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Can I Celebrate Mother's Day?

Answered by Dar al-Ifta al-Masriyyah

The Question

Can I Celebrate Mother’s Day?

The Answer

Man is the creation of Allah. Allah Most High has honored man for his humanity: He molded him with His own hands, breathed into them from His Spirit, ordered the angels prostrate to him, and expelled Satan from His mercy because the latter arrogantly refused to obey his Lord’s command to prostrate to man. Respecting humanity is one of the angelic characteristics that forms foundation of Muslim civilization. Dishonoring, humiliating, and disdaining humans are provocations of Satan that shake the very foundations of civilization.

Allah says “Whoever chooses Satan for a patron instead of Allah is verily a loser and his loss is manifest.” (Qur’an 4:119)

“Will ye choose him [Satan] and his seed for your protecting friends instead of Me [Allah] when they are an enemy unto you? Calamitous is the exchange for evil doers!” (Qur’an, 18:50)

Just as Islam honors individuals from the perspective of their humanity without looking at their sex, race, or color, it has also added another form of respect associated with the various type of roles Allah gave them appropriate to their God-given characteristics. This additional form of respect includes respecting one’s parents whom Allah has made a cause for one’s existence, joining thanking them with thanking Him.

Allah says: “And We enjoined upon man concerning his parents. His mother begot him in weakness upon weakness and his weaning is in two years. Give thanks unto Me and unto thy parents. Unto Me is the journeying.” (Qur’an, 31:14)

In the Qur’an, Allah coupled His worship with kindness and respect to one’s parents saying:

“Your Lord decreed that you worship none save Him and (that you show) kindness to parents.” (Qur’an, 17:23)

This is because Allah made them the apparent cause for existence. Thus, one’s parents are the greatest worldly manifestation of the characteristic of creation.

The Prophet designated mothers as the ones most worthy of excellent companionship. Indeed, in this he gave them precedent over fathers.

Abu Hurayrah relates that a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “Which person is the most worthy of my excellent companionship?”

He replied, “Your mother.”

The man asked, “Then who?”

The Prophet said, “Your mother.”

Then the man said, “Then who?”

The Prophet replied, “Your mother.”

Then the man said, “Then who?”

The Prophet said, “Your father.”

(Bukhari and Muslim)

The Mother Child Relationship

Islamic Law affirms that the relationship between a child and its mother is a natural, organic relationship. So his relationship to her is not dependent upon whether she bore him within marriage or out of wedlock—indeed, she is his mother in all circumstances. This is contrary to paternity, which can only be established through legal means.

Respecting one’s Mother Implies and the Ruling?

Respecting one’s mother includes: taking care of her physical well-being, honoring her and treating her well.. Nothing in the Shari’a prohibits an occasion in which children express honoring their mothers. This is merely a matter of organization. There is nothing wrong with it and it bears no connection to the issue of innovation about which so many people murmur. Rejected innovations are new things which are contrary to the Shari’a, since the Prophet said, “Whoever creates something new in this affair of ours which is foreign to it, it is rejected.” (Bukhari and Muslim). The divergent meaning is that whoever innovates something which is not foreign to it, it will be accepted and not rejected.

The Prophet approved when the Arabs celebrated national commemorations and tribal victories in which they would sing of their tribal feats and their victories days. Imam Bukhari and Muslim narrate in a hadith that ‘A’ishah said: “Abu Bakr came to see me. I had two young girls with me who were singing what was sung at the Battle of Bu’ath.” In addition, prophetic narrations note that the Prophet visited the grave of his mother Aminah and that he was never seen to cry more than on that day. (al-Hakim)

The Meaning of Motherhood

In the Arabic language, the word ‘mother’ refers to the source, to a habitat, to the chief, and to the servant of a people who takes care of their food and serves them. This last meaning was related from Imam al-Shafi’I, who was among the experts of Arabic language. Ibn Durayd said, “That to which all other things around it are ascribed to it is called a ‘mother’.” Because of this, Mecca is dubbed ‘Mother of cities’ since it is in the center of the world and the direction to which people face [in prayer], and because it is the most significant city of all.

Since language is the vessel for thought, for Muslims the immediate sense of word is associated with that person whom Allah made the source for an individual human’s formation, who then sheltered him, took care of his nurturing and upbringing; was endowed with love to care for him and to look after his needs. In all of this, it is the mother who is instilled with the affection and mercy to which her children seek comfort.

