Celebration & Gifts

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Celebration & Gifts



The Correct Position in Regards to Giving Gifts, Sending Greeting Cards on the `Eid (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showpost.php?p=18794&postcount=2) - Shaykh Salaah Muhammad Aal Shaykh


Attending the Marriage Ceremony of a Christian Mother (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showpost.php?p=18810&postcount=3) - Shaykh Wasiullaah al-Abbas


Should You Take Back a Returned Gift? (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showpost.php?p=18814&postcount=4) - Shaykh Ali at-Tuwayjari


Gifts for Children on the `Eed (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showpost.php?p=20047&postcount=6) - Shaykh Muhammad al-Maliki


Sending Greeting Cards And Presents On `Eed (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showpost.php?p=21087&postcount=7) - Shaykh Abdullaah al-Ghudyaan


Playing Duff And Dancing On `Eed (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showpost.php?p=21088&postcount=8) - Shaykh Abdullaah al-Ghudyaan


Giving Gifts To Children On `Eed (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showpost.php?p=29016&postcount=9) - Shaykh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahmaan Al-Hudhayfi

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Question: This Question is from sister Umm Mujaab from Ohio. She says: Can you please clarify for us the correct position in regards to giving gifts, sending greeting cards, and decorating the home specifically for the ‘Eid. Did the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم give "’Eid gifts"? Please describe to us the ways in which our beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم celebrated the holidays.

Answer: The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم accepted gifts and gave gifts. When he accepted gifts he gave more than what he was given and he صلى الله عليه و سلم said: "Give gifts to one another for a gift removes rancor from the chest." [1] This means that if you have a problem with someone and he feels badly about you and you give him gifts it will remove what is in his heart of bad feelings about you. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم asked us to give gifts even if it is small, because it is the meaning behind the gift and not the gift itself that matters.

We Muslims do not have any specific gift for ‘Eidul-Fitr and ‘Eidul-‘Adha. For ‘Eidul-Fitr we give the Zakaatul-Fitr i.e. we give food to the poor and for ‘Eidul-‘Adha we do our ‘Udhiyyah (أضحية – sacrificing of sacrificial animal). The Sunnah is to make it three parts – one part for yourself and your family, a part for the poor, and the third part you give as gifts to your neighbour, relatives etc; this is the hadiyyah (هدية – gift). Also, the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said that on the day of ‘Eid you should make your family relaxed i.e. have some fun and giving gifts can be included in this because it is a day of happiness and joy and you can give a gift on this day.

However, for the houses, the correct thing is that for the celebration of ‘Eid there is nothing specific that was done by Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم and his Companions on the days of ‘Eid concerning decorating the house. Yes, we prepare our house for people when they come to our house – whether on ‘Eid or otherwise. We clean it, we make it nice and we put whatever we need, but we do not do what the non-Muslims and Christians do for the New Year when they put trees and some decoration. No, we don’t do this and we should not do this and follow their way of celebration. There is no specific decoration for the houses on ‘Eid – we just make it clean, and be prepared to receive guest in our house and serve them. Wallaahu A’lam.


Answered by: Shaykh Salaah Muhammad Aal Shaykh

Title of lecture: Question and answer session

Date of lecture: 20 January 2007

Listen to lecture: Click here (http://www.albaseerah.org/audio/salaah.htm)

Read transcried lecture: Click here (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2772)


[1] Reported as part of a hadeeth in Sunan at-Tirmidhee (#2213). Shaykh al-Albaanee رحمه الله says Da’eef. See Jaami at-Tirmidhee 4/441 (#2130).

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Question: My mother who is a Christian is getting married soon inshaa' Allaah and the marriage will take place in a church. She wants me and my wife to attend. What is your advice to me?

