allaah and being thankful to Him in this (sacrifice) and there is good in it for the newly born because goodness is found in acts of worship. Therefore, he slaughters two sheep for the boy and one for the girl. This is an established Sunnah and there is goodness in it for the newly born. He (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ‘’Every newly born is in pledge for his/her aqeeqah’’ (Reported by Abu Daawood. No:2831) The sacrificial slaughter, shaving of the head and naming the child are to be done on the seventh day, and these are from the means of bringing about goodness for the new born. The expense for this is to be undertaken by the father. [Ref 5]

Therefore, it is pleasing to hearts when one knows that Muslims love their leaders and wish them good, but the authentic Sunnah must be followed. The birthday of none is to be celebrated – not even the birthday of the most noble person amongst humankind [The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)], because it is not legislated in the divine legislation. Rather we supplicate for our rulers, obey them in good and never rebel against them.

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] was asked about the one who refrains from supplicating for the ruler, so he replied: ”This is from the ignorance and lack of foresight of this person, because indeed supplicating for the ruler is one of the greatest acts of worship and righteous deeds. It is one of the acts of sincerity to the Allaah and sincerely wanting good for Allaah’s servants. When Tufayl Ibn Amr Ad-Dawsi [may Allaah be pleased with him] came to the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] and said to him, ”Daws (a well-known tribe of disbelievers) are doomed, they have disobeyed and been stubborn. Pray to Allah against them”. He said, ”O Allaah! Guide Daws and bring them here”. [Bukhaari and Muslim] So, Allaah guided Daws and they became Muslims. Therefore, a believer supplicates for the people to be blessed with good and the ruler is more entitled to it, because his rectification is a means of rectification for the Muslim nation. Supplicating for him is one of the most important supplications – one of the most important acts of sincerity to Allaah and sincerely wanting good for the Muslims, so one supplicates for him to be guided to the truth and helped upon that path, that Allaah grants him righteous companions, keeps him away from the evils of his soul and the evils of the people he sits with. Therefore, supplicating for him to be guided, blessed with the ability to do good, blessed with a righteous heart, blessed with good deeds and righteous companions, is one of the most important things to ask for and one of the most virtuous acts of worship. It has been reported from Imaam Ahmad [may Allaah have mercy upon him] that he said, ‘If I knew that I have one supplication that would be accepted, I would make it for the ruler’, and he reported this from Al-Fudayl Ibn Iyaadh [may Allaah have mercy upon him]”’. [Ref 6]

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “If you see something from the ruler that is in opposition to (the Qur’an and Sunnah), then supplicate to Allaah for him because their rectification is a means of rectification for the Muslim nation; but when we say, ‘O Allaah! Rectify the rulers and guide them’, we hear some of the foolish people saying, ‘O Allaah! Do not rectify them’. Glorified be Allaah, The Most Great! If Allaah does not rectify them, then that would be more evil for you, so supplicate for them to be guided and become righteous, and Allaah is able to do everything’”. [Ref 7]

Imaam Al-Bayhaqqi [rahimahullaah] said, “Abu Uthmaan (may Allaah have mercy upon him) said, ‘Advise the ruler and supplicate for him a lot to be upright, guided in speech and action, and in his judgments, because indeed if they are righteous, the people will be righteous due to their righteousness. And beware of supplicating against them to be cursed and they increase in evil, so calamity increases on the Muslims; rather supplicate for them to be granted the ability to repent so that they abandon evil and calamity is removed from the believers’”. [Ref 8]

Imaam Ibn Salaah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The leaders of the Muslims deserve to be advised, aided upon truth and obeyed in that. They should be notified and reminded with gentle and kind speech, avoid rebelling against them and supplicate for them to be blessed with guidance and good deeds. [Ref 9]

Imaam An-Nawawi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The scholars hold a consensus that it is recommended to supplicate for the rulers and leaders of the Muslims during the Jumu’ah khutbah, that Allaah rectifies them, helps them to establish truth and justice, and what is similar to it, as well as supplicate for Muslim armies”. [Ref 10]

Shaikh Abdullaah Abaa Batayn [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The good supplication for the ruler during the khutbah is that one supplicates that Allaah rectifies and guides him, rectifies the affairs through him, aid him against the kuffaar and the corrupt people, as opposed to what is found in some of the khutbahs of praise and lies; rather the ruler is to supplicated for and not praised, especially when praised with something he does not possess”. [Ref 11]

Read more here:

Ibn Taymiyyah on Participating in the Festivals and Annual Celebrations of the Unbelievers

Ibn Taymiyyah on Participating in the Festivals and Annual Celebrations of the Unbelievers

Living With Non-Muslims In The West: With Fine Conduct
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/living-with-non-muslims-in-the-west-with-fine-conduct/

Lesson 15 Dealing with Non Muslim Parents Al Adab Al Mufrad by Abu Khadeejah
https://soundcloud.com/salafi-publications/lesson-15-dealing-with-non-muslim-parents-al-adab-al-mufrad-by-abu-khadeejah

[Ref 1: Sharh Kitaab at-Tawheed 1/382]

[Ref 2: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/26374/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF paraphrased]

[Ref 3: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/2365/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9 paraphrased]

[Ref 4: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/2592/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9 .paraphrased]

[Ref 5: Tawjeehaat Muhimmah Li-Shabaabil Ummah page 3]

[Ref 6: Majmoo Fataawaa 8/209]

[Ref 7: At-Ta’leeq Alaa As-Siyaasah Ash-Shar’iyyah page 452]

[Ref 8: Shu’ab Al-Eemaan 6/26]

[Ref 9: Siyaanatu Saheeh Muslim 244]

[Ref 10: Al-Majmoo 4/391]

[Ref 11: Durar As-Saniyyah 5/41]