Dought & clear, - Is it permissible to make a cake togive to a child on his birthdaywithout having a party?

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My question is concerning birthdays.normally i take orders for cakes for different occassions apart from birthday cakes n any unislamic occassion because i was told it haram.i once got an order for a birthday n refused to it.i tried explaining to the person my reasons.they told me that they were not going to host a party.they jus want to give the cake to the child as a means of making the child happy.is this allowed?will i be sinning if i make the cake even if its not for hosting a party?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
In Islam there are only two celebrations, namely Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha; anything other than these two celebrations is an innovated festival or occasion and it is not permissible to celebrate it or to help others to do so.
The scholars of the Standing Committee said:
It is not permissible to celebrate the occasion of Laylat al-Qadr or any other night, or to commemorate other occasions, such as the night of the fifteenth of Sha‘baan (laylat an-nusf min Sha‘baan), the night of the Mi‘raaj (Prophet’s ascent to heaven), and the Prophet’s birthday (Mawlid), because these are innovations that have been introduced into Islam and that were not narrated from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or from his Companions. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever does an action that is not part of this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) will have it rejected.” It is not permissible to help others to hold these celebrations by means of money, gifts or distributing cups of tea, or by giving speeches and lectures on these occasions, because that comes under the heading of approving of them and encouraging them. Rather one should denounce them and not attend them.
End quote fromFataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah, 2/257-258
Based on that, it is not permissible for you to make cakes for these and similar occasions, because that comes under the heading of helping others to celebrate them. Celebrating them is not permissible, so helping others to do so is not permissible either, because of the general meaning of the words of Allah (interpretation of the meaning):
“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”
[al-Maa’idah 5:2].
The scholars of the Standing Committee also said:
Exchanging gifts is something that creates love and harmony among people, and dispels resentment and hatred. It is something that is encouraged in Islam; the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to accept gifts and reciprocate, and that is something that is commonly done among the Muslims, praise be to Allah. But if the gift is accompanied by a reason that is not acceptable in Islam, then it is not permissible, such as giving gifts on the day of ‘Ashoora’ or in Rajab, or on the occasion of birthdays and other innovated occasions, because that is helping in falsehood and participating in bid‘ah (innovation).
End quote fromFataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah, 16/176
Making a cake and giving it to the child on this day, and telling him that this is his birthday so as to make him happy, comes under the heading of celebrating, even if his family do not call it a celebration. Undoubtedly celebration may take many different forms, but this does not mean that it is permissible. They have only chosen this day to give the child a gift because in their hearts they feel some love for this occasion and are trying not to let the day pass without celebrating it, even if that is only by giving a gift to the child.
And Allah knows best.

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Dought & clear, - Is giving gifts on Eid an innovation (bid‘ah)?

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Is it permissible to give my family members some gifts on Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, and to do that every year, or is it an innovation (bid‘ah)?
Praise be to Allah.
There is nothing wrong with giving gifts on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to family and relatives, because these are days of joy and happiness on which it is mustahabb to uphold ties, show kindness, and eat and drink plenty. This is not bid‘ah; rather it is something that is permissible and a good custom that is one of the symbols of Eid. Hence it is not allowed to give gifts and express joy and happiness on innovated occasions on which it is not prescribed to celebrate, such as New Year, the Mawlid (Prophet’s birthday) and the fifteenth of Sha‘baan (an-nusf min Sha‘baan), because this makes them like Eids.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: On this Eid people also exchange gifts, i.e., they make food and invite one another to come and eat, and they get together and celebrate. There is nothing wrong with this custom because these are days of Eid. When Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) entered the house of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and found with him two young girls who were singing on the days of Eid, he rebuked them, but the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Let them be.” And he did not say it because they were young girls. Rather he said: “Let them be, for these are the days of Eid.”
This indicates that Islam, with its tolerant and easy-going attitude, allows people to express joy and happiness on the days of Eid.
End quote fromMajmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Uthaymeen, 16/276
And he (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is well known that there are no festivals in Islam except those which are proven in sharee‘ah, namely Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Ahda, and Friday which is the weekly “Eid”. As for the fifteenth of Sha‘baan (an-nusf min Sha‘baan), there is no proof in Islam is that it is an Eid. If it is taken as an occasion on which charity is distributed or gifts are given to neighbours, then this is taking it as an Eid.
End quote fromFataawaNoor ‘ala ad-Darb
And he said concerning Mother’s Day: Once this is understood, it is not permissible, on the occasion mentioned in your question, which is called Mother’s Day, to introduce any of the symbols of Eid on this day, such as expressing joy and happiness, giving gifts, and so on.
End quote fromMajmoo‘ Fataawa ash-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 2/301
And Allah knows best.