Answer: In reality even though there are times when you have to look at the benefit that issues like this may bring, there is no doubt that there is much shirk in the church where the marriage is going to take place as the priest may mention matters of shirk etc. Therefore, it is not permissible to be there, or to attend churches as Allaah سبحانه و تعالى said:

فَلاَ تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَى مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
{...then after the remembrance, sit not you in the company of those people who are the Zaalimun (polytheists and wrong doers).} [al-An`aam 6:68]

We advise the brother with giving his mother her rights regarding kindness, and as such he should excuse himself in a good manner, from attending, perhaps he may give her an appropriate gift so that she will maintain good relations with him. However, it is not permissible to attend the church due to the Shirk that occurs within.


Answered by: Shaykh Wasiullaah al-Abbas حفظه الله

Title of Lecture: Explanation of Ad-Durrar Al-Bahiyyah of Imaam Shawkaani - The Book of Purification

Date of the Lecture: CLASS #6 - Delivered on November 18th, 2006

Listen to Lecture: Click Here (http://http//www.albaseerah.org/audio/audioicfq.htm) (Class #6)

Read the Transcribed Lecture: Click Here (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2373) (Class #6)

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Question: This is a question regarding a present, which was given to a family with a saying: "this gift shall be a reward for your efforts", and the gift was accepted. After a period of time the family returned the present with questioning: "How was it again, for your efforts?" What shall the person do, shall he take back the gift he has given to the family?

Answer: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم clarified that it is not permissible for anyone to take back a gift that he has given to someone; it is not permissible for him to take it back. The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said,"Whoever takes back a gift that he has given to someone is like a dog who vomited and then ate what he vomited."[1]. The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم clarified that the person who takes back his gift is like that dog, the dog that vomits then comes back and eats what he threw up. This is evidence of how terrible such a thing is.

As for yourself, if taking back this gift has a benefit and there won't be difficulty in taking it back then you could do so because the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to accept gifts. However, if you feel that there is harm in doing so - that it may cause animosity between you and whoever was given the gift, or there might be something that might cut off your relations, then you should not accept it. So it is up to you, if you see that there is benefit in taking the gift then take it, and if you see there is harm in taking the gift, then do not take it.


Answered by: Shaykh Ali at-Tuwayjari

Title of Lecture: Seeking Knowledge

Date of the Lecture: February 24, 2007

Listen to Lecture: Click Here (http://www.albaseerah.org/audio/raazi.htm)

Read the Transcribed Lecture: Click Here (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3106)

[1] Reported with the following wording in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Kitaab al-Hibah wa Fadlihaa (The Book of Gifts and its virtue) (#2449). Also (#2478, 2479, 6574) and in Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab al-Hibaat (Book of Gifts) (#1622).

[UmmOmar]

Question: Can one give monetary assistance to needy kuffar in order to invite them to Islaam?

Answer: Yes, it is permissible to give assistance to the needy ones even if they are disbelievers. This assistance may be in the form of money in order to bring their hearts closer and to invite them to Islaam. In the books of Aadaab (characteristics, moral behaviour etc.) there is a chapter called "Giving a gift to the mushrik" and they give evidence for that. Likewise Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says in the Qur'aan:

لا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
Allaah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allaah loves those who deal with equity. [al-Mumtahanah 60:8]

It is stipulated as a condition when giving assistance in the form of money that you ensure that it is not used in a manner that is impermissible, for example, do not give to someone who will use it to buy intoxicants or to go and do something impermissible with a prostitute or to use it to gamble or the like. Rather, if they need to use it for food, drink their home etc. then this is permissible.


Answered by: Shaykh Abdur-Razzaq bin Abdul-Muhsin Al-Abbaad

Title of Lecture: Hadith of the Guarantee

Date of the Lecture: Saturday, April 8th, 2006

Listen to Lecture: Click Here (http://www.albaseerah.org/audio/abbaad.htm)

Read the Transcribed Lecture: Click Here (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1658)

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Question: Could you give the children any gifts for `Eed, or does it have to be clothes or money?

