Celebrating Birthdays, New years, Mother's Day, Father's Day etc - Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem

assimalhakeem

2 Aug 201805:01

Summary

TLDRThe speaker addresses Asaph's question on giving Dawah, focusing on the issue of imitating non-Islamic customs, such as celebrating birthdays and Christmas. The speaker emphasizes that while these practices are common, they go against Islamic teachings. He advises focusing on the bigger picture, encouraging Muslims to follow the Quran and Sunnah, fostering a love for Islamic values, and avoiding imitation of disbelievers. By aligning life with Islamic principles, Muslims can maintain their dignity and identity. He uses a metaphor of life as a picture frame, urging Muslims to shape their lives within the framework of Islam.

Takeaways

📚 Muslims are facing prevalent issues like celebrating birthdays, which is considered part of customs, not religion.
🔄 The speaker emphasizes that imitating disbelievers is sinful and not appropriate for Muslims.
👕 Wearing common attire like t-shirts or jeans is not imitating disbelievers, but adopting specific cultural symbols is problematic.
🎂 Celebrating birthdays and Christmas are customs that imitate disbelievers and should be avoided by Muslims.
🔍 The speaker advises focusing on larger religious principles instead of small debates to give effective Dawa (invitation to Islam).
📖 Muslims should be encouraged to follow the Quran and Sunnah, building love and respect for Islamic teachings.
🏞️ Life is described as a big picture, and Islam is a frame that should shape every aspect of a Muslim's life.
✂️ Muslims are encouraged to cut out desires, habits, and customs that do not fit within the Islamic frame.
🚫 If a Muslim alters Islam to fit personal desires, they are distorting the religion and not truly following Islam.
✅ The key to proper practice is aligning one's life fully with the principles of Islam and the Sunnah.

Q & A

What is the main concern Asaph raised in his question?
-Asaph's main concern is how to give dawah (Islamic preaching) to people, particularly regarding issues like celebrating birthdays and other practices that are common among non-practicing Muslims.
How does the speaker view the celebration of birthdays among Muslims?
-The speaker views the celebration of birthdays as not part of Islam but rather a custom adopted from non-Muslims. He believes it is an imitation of disbelievers, which is considered inappropriate and sinful in Islam.
What is the hadith mentioned regarding imitation of non-Muslims?
-The hadith mentioned states that 'Whoever imitates a people, he is from among them.' The speaker uses this hadith to emphasize that imitating non-Muslims, particularly in religious or cultural practices, is discouraged in Islam.
What distinction does the speaker make about wearing clothing like jeans or suits?
-The speaker clarifies that wearing items like t-shirts, jeans, or suits, which are commonly worn by Muslims worldwide, is not considered imitation of disbelievers. However, wearing something specific to non-Muslim culture, like a Texan hat, would be considered imitation.
Why is celebrating Christmas seen as more serious than celebrating birthdays?
-Celebrating Christmas is seen as more serious because it is a religious holiday tied to Christian beliefs. Celebrating it would be seen as participating in another religion's practices, which is strictly prohibited in Islam.
How does the speaker recommend approaching dawah to people who practice such customs?
-The speaker recommends focusing on the bigger picture in dawah, encouraging love for the Quran and Sunnah. By building a strong connection to Islamic principles, it will become easier for people to abandon non-Islamic customs over time.
What metaphor does the speaker use to explain how Islam should fit into a person's life?
-The speaker uses the metaphor of Islam being a frame that fits around a person's life. Any desires, habits, or customs that fall outside of this frame should be cut off to ensure that Islam properly guides one's life.
What is the consequence of not aligning one’s life with the 'frame' of Islam, according to the speaker?
-If someone does not align their life with the 'frame' of Islam and tries to adapt the frame to fit their desires, the result is a distorted version of Islam that no longer represents the true teachings of the religion.
How should Muslims approach non-religious customs, such as New Year's celebrations?
-The speaker advises against participating in non-religious customs like New Year's celebrations, as they stem from the practices of non-Muslims and involve imitating disbelievers, which is discouraged.
What is the ultimate goal of dawah according to the speaker?
-The ultimate goal of dawah, as described by the speaker, is to instill a deep love for the Quran and Sunnah, leading Muslims to naturally adopt Islamic teachings in all aspects of their lives and avoid non-Islamic practices.