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Dought & clear, - Is giving gifts on Eid an innovation (bid‘ah)?

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Is it permissible to give my family members some gifts on Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, and to do that every year, or is it an innovation (bid‘ah)?
Praise be to Allah.
There is nothing wrong with giving gifts on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to family and relatives, because these are days of joy and happiness on which it is mustahabb to uphold ties, show kindness, and eat and drink plenty. This is not bid‘ah; rather it is something that is permissible and a good custom that is one of the symbols of Eid. Hence it is not allowed to give gifts and express joy and happiness on innovated occasions on which it is not prescribed to celebrate, such as New Year, the Mawlid (Prophet’s birthday) and the fifteenth of Sha‘baan (an-nusf min Sha‘baan), because this makes them like Eids.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: On this Eid people also exchange gifts, i.e., they make food and invite one another to come and eat, and they get together and celebrate. There is nothing wrong with this custom because these are days of Eid. When Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) entered the house of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and found with him two young girls who were singing on the days of Eid, he rebuked them, but the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Let them be.” And he did not say it because they were young girls. Rather he said: “Let them be, for these are the days of Eid.”
This indicates that Islam, with its tolerant and easy-going attitude, allows people to express joy and happiness on the days of Eid.
End quote fromMajmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Uthaymeen, 16/276
And he (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is well known that there are no festivals in Islam except those which are proven in sharee‘ah, namely Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Ahda, and Friday which is the weekly “Eid”. As for the fifteenth of Sha‘baan (an-nusf min Sha‘baan), there is no proof in Islam is that it is an Eid. If it is taken as an occasion on which charity is distributed or gifts are given to neighbours, then this is taking it as an Eid.
End quote fromFataawaNoor ‘ala ad-Darb
And he said concerning Mother’s Day: Once this is understood, it is not permissible, on the occasion mentioned in your question, which is called Mother’s Day, to introduce any of the symbols of Eid on this day, such as expressing joy and happiness, giving gifts, and so on.
End quote fromMajmoo‘ Fataawa ash-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 2/301
And Allah knows best.

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Dought & clear, - Ruling on what is known as “khatam shifa”, and praying behind an innovator and calling him (to the right path)

