Birthday is a sign for every human that they exist as a human being. The birthday will make you realized something such as the importance of time in Islam. Not only about the multiple of your increasing ages, but also something different that you wish to be a better human. That is why commonly birthday moments become very special.
Acknowledging a birthday becomes crucial for most people. They make some party celebrate even though with an only family member, friends, or neighborhood.
But, the most important thing from the birthday moment is you realized that you’re getting older. There will be a lot of wish you want to be granted. Besides, our family and friend will give us a happy birthday wish.
So, how Islam sees this birthday moment? Is it permissible to us for wishing someone a happy birthday? Based on the hadith from the Prophet Muhammad that recite by Al Bukhari mentions,” Every child is born in a state of Fitra,”. Besides, on the Quran surah, Al Insan verse 1 mentions about the time before human born.
هَلْ اَتٰى عَلَى الْاِنْسَانِ حِيْنٌ مِّنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْـًٔا مَّذْكُوْرًا – ١
“Has it ever come to humans from the time, that compilation does not yet represent something that can be called?” (QS 76:1)
Based on that verse, in Islam, it is permissible to acknowledge the birthday moment including wishing someone a happy birthday. But, it has to do in an Islamic way whether you celebrating it with a big party or not. Here we have some Islamic way to wish someone a happy birthday.
1. Do The Prayer
Establishing the prayer towards Allah will make you know how to be closer to Allah at the birthday moment. Besides, if you wishing someone’s birthday in your prayer, may your wish become more meaningful.
You can wish them a good life, a healthy life, having a more grateful day, or so. There is some importance of prayer in Islam you should know it.
Besides, do a prayer when the birthday moment for children can be a sign that they are ready to acknowledge the Islamic way. If you will make your children do good deeds on their birthday, so this is the time to show them. If the birthday ones are your parents, you can wish as the dua from the Quran surah Al Ahqaf verse 15.
قَالَ رَبِّ اَوْزِعْنِيْٓ اَنْ اَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِيْٓ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلٰى وَالِدَيَّ وَاَنْ اَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضٰىهُ وَاَصْلِحْ لِيْ فِيْ ذُرِّيَّتِيْۗ اِنِّيْ تُبْتُ اِلَيْكَ وَاِنِّيْ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ – ١٥
“O my Lord, give me instructions so that I can give thanks for Your blessings which You have bestowed on me and on both my parents and so that I can do the virtues that You are pleased with; and grant me goodness that will flow to my children and grandchildren. Verily, I repent to You and truly, I am a Muslim. ” (QS 46:15)
2. Give Them Your Expressions Of Love
Make a wish in your prayer to someone’s birthday sometimes becomes a misunderstanding. That will make your relationship bad if you don’t show it with your act.
It is true for doing your wish in your prayer, but by showing your expression of love to them, it means the affirmation of love can be accepted for them.
You can say a simple happy birthday to them, or say a greeting with a happy birthday word. It is very simple to do but can make people happy. Say your wish directly while you say a happy birthday can be one of the ways to make them happier.
3. Give Some Gifts
Gift for someone who has a birthday is not mandatory but giving gifts in Islam is permissible. For any adults, this may work perfectly but for children, sometimes it can be hard tough.
Teaching your children to be more grateful for their life on their birthday will be more meaningful instead. Since in every culture complementing the birthday moment with a gift, there is no prohibition to not doing that.
Giving someone gifts will make them happy and keep your relationship in a good way. Don’t forget to wish them a happy birthday while you give the gift. Wishing them with good words towards Allah right while you give your gift will be a meaningful moment for them.
4. Make a Gathering
Make a gathering even as simple as gathering between you and your friends, or with a family member. Gathering can be the moment to make friends and don’t forget to make Dua make friends in Islam before you try it.
To acknowledge the birthday moment, the gathering will make you and your birthday ones get more intimacy in your relationship. In Islam, tighten the family tied is permissible to do so that the birthday gathering is lawful too.
Don’t forget to make a dua together in the middle of your gathering. You can wish the birthday ones have a joyful and grateful life. Don’t make some gathering that not permissible in Islamic way, so that you will get some good deed from Allah.
5. Make a Celebration
The celebration when the birthday moment is permissible as long as it is in the Islamic way. Celebrating with a hard party and make someone or even you drunk is not permissible in the Islamic way. Instead of making these unlawful parties, make a celebration with the orphanage can be more meaningful. In Indonesia, this culture becomes popular so that the birthday one can be more grateful in their life.
So, there are some Islamic way to wish someone a happy birthday. Once again, every wish you make is lawful as long as it does not harm them. Be careful of what you wish for. May Allah give you His gratitude in the best way.