Outlines

00:00

🎯 Understanding How to Approach Giving Dawa

In this paragraph, the speaker addresses Asaph’s concerns about giving Dawa (Islamic guidance) to people in his hometown, especially when facing prevalent issues like celebrating birthdays. The speaker explains that many Muslims who are not fully practicing have normalized such customs, although they are not part of the religion. He highlights the importance of not imitating disbelievers and points out that the Prophet and his companions did not engage in these practices. The speaker emphasizes that while these actions may seem harmless from a cultural standpoint, they can be sinful for Muslims due to their origin.

⚠️ The Importance of Avoiding Cultural Imitation

This paragraph elaborates on the concept of imitation, especially when it comes to non-Muslim customs. The speaker explains that wearing certain items, like jeans or suits, is acceptable because they are universally adopted by Muslims. However, specific items, such as a Texan hat or Japanese kimono, are exclusive to certain cultures and thus inappropriate for Muslims to wear, as this would be considered imitating disbelievers. The key message is that Muslims should adhere to their own traditions and dress code, maintaining dignity and avoiding cultural appropriation that goes against Islamic values.

🎉 Celebrating Birthdays and Holidays: A Caution

In this section, the speaker discusses the issue of celebrating birthdays and holidays like Christmas and New Year's. He emphasizes that these customs, especially Christmas, are rooted in religious practices and are specific to non-Muslim communities. Muslims, particularly those who are ignorant of the religious implications, may adopt these practices without realizing they are imitating disbelievers. The speaker stresses that such imitation is against Islamic teachings and highlights the need for Muslims to distance themselves from non-Islamic customs.

🕌 Focusing on the Bigger Picture in Dawa

This paragraph shifts the focus from minor issues like cultural practices to the broader approach in giving Dawa. The speaker advises against concentrating on small debates, as this can lead to ongoing arguments. Instead, he suggests focusing on the larger picture—encouraging people to love the Quran and the Sunnah, and to appreciate the honor of following Islamic teachings. He believes that building this foundation will eventually make it easier for Muslims to leave behind non-Islamic customs and embrace the true spirit of Islam.

🖼️ Life as a Picture within the Frame of Islam

In this closing analogy, the speaker compares life to a large picture and Islam to the frame that shapes and limits it. He explains that Muslims must cut away all desires, customs, and habits that fall outside the boundaries of Islam, so that their lives can fit perfectly within this 'frame.' Those who attempt to fit their lives into the frame by altering it—adding extensions or breaking its edges—are not following true Islam, but rather creating a distorted version that conforms to their desires. The speaker concludes by reinforcing the importance of living fully within the boundaries of Islamic teachings.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Dawa

Dawa refers to the act of inviting or calling people to Islam. In the video, Asaph is asking how to give Dawa to people in his hometown. The speaker emphasizes focusing on larger Islamic principles like the Quran and Sunnah, rather than debating smaller issues like birthday celebrations. Dawa is presented as a way to inspire love for Islamic teachings.

💡Imitation of disbelievers

This concept refers to adopting customs or practices that are characteristic of non-Muslims, which the speaker considers inappropriate for Muslims. The speaker warns against imitating disbelievers, using examples like celebrating Christmas or wearing clothing that is distinctly tied to non-Islamic cultures. Imitation is seen as a deviation from Islamic identity and traditions.

💡Sunnah

Sunnah refers to the practices, sayings, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. The speaker encourages fostering a love for the Sunnah as a way to help people realign with Islamic values. Following the Sunnah is presented as a means to avoid imitating disbelievers and to maintain the dignity and honor of Islam.