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My bother just had an operation and his situation is critical. So, what my mom decided to do is perform khatam shifa which is basically saying ya salaamu 12500 times, reading some dua, reading Surah Yaseen and Surah Ar-Rahman 40 times each, feeding the poor and giving away goats. Is is something from our Rasul Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam.
Another question is regarding the mosques in Bangladesh. They do a lot of bidah that includes asking wasillah, teaching acts mentioned above, celebrate milad in nabi and I can keep going on for ages. Is it permissible to pray behind those imams who teaches such things?
Sometimes, when I try to talk to them, whether they get angry and they do not reason and give sahih daleel to their arguments. They always say that some alims taught them and they are better than us and we should follow them without question. We are facing this diellma to either be quiet and allow them to follow what they will.
Sometimes it ends in quarrel and at times ruins relationships/friendship.... because as much as we try they always say that the alim is far better and knows what he is preaching.
Finally, what should I do to explain my family and friends?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
With regard to what is called “khatam shifa”, it is an innovation (bid‘ah). The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The worst of matters are those which are newly invented (in religion). Every newly invented matter is an innovation, every innovation is a going astray, and every going astray is in the Fire.” With regard to these soorahs and adhkaar (dhikrs) that are mentioned in the question, this is something for which there is no evidence (daleel), and it is not permissible to do these things for which there is no evidence in the Book of our Lord or the Sunnah of our Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
What is prescribed in our religion is to offer supplication (du‘aa’) for the sick person and to ask Allah to heal him and purify him. That will have the greatest impact in taking away the disease and bringing about rapid healing. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever visits a sick person whose time (of death) has not yet come, and says to him seven times ‘As’al Allah al-‘Azeem Rabb al-‘Arsh al-‘Azeem an yashfeeyaka(I ask Allah the Almighty, Lord of the Mighty Throne, to heal you)’, Allah will heal him of that sickness.”
Narrated by Ahmad (2137), Abu Dawood (3106) and at-Tirmidhi (2083); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.
So you should offer supplication (du‘aa’) for him in the wording mentioned in this hadeeth and other saheeh hadeeths.
The same applies to giving charity. There is no doubt that spending for the sake of Allah is something that brings good. It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)said: “There is no day on which people wake up, but two angels come down and one of them says: ‘O Allaah, give more to the one who spends,’ and the other says, ‘O Allaah, send destruction upon the one who withholds.’”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1442) and Muslim (1010).
So spend and give charity, and be optimistic about compensation from Allah, may He be glorified.
Secondly:
With regard to praying behind an innovator, Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] said inMajmoo‘ al-Fataawa(23/355):
With regard to praying behind an innovator, this is a matter concerning which there is a difference of opinion and it is subject to further discussion. If you cannot find any other imam apart from him, such as in the case of Jumu‘ah prayer which is only held in one place, or Eid prayer, or prayers during Hajj behind the imam who is in charge of Hajj, these prayers are to be offered behind anyone, whether he is righteous or otherwise, according to the consensus of Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah. Rather the ones who refrain from offering these prayers behind the imams are the followers of innovations such as the Raafidis and others like them, who do not attend any Jumu‘ah prayer or prayer in congregation. If there is only one mosque in the village, then praying in congregation behind an immoral person is better than praying on one’s own at home, lest that lead to giving up prayer in congregation altogether. But if it is possible to pray behind someone other than the innovator, that is undoubtedly better and preferable. But if he prays behind him, there is a scholarly difference of opinion concerning his prayer. The view of ash-Shaafa‘i and Abu Haneefah is that his prayer is valid; however in the madhhabs of Maalik and Ahmad there is a dispute concerning this issue and it is subject to further discussion.
However this only applies to bid‘ah that is known to be contrary to the Qur’an and Sunnah, such as the innovations of the Raafidis, Jahamis and so on. People argue about many issue of religion in this country, and both parties to an argument may innovators, and both of them may be ignorant and misinterpreting things, so the refusal of one of them to pray behind the other is not better than if it is the other way round. But once the Sunnah is established and becomes known, and one person or group goes against it, this is the matter concerning which there is a difference of scholarly opinion. And Allah knows best. End quote.
InFataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah(7/364) there is the following question:
Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who is an innovator?
The committee replied:
Whoever can find an imam who is not an innovator should pray behind him and not behind the innovator. Whoever cannot find anyone except this innovator should advise him in the hope that he will give up his innovation. If he does not accept that advice, and his innovation involves shirk, such as those who seek the help of the dead or call upon them instead of Allah, or offer sacrifices to them, then he (the one who offered advice) should not pray behind him because he is a kaafir and his prayer is invalid, and it is not right to appoint him as an imam. If his innovation does not make him a kaafir, such as uttering the intention out loud, his prayer is valid as is the prayer of those who pray behind him. End quote.
With regard to calling these people (da‘wah) and advising them, seek the help of Allah first and foremost, make your intention sincere and intend to guide them to the right path, and Allah will help you in that.
You should explain to them that they are going against the teachings of Islam, with evidence and proof, and demonstrate that the specious argument they follow is wrong; you should also refer to scholars concerning issues that you are uncertain about, so that their specious arguments will not affect you and they will not defeat you in argument, lest the ignorant think that their view is correct. And you should pay attention to being kind and gentle in all of that.
And Allah knows best.

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