Just as this meaning is clear in the original linguistic meaning of the word and words derived from its linguistic root, our literature clarifies and evidences this further with the compound-word silat al-rahim [lit. womb-ties] in that this physiological attribute found in mothers has been made a symbol for maintaining family relationships which form the foundational elements for building human society. The most rightful and most deserving for this ascription is none other than the mother, who is the reason life continues and families are formed and is the outward manifestation of mercy.

This matter reaches its fullness and perfection with that magnificent religious sense portrayed by the chosen, beloved Prophet in his saying, “Family ties cling to the Throne, saying ‘Allah unites whoever united me, and severs whoever severed me.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

There is a hadith qudsi wherein Allah Mighty and Majestic says, “I am Allah and I am the Compassionate. I created family ties and I derived My name from the womb. I unite whoever unites them, and I will sever whoever severed them.”

The Prophet said, “In Abdullah bin Jud’an’s house, I witnessed a treaty [so great] not even the most prized camel would be dearer to me, and if I had been called to participate in it in Islam I would had answered.” (Al-Bayhaqi)

So according to this, celebrating Mothers’ Day is religiously permissible; there is nothing that prevents it and there is no harm in it. Rejected innovations are innovations which are in contradiction to the Shari’a. Things whose basis the Shari’a sanctions cannot be rejected and there is no sin upon the person who does them.

And Allah Majestic and Most High knows best.

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90 Comments

    • Ur absolutly right brother….celebrating mothers days and any other kafir holiday is prohibited…Assalamu Alakeum

      • Technically, yes, we should be kind and considerate to our parents every day. But since humans aren’t perfect, these special days serve to make us extra vigil in our duties. It’s like Ramadan – ideally we should be good and honest and worshipful throughout the year, not just in Ramadan. But Ramadan just helps us get into shape!

        • Don’t you think Allah swt would have known that we were not perfect and designated a mothers day in our way of life?

          Rememeber that Allah swt completed our religion (way of life) in the Quran.

          Adding an annual holiday that is made and celebrated by non-Muslims will subtract from our deen. Many people already began giving gifts, cards, services ONLY on mothers day.

          Allah is Most Wise, were it of benefit to celebrate this holiday, he himself would have mandated it.

          Protect the deen and if you lack in implementing the Sunnah to its fullest (by serving, caring, loving your mother THROUGHOUT the year, then make dua and do your best to change it. Don’t just add a holiday to make up for your shortcomings.

          “The best deeds are those which are most consistent.”

          • How will this subtract from our deen? While our deen actually encourages this? What if the non-muslims were inspired by our deen to impliment a ‘mother’s day’ into their annual holiday. I also would not call it a holiday actaully, just a day to remind yourself about the importance of your mother.

            Islam calls for remembering the importance of your parents everyday, however what is wrong with doing something ‘extra’ on this day, or just for the sake of it, the day after mother’s day. It’s simply a label, don’t complicate things. Therefore you cannot say that this takes something away from your deen, as it is most definetly a part of our deen. It’s not like it is something completely strange to our deen.

    • Shaykh, if the issue was just, “Do not imitate the kuffar in matters which are against the deen, and against implementation of the deen”.

      Then why would the Prophet sws tell us not to fast on Saturday JUST so we are not like the Jews? Why would he tell us to fast TWO days on the day of the parting of the Sea, just so we are not like the Jews?

      Obviously a principle is being taught to us by Rasululllah, that we should not add annual rituals (that become a critical part of our lives) to our deen that imitate nonMuslims.

  • why dedicate one day from a year and call a mothers day? I hink this in itself is wrong?
    I tottally disagree with this we only have two celebrations in islam.

    • Obviously we only have two ‘Eids in Islam; no one is talking about creating a religious holiday based on Mother’s Day.

      Mother’s Day is from the customs of the West. Imam Suhaib’s opinion relates to whether or not it is Islamically permissible for Muslims to honor this custom.

  • I don't follow the jump from

    “In Abdullah bin Jud’an’s house, I witnessed a treaty [so great] not even the most prized camel would be dearer to me, and if I had been called to participate in it in Islam I would had answered.”

    to, “According to this, celebrating Mothers' Day is religiously permissible”

    Also, could you please explain about what constitutes an Eid and if it's allowed to celebrate an eid more than Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha. I've heard some scholars say that celebrating something yearly other than Eid ul Fitr or Adha is not permissible, so if someone can clarify that, I'd really appreciate it.

