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

Summary

The 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.