Answer: Wallaahi, anything that can bring pleasure to the children and even to the adult is good, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

تهادوا تحابوا<o:p></o:p>
Give gifts and you'll love each other.[1] The hadiyyah i.e. gift, opens the heart. This is well known, even to the kuffar. It is something that Allaah تعالى put in the hearts of mankind, even the kuffar; gifts opens the heart, that is well known. So give gifts to the children, give them clothes - new clothes, give them sweets, give them money, all of this is good. Even those who are very poor and cannot give anything, their smile is a big gift. As the Prophet صلى الله عليهوسلم said:<o:p></o:p>

تبسمك في وجه أخيك صدقة<o:p></o:p>
Your smile for your brother is a sadaqah. [2]That is the best gift. Wallaahu A`lam.


Answered by: Shaykh Muhammad al-Maliki

Title of Lecture: Ramadaan 1427 = 2006

Date of the Lecture: Saturday, October 14th, 2006

Listen to Lecture: Click Here (http://www.albaseerah.org/audio/maaliki.htm)

Read the Transcribed Lecture: Click Here (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2369)

[1] Shaykh al-Albaani رحمه الله says Hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami` (#3004).

[2] Shaykh al-Albaani رحمه الله says Saheeh in Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb Vol. 3. (#2685).

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Question: Today many people celebrate `Eed by sending greeting cards and distributing presents to friends and family. Is this from the Sunnah or is there any harm in these practices?

Answer: As for Muslims greeting each other on such occasions then there is no problem in doing so. If one wants to give gifts on this occasion then likewise, this is from the permitted things. As for saying ‘it is a Sunnah’, then we cannot say this meaning by it that someone ‘should’ or ‘must’ practice it. Rather, it is something which is mubaah (permissible to do). As for the cards being sent, then whether the greetings are sent in the cards or spoken, then this is permitted.


Answered by: Shaykh Abdullaah al-Ghudyaan

Title of Lecture: Ramadhaan Q&A Session

Date answered: August 30th, 2008

Listen to Lecture: Click here (http://www.albaseerah.org/audio/ghudyaan.htm)

Read the Transcribed Lecture: Click here (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4430)

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Question: Regarding the permissibility of celebrating `Eed by playing duff and dancing, what are the limitations?

Answer: On the day of `Eed an individual should avoid all munkaraat (evil acts) since during Ramadhaan he avoided the munkaraat (evil deeds). On the day of `Eed he should do likewise and enjoin all forms of good deeds such as being eager to give Zakaatul-Fitr before the salaah, then establishing the salaah and practicing everything which Allaah has legislated.

Concerning the duff for women, there is no harm in doing this as long as there is no fear that an evil may result from it. In many countries when people hear the women beating the duff the men come and this leads to free mixing and a lot of evil comes to pass due to this. However if one can ensure that there will be no kind of mafsadah (ill effect) then there is no harm in the women using the duff.


Answered by: Shaykh Abdullaah al-Ghudyaan

Title of Lecture: Ramadhaan Q&A Session

Date answered: August 30th, 2008

Listen to Lecture: Click here (http://www.albaseerah.org/audio/ghudyaan.htm)

Read the Transcribed Lecture: Click here (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4430)

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Question: What is the ruling on distributing gifts to the children on the day of `Eed?

Answer: This is from the actions which are permissible as it causes the Muslim to be happy, whether he is small, young or old; it is something mustahabb (recommended) and there is nothing wrong with it.


Answered by: Shaykh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahmaan Al-Hudhayfi

Title of Lecture: Ramadhaan 1429 Question and Answer Session #2

Date answered: September 6th, 2008

Listen to Lecture: Click Here (http://www.albaseerah.org/audio/ali.htm)

Read the Transcribed Lecture: Click here (http://studyislaam.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=282:2009-09-06-ramadhaan-questions-a-answers-shaykh-ali-al-hudhafi&catid=77:general-lectures&Itemid=9)