    Jazakullah Khair!

  • I am in no way an expert, but I think what the author was trying to say was not that the secular “holiday” known as Mother's Day should be “celebrated,” in the way we would celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid-ul-Adha, but simply that there's nothing wrong with setting aside a day–any day–to show extra affection and appreciation for our mothers.

    If not every day.

    May Allah (subhana wa t'ala) guide me rightly if I am mistaken, but the way I interpreted that quote was that Mother's Day can be likened to a treaty between a Muslim nation and a non-Muslim nation who, for example, fed the hungry on a particular day each year. If the Muslims participated in feeding the hungry that day, it is permissible. As long as we don't celebrate it like some new annual festival, which would be an innovation. It's just a matter of doing something that is halal anyway, on the same day that non-believers call a “holiday.”

    Allah knows best.

  • Asalamu alaykum,

    The point is that something good, even if it was from days of ignorance, was respected and honored by the Prophet [sa].

    As for you last question please refer to Sh. Bin Bayyah's excellent fatwa on Independence Day where he mentions the statement of the Prophet “Our Eid's our two.”

    SDW

  • Subhan Allah!
    The comment, “Rejected innovations are new things which are contrary to the Shari’a,”is full of inconsistincies. What about when the people came to the the Prophet (peace be upon him) and one said, “I will fast and not eat” and the other said, “I won't marry” and the third said, “I will not sleep, and pray the entire night” and the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “man raghiba an sunnati fa laysa minni” “whoever rejects my sunna then he is not from me”. If you look at all these previous actions they have their Asl in the religion and are not “contrary to the shariah” and are all virtuous deeds. But when they were done in a matter not according to the sunna, they became disliked and not permissible. Most bidah has its foundations in the sharia as most people fell into bida' wanting to get closer to Allah, look at Shatibi's definition.(that bid'a is a newly invented path that vies with the shari'ah, and the person who falls into it does so with the intention of getting closer to Allah with excessive measures)
    Also, the ulama of usool have stated that if there was a situation apparent during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and he had the means to do it, and the same reason was apparent, and he refrained from doing it, then his leaving this action (tarkuhu lil'amal) in effect becomes a sunna. All of the proofs stated in their fatwa is not proof of establishing the permissibility of celebrating Mother's day and the proofs they used would make the person think that he is getting closer to Allah by celebrating it which goes against the principle of Al-Asl fil 'ibaadah al man'a, the principle in terms of worship is leaving an action until it's proof has been established.

  • As-Salaamu 'Alaykum,

    Two concerns, may Allah bless you and your family.

    [1] Wouldn't it be agreed that this is an issue of ijtihad? In that case, why is there a need to condemn and ridicule the side that believes Mother's Day is a bid'ah and forbidden? “There is nothing wrong with it and it bears no connection to the issue of innovation about which so many people murmur.” This makes it seem like those who have declared Mother's Day as a bid'ah to be backward and incapable of understanding the Shari'ah. This is what the average person who doesn't know Arabic and is relying on these rulings will take from it, even if Dar al-Ifta didn't intend it that way. Many great scholars of our time have ruled that this holiday is an innovation, so why is it impossible to respect them and their stance which no doubt has its basis? I don't mind someone following this fatwa if they believe it is the truth, but when will we recognize the current trend that exists in the West of opposing whatever the scholars from Saudi Arabia rule and declaring them as unable to pass rulings that are relevant to those in the West? No doubt this type of language in the fatwa fuels this trend, even if Dar al-Ifta is unaware of it which of course I give them the benefit of the doubt. It is as if one can simply put out a fatwa now-a-days opposing the rulings which we've heard for the past decades in the West and it will be accepted and praised as being wise. This is often done in the shade of blaming those rulings for our current situation, when the blame actually lies in other factors. It is fine if a person really believes this ruling to be correct, but we must take a step back and ask ourselves if we are really following what we think is the truth or are we following our desires in the guise of being more literate in the Shari'ah. Scholars of al-Azhar are not united over this ruling, as is the case with many other rulings, and a proof of that is that one of the greatest scholars of our time who believed Mother's Day was an innovation, Shaykh 'Ali Mahfooz (rahimahullah), was from al-Azhar.

