HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME...

13^th April – well, it’s my birthday yesterday

I was quite thrilled to get non-stop birthday wishes not only from my family members and dear friends, but it extends to ex-colleagues and long lost friends (from my school days)

I was googling just now on the subject of birthday and noted that most major religions are opposed to birthday celebrations :

In Judaism, the perspective on birthday celebrations is disputed by various rabbis. In the Hebrew Bible, the one single mention of a celebration being held in commemoration of someone's day of birth is for the Egyptian Pharaoh.

The early Christians did not celebrate Christ's birth because they considered the celebration of anyone's birth to be a pagan custom. Few branches of Christianity today hold an official stance on birthdays. Jehovah's Witness refrains from celebrating birthdays on the basis that they are portrayed in a negative light in the Bible and have historical connections with magic, superstitions, and Paganism.

There is no consensus on the issue of birthdays in Islam. A number of Muslims celebrate birthdays, including that of Prophet Muhammad swt, while some of their co-religionists (particularly adherents to the Wahhabi ideology) will consider such a practice to be a bida'ah), an innovation based on the following sunnah :

Prophet Muhammad saw said,

“Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that does not belong to it shall have it rejected.”

[Sahîh al-Bukharî and Sahîh Muslim]

It is well-known that the Prophet Muhammad saw did not celebrate his birthday at all during his lifetime nor did he ever order it to be celebrated. Nor did he teach such to his Companions.

Well, on my birthday - I extended my thanks to Allah swt for granting me a beautiful life in this world and the realization of His presence and power at all times and in all places and to keep in mind all the favours He has granted to us whether these favours are seen or unseen (e.g., good health).

Prophet Muhammad saw said: “Should not I be a grateful servant.”

[Sahîh al-Bukharî and Sahîh Muslim]