💡Celebrating birthdays

Celebrating birthdays is described as a common custom among many Muslims, although the speaker claims it is not part of Islam. The speaker argues that while some Muslims believe it is harmless, it is actually an imitation of non-Islamic customs and, therefore, inappropriate. The broader message is to avoid practices that are not rooted in Islamic tradition.

💡Customs

Customs refer to practices and habits that are culturally specific. The speaker makes a distinction between Islamic customs and those of disbelievers, arguing that Muslims should avoid adopting non-Islamic customs, such as celebrating birthdays or wearing clothing tied to non-Muslim cultures. Customs are a key point in maintaining Islamic identity.

💡Islamic identity

Islamic identity in the video refers to the distinct ways Muslims should conduct themselves, in terms of beliefs, customs, and appearances. The speaker stresses that Islamic identity should be maintained by following the Quran and Sunnah and avoiding the imitation of non-Muslim practices, which could dilute the identity.

💡Quran

The Quran is the holy book of Islam, considered the literal word of God. The speaker emphasizes the importance of encouraging people to follow the Quran as part of Dawa. By building a strong connection to the Quran, the speaker believes Muslims will be less inclined to adopt non-Islamic practices, such as celebrating birthdays or following Western customs.

💡Honor and dignity in Islam

The speaker frequently mentions the concepts of honor and dignity within Islam, which are tied to following Islamic principles like the Quran and Sunnah. Imitating disbelievers or adopting non-Islamic customs is seen as diminishing a Muslim's dignity. By adhering to Islamic traditions, Muslims maintain their sense of pride and honor.

💡New Year's celebrations

The speaker refers to New Year's celebrations as a non-religious, yet cultural, practice of disbelievers. Even though it’s not tied to any religious significance, the speaker advises against Muslims participating in such events, viewing them as a form of imitation of non-Islamic customs.

💡Bigger picture

The 'bigger picture' in the video is about prioritizing the core teachings of Islam, such as the Quran and Sunnah, rather than getting caught up in debates about smaller, specific issues. The speaker suggests that by focusing on the bigger picture, Muslims can more effectively encourage others to abandon practices like celebrating birthdays or adopting non-Islamic customs, in favor of living according to Islamic principles.

Highlights

Asaph is asking about how to give Dawa to people in his hometown where Muslims are involved in celebrating birthdays, which is not part of the religion but seen as a custom.

The speaker addresses the issue of imitating disbelievers, particularly through customs like celebrating birthdays, which the Prophet and his companions did not do.

Imitating disbelievers in their customs, such as wearing clothing specific to non-Muslims, is considered inappropriate and sinful according to the Prophet's teachings.

The speaker distinguishes between wearing common clothing, like jeans and a t-shirt, and imitating specific customs of disbelievers, such as wearing a Texan hat or a kimono.

Celebrating Christmas and New Year's are mentioned as examples of non-Islamic customs that Muslims should avoid, particularly because Christmas has a religious basis.

The key to giving Dawa is not to focus on these small issues, but to instill a love for following the Quran and Sunnah, and to appreciate the dignity of Islam.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of building love for the Sunnah and pride in Islam as a whole, before addressing specific issues like imitating disbelievers.

Once Muslims love the Sunnah, it becomes easier for them to leave non-Islamic customs for the sake of Allah.

The speaker uses the analogy of Islam as a frame, where all customs, habits, and desires outside the frame need to be trimmed to fit within Islamic teachings.

Failing to conform to the Islamic frame means creating a distorted version of Islam, which the speaker warns against.

Muslims who are unwilling to give up non-Islamic customs or desires are described as distorting Islam to fit their own lives, rather than molding their lives to fit Islam.

Dawa should focus on guiding people to appreciate the beauty and completeness of Islam, rather than debating small issues.

The speaker encourages building a foundation of love for the Sunnah, which will naturally lead to avoiding non-Islamic practices.

Imitating disbelievers, particularly in religious or cultural customs, detracts from the dignity and pride of Islam.

The goal of a Muslim should be to fit their lives into the framework of Islam, rather than adjusting Islam to suit personal desires or societal customs.