    [2] Has Dar al-Ifta al-Masriyyah been informed of the controversial roots of Mother's Day?

    A quick look on Wikipedia:

    “Different countries celebrate Mother's Day on various days of the year because the day has a number of different origins.

    One school of thought claims this day emerged from a custom of mother worship in ancient Greece, which kept a festival to Cybele, a great mother of Greek gods. This festival was held around the Vernal Equinox around Asia Minor and eventually in Rome itself from the Ides of March (15 March) to 18 March.

    The ancient Romans also had another holiday, Matronalia, that was dedicated to Juno, though mothers were usually given gifts on this day.”

    Mother's Day was established in North America by Anna Marie Jarvis who made it in remembrance of her mother after she passed away. Here's an interesting point:

    “Nine years after the first official Mother's Day, commercialization of the U.S. holiday became so rampant that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become and spent all her inheritance and the rest of her life fighting what she saw as an abuse of the celebration.

    Later commercial and other exploitations of the use of Mother's Day infuriated Anna and she made her criticisms explicitly known throughout her time. She criticized the practice of purchasing greeting cards, which she saw as a sign of being too lazy to write a personal letter. She was arrested in 1948 for disturbing the peace while protesting against the commercialization of Mother's Day, and she finally said that she “wished she would have never started the day because it became so out of control …”.”

    And Allah knows best.

  • Asalamu alaykum,

    Aba Jenaan:

    It is well known that the opinion regarding innovation in the fatwa is representative of the majority of the fuqahaa from the Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi' schools. The opinion of al-Shattibi (ra) you mentioned above, is that of the minority and followed in these days by the scholars of the Salafi group; is strongly contested even within the Maliki school.

    Your assumption that those things mentioned in the hadith of the Prophet are forbidden or innovations unfortunately goes against the findings of the four major schools as the ruling for marriage is not an obligation, but permissibility, while others hold it to be a sunna. Imam Ahmed waited till he was forty to marry, Ibn Taymiyyah never did, nor did al-Nawwawi. The latter stating, as do the Malikis, that if one is engaged in worship and learning; is able to stay chaste, “Then it is better the he/she does not marry.” Sh. al-Dardir in al-Sharh al-Saghir, the most reliable book of Fatwa in the Maliki school states that marriage, “If it takes one away from the obligatory is forbidden.”

    As for one who fasts everyday or prayers every night, then it is not acceptable to say either are an innovation nor forbidden as there were a large number of salaf who did so. Just as there were those who completed the reading of the Qur'an in less than three days such as Uthman bin Affan [r].

    Mother's day is not an act of pure worship as noted by Sh. al-Qaradawi, Sh. Bin Bayyah and al-Azhar al-Sharif, but falls under the general scope of the permissible. If you follow a position that differs, then that is fine, but let's do so understanding that such an issue is open for ijtihad and interpretation according to the majority of the scholars of Usol.

    Thanks for stopping by and sharing

    SDW

  • Asalamu alaykum,

    Many thanks for your comments. Sadly, what you have stated is true. But, the salafi group needs to realize just like the extreme sufis that if you are going to label people as innovators, undermine local scholars and institutions, as the former does in Egypt, then you are going to get it back. That is sad, but true. A quick glance at their forums and a searching of words like “Deviant” “innovator” and so on is telling. My intention for posting this was not to attack them. If I showed you the amount of hate mail and threats I've recieved from them as well as the sufis, you would be shocked. No worries, my skin is thick. But, as we say, “If you dish it, your gonna have to take it.”

    SDW

  • As salaamu alaikum
    Suhaib, again you didn't address the issue. My comment was with regard to their definition of bid'a, not the legislation of marrying, or not. If someone does so (not marryin/comtinuing fasting, etc) with the intention of getting closer to Allah then it has in effect become a bid'a.In terms of Shatibi's definition being a minority, this isn't proof of the weakness of his position. The opinion of the jmahoor is not Ijma'a and does not make an issue correct from the standpoint of the evidence. The first person to categorize bid'a into the 5 ahkaam of takleef was 'zz ibn abd as salaam, so how is this position the position of the jamhoor? Again, you didn't address the issue of the Prophet (peace be upon him)not doing this action even though the reason was there or of him not participating in holidays that were customary to the Arabs and weren't religious. Again, the positions established is weak in terms of the dalil. Also, by definition this would be considered an 'eid b/c it's being practiced on a yearly basis.

  • Asalamu alaykum,

    Aba Jenaan:

    May Allah reward you for commenting. I certainly appreciate your comments and pray that Allah will grant us insaf and justice in words and deeds.

    SDW

  • Fatwa from Mohammad Ad-Dedew from his site. With regards to the twaqifiya in regards to holidays. (mainly the mawlid) Feel free to translate although, I'm qualified I leave it to you or one of your viewers.
    توقيفية الأعياد الشرعية

    بينوا لتا ما كان النبي  وأصحابه يعظمون به مولده  .

    أنه قد سبق التنبيه أكثر من مرة إلى أن التشريع توقيفي وأنه من أمر الله سبحانه وتعالى وحده، وأن الله وحده هو الذي يشرع لعباده، وأن الأعياد إنما هي عود لعبادة محددة، ولا يمكن أن يشرعها إلا الذي يشرع الأحكام ويحل ويحرم وهو الله وحده، وقد شرع الله للمؤمنين عيد الفطر من رمضان وعيد الأضحى في ذي الحجة ورتب فيهما عبادات مخصوصة، فمنها صلاة العيدين ومنها زكاة الفطر في عيد الفطر ومنها الضحية في عيد الأضحى ولم يشرع الله للمؤمنين عيدا سوى ذلك إلا عيد الأسبوع وهو يوم الجمعة ما سوى ذلك من الأعياد كله ابتداع وتشريع لما لم يأذن به الله، وقد قال تعالى: {أم لهم شركاء شرعوا لهم من الدين ما لم يأذن به الله} وقال تعالى: {قل أفرأيتم ما أنزل الله لكم من رزق فجعلتم منه حراما وحلالا قل آلله أذن لكم أم على الله تفترون} وقد بين النبي r بطلان كل تشريع لم يأذن به الله فقال: من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد، وقال: «من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد»، ومن المعلوم أن الذين يجعلون مولد النبي r عيدا إنما يتذرعون بمحبتهم للنبي r وتعظيمهم له، ومحبة النبي r وتعظيمه من الإيمان ولا يمكن أن يكون الإنسان مؤمنا ما لم يكن رسول الله r أحب إليه من والده وولده والناس أجمعين، ويجب على المؤمنين جميعا تعظيمه وتوقيره وإجلاله فذلك من حقه r ومن الإيمان به، لكن لا يمكن أن يكون ذلك إلا بما بين النبي r لأن ما سوى بيانه هو الهوى، والهوى بين الله سبحانه وتعالى خطره، وأن من اتبعه فهو سبب لأن يورده النار نسأل الله السلامة والعافية، وأضل الناس من اتبع هواه كما جاء ذلك في عدد من الآيات، ولهذا فلا يمكن أن يكون أحد أشد حبا لرسول الله r من أصحابه أبي بكر وعمر وعثمان وعلي وغيرهم من الصحابة، وهؤلاء لم يعظموا يوم مولده ولم يعرفوه من السنة ولم يخصوه بعبادة مخصوصة ولا بعادة، وكذلك جميع أصحابه وجميع التابعين لهم بإحسان، في القرون المزكاة، وأول ما عرف ذلك في أيام العبيديين، في سنة ثلاثمائة وعشر، ولهذا تجدون بعض أهل الغفلة من الفقهاء يقولون هذا عيد كانت مشروعيته في القرن الرابع من الهجرة، كيف تكون المشروعية في القرن الرابع من الهجرة، ألم ينزل الله على محمد r {اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام دينا} فكيف إذن تكون مشروعية شيء في القرن الرابع من الهجرة؟ هل عاش النبي r إلى القرن الرابع، هل نزل جبريل علينا بقرآن جديد فيه تشريع في القرن الرابع؟ ولهذا لا بد أن نعلم أن الابتداع هو زيادة على ما جاء به النبي r، فإن كان صاحبه يعتقد أن الدين كان ناقصا وأنه هو يكمله، أو أن الصحابة لم يفهموا محبة النبي r ولم يقدروه وهو يأتي بجديد يزيده، أو أن ما جاء به النبي r ناقص وغير كاف وهو الذي يكمله من عند نفسه فهذا كفر نسأل الله السلامة والعافية، وإن لم يعتقد ذلك لم يعتقد النقص في الدين ولكن رأى أن في ذلك مندوحة وأن فيه وجها يمكن أن يفعله الإنسان من تلقاء نفسه فهذا ابتداع وضلال مبين وهو مردود على صاحبه لا ينتفع به، ولذلك فقد قال مالك رحمه الله: لقد أنزل الله على محمد r {اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم} فما لم يكن يومئذ دينا فلا يكون اليوم دينا، وقال ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه: كل عبادة لم يتعبدها أصحاب محمد r فلا تتعبدوها فإن الأول لم يترك للآخر مقالا، ولما مر على قوم يقول لهم آمرهم: سبحوا كذا وكذا واحمدوا كذا وكذا وكبروا كذا وكذا وقف عليهم ابن مسعود فرأى ما هم فيه فقال: يا هؤلاء لقد جئتم جرما أو لقد فقتم أصحاب محمد علما، ونحن نعلم أنها الأولى قطعا فلم يفوقوا أصحاب محمد r علما.

  • I keep hearing fellow Muslims say “ever day should be mother's day”, as if that is an argument. By this, they mean to demean the “dirty kufaar” for “only having one day” for their mothers, whereas “we Muslims celebrate it every day.” This is such a pathetically weak argument. Did not the Muslims set up one day of the week to be dedicated to worship? i.e. Jummah….and what about one month of the year dedicated to worship, i.e. Ramadan? Would it be a good argument of some Non-Muslim to say that “we Non-Muslims worship year round instead of just during one month?”

    Of course Muslims worship Allah [swt] year round, but we INCREASE our worship during the month of Ramadan. This is just based on the simple fact that humans were created in such a way that they cannot sustain such a high level for so long. So we set aside one month a year (Ramadan) and one day a week (Jummah) to boost our worship and recharge our Imaan cells.

    So is not the matter the same with Mother's Day? The Non-Muslims still love their mothers the rest of the year. It's just one day set aside to boost that love. Same concept. So let's ditch these silly mantras that were invented by Pakistani uncles.

    I certainly disagree with Imam Suhaib (hafidhuallah) when he says that there is such a thing as “good bidah”, but Mother's Day is not a religious holiday in the first place.

    Fi Aman Allah

    • The only exception I take with this is the crack against Pakistanis. Lay off my peoples; we’ve had a rough week.

  • Pakistani uncles didn't invent this argument, scholars such as Shaykh Faysal Mawlawi and Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi have used it as well.

    Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi said regarding Mother's Day:

    The Arab tend to blindly follow the Western in their celebration of the Mother’s Day, without trying to understand the wisdom behind inventing such an occasion.

    When the European found that children do not deal properly towards their parents nor give them their due right, they resorted to specifying an annual occasion for children to remedy the situation. But in Islam, mothers are to be given due respect and love every time, not only one day a year. For example, when one goes out, he kisses one’s mother’s hand seeking her pleasure and blessing.

    A Muslim must not allow any gap between him and his mother, he must offer her presents every time. This indicates that Muslims can dispense with such an occasion, the Mother’s Day. Unlike the case in the West, where it’s a vogue for some children to show indifference to their mothers’ feelings, and, what’s more, it is so common to see some parents being dragged to infirmaries (as their kids have no time for them), dutifulness to parents in Islam, alongside with worshipping Allah, is a sacred duty.

    In this concern, Almighty Allah says: (And We have commended unto man kindness toward parents. His mother beareth him with reluctance, and bringeth him forth with reluctance, and the bearing of him and the weaning of him is thirty months, till, when he attaineth full strength and reacheth forty years, he saith: My Lord! Arouse me that I may give thanks for the favor wherewith Thou hast favored me and my parents, and that I may do right acceptable unto Thee. And be gracious unto me In the matter of my seed. Lo! I have turned unto Thee repentant, and lo! I am of those who surrender (unto Thee).) (Al-Ahqaf 46: 15)

    Reflecting on the aforementioned Qur’anic verse, we find it stressing both parents’ right, but reviewing the following verses we find them paying special care to the mother and tackling the hardships she suffers in pregnancy, fosterage and rearing children.

    In this verse, Almighty Allah informs man of the debt he owes his mother since he was a fetus, passing by the process of childbirth, infancy, childhood until he comes of age. A child normally forgets the hardship which his mother underwent during pregnancy. Hence Almighty Allah draws his attention to such hardships, laying emphasis on her great status in Islam.

    Source: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pa

  • As-salamu 'alaykum..

    It's an interesting topic, and as I can clearly see that there is a scholarly difference on this issue, I certainly won't condemn anyone for following this view.

    Personally, I would avoid it, because “leave what causes you to doubt..”

    A few reasons as to why I have doubt:

    1 who decides if celebrating a certain day is good or not? And if we permit this, then we can't really disallow celebrating Father's Day, birthdays, new year's day, etc. where is the line drawn? Are we not satisfied with the celebrated days and events that our deen offers us?

    2 if this was really 'good' – wouldn't the Prophet [s] have practised it or told us to do so? One could argue that Islam commands us to be good to our mother's generally, so making it specific to do extra on a certain day could be going against that. A danger could be that we end up for example refraining from giving our Mothers gifts except on Mother's Day – I'm sure many people do this. Is that a good thing?

    3 there is an incredible amount of good that comes from Islam, why do we go into matters where there is debate on whether it is allowed or not? Is it not better to avoid? Wouldn't you prefer to do a good deed – an act of 'ibadah – instead on this day rather than follow something invented by non-Muslims?

    I'm not saying the above points prove that it's not permissible, these are just things that cause me to doubt.

    And Allah knows best.

    Zi

    • This, subhanAllah, is the only thing that keeps me from celebrating the holiday. The fact that it gives me doubt in my heart due to the evidences against it, lead me to the conclusion that I would be safer staying away from it.

      I do not condemn those who celebrate it, but I feel that when we add any holiday of the nonMuslims we become more and more like them. I have personally seen people lose their Islam (and importance of islamic holidays) simply through trying to fit in with the holidays of the nonMuslims. They perceive the holidays as harmless.

      May Allah swt protect us from doing anything that leads us to harm, knowingly or unknowingly.

      “Wa la tatabioo khutuwaatush shaytaan, innahu lakum adoowun mubeen.”

  • Assalaamu'alaikum abujenaan,

    As I am reading your comments there is a disrespectful tone that is felt. Please read your comments twice before posting bi izhnillah and please be more gentle. I assume your intention is not to be disrespectful, however, please be aware that this is how it is perceived.

    Yusuf – Cincinnati

  • I found this comment,

    “It is well known that the opinion regarding innovation in the fatwa is representative of the majority of the fuqahaa from the Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi' schools. The opinion of al-Shattibi (ra) you mentioned above, is that of the minority”

    VERY interesting. Could you please comment on what exactly ARE the 2 differing opinions (majority vs. minority) of bid'a? I know that Imam Shatibit (r) has a book al-'Itisam where he expounds on the def. of bid'a (that I can't read since I don't know Arabic…I'm wack).

    To be more exact…What part of Imam Shatibi's definition is there contention with?

    Yusuf – Cincinnati

  • Fatwa from Muhammad Ad-Dedew stating that the any 'eid is tawqifiya' needing dalil to be celebrated.

    توقيفية الأعياد الشرعية

    بينوا لتا ما كان النبي  وأصحابه يعظمون به مولده  .

    أنه قد سبق التنبيه أكثر من مرة إلى أن التشريع توقيفي وأنه من أمر الله سبحانه وتعالى وحده، وأن الله وحده هو الذي يشرع لعباده، وأن الأعياد إنما هي عود لعبادة محددة، ولا يمكن أن يشرعها إلا الذي يشرع الأحكام ويحل ويحرم وهو الله وحده، وقد شرع الله للمؤمنين عيد الفطر من رمضان وعيد الأضحى في ذي الحجة ورتب فيهما عبادات مخصوصة، فمنها صلاة العيدين ومنها زكاة الفطر في عيد الفطر ومنها الضحية في عيد الأضحى ولم يشرع الله للمؤمنين عيدا سوى ذلك إلا عيد الأسبوع وهو يوم الجمعة ما سوى ذلك من الأعياد كله ابتداع وتشريع لما لم يأذن به الله، وقد قال تعالى: {أم لهم شركاء شرعوا لهم من الدين ما لم يأذن به الله} وقال تعالى: {قل أفرأيتم ما أنزل الله لكم من رزق فجعلتم منه حراما وحلالا قل آلله أذن لكم أم على الله تفترون} وقد بين النبي r بطلان كل تشريع لم يأذن به الله فقال: من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد، وقال: «من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد»، ومن المعلوم أن الذين يجعلون مولد النبي r عيدا إنما يتذرعون بمحبتهم للنبي r وتعظيمهم له، ومحبة النبي r وتعظيمه من الإيمان ولا يمكن أن يكون الإنسان مؤمنا ما لم يكن رسول الله r أحب إليه من والده وولده والناس أجمعين، ويجب على المؤمنين جميعا تعظيمه وتوقيره وإجلاله فذلك من حقه r ومن الإيمان به، لكن لا يمكن أن يكون ذلك إلا بما بين النبي r لأن ما سوى بيانه هو الهوى، والهوى بين الله سبحانه وتعالى خطره، وأن من اتبعه فهو سبب لأن يورده النار نسأل الله السلامة والعافية، وأضل الناس من اتبع هواه كما جاء ذلك في عدد من الآيات، ولهذا فلا يمكن أن يكون أحد أشد حبا لرسول الله r من أصحابه أبي بكر وعمر وعثمان وعلي وغيرهم من الصحابة، وهؤلاء لم يعظموا يوم مولده ولم يعرفوه من السنة ولم يخصوه بعبادة مخصوصة ولا بعادة، وكذلك جميع أصحابه وجميع التابعين لهم بإحسان، في القرون المزكاة، وأول ما عرف ذلك في أيام العبيديين، في سنة ثلاثمائة وعشر، ولهذا تجدون بعض أهل الغفلة من الفقهاء يقولون هذا عيد كانت مشروعيته في القرن الرابع من الهجرة، كيف تكون المشروعية في القرن الرابع من الهجرة، ألم ينزل الله على محمد r {اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام دينا} فكيف إذن تكون مشروعية شيء في القرن الرابع من الهجرة؟ هل عاش النبي r إلى القرن الرابع، هل نزل جبريل علينا بقرآن جديد فيه تشريع في القرن الرابع؟ ولهذا لا بد أن نعلم أن الابتداع هو زيادة على ما جاء به النبي r، فإن كان صاحبه يعتقد أن الدين كان ناقصا وأنه هو يكمله، أو أن الصحابة لم يفهموا محبة النبي r ولم يقدروه وهو يأتي بجديد يزيده، أو أن ما جاء به النبي r ناقص وغير كاف وهو الذي يكمله من عند نفسه فهذا كفر نسأل الله السلامة والعافية، وإن لم يعتقد ذلك لم يعتقد النقص في الدين ولكن رأى أن في ذلك مندوحة وأن فيه وجها يمكن أن يفعله الإنسان من تلقاء نفسه فهذا ابتداع وضلال مبين وهو مردود على صاحبه لا ينتفع به، ولذلك فقد قال مالك رحمه الله: لقد أنزل الله على محمد r {اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم} فما لم يكن يومئذ دينا فلا يكون اليوم دينا، وقال ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه: كل عبادة لم يتعبدها أصحاب محمد r فلا تتعبدوها فإن الأول لم يترك للآخر مقالا، ولما مر على قوم يقول لهم آمرهم: سبحوا كذا وكذا واحمدوا كذا وكذا وكبروا كذا وكذا وقف عليهم ابن مسعود فرأى ما هم فيه فقال: يا هؤلاء لقد جئتم جرما أو لقد فقتم أصحاب محمد علما، ونحن نعلم أنها الأولى قطعا فلم يفوقوا أصحاب محمد r علما.

  • As far as I know Shaykh ad-Dedew (hafidhahullah) is of the view that holidays without religious overtones are permissible. He states that they are not 'Eids but occasions (مناسبات), even though they are known among the people in Arabic as an 'eid, such as 'Eid al-Umm in the case of Mother's Day. He said this on the TV show he comes on “Al-Jawaab al-Kaafi” (watch episode) not too long ago when Mother's Day was being celebrated in the majority of the Muslim world. So in that case his above fatwa wouldn't contradict this, since he doesn't view it as a real 'Eid but as an occassion. (Source)

    This is similar to the point that Shaykh al-Qaradawi states, which is that it shouldn't be called 'Eid but Yawm (day), so as to avoid it being considered a celebration rather than an occasion. He is of the view that it isn't haraam since he believes there is no clear text to prohibit, but at the same time he discourages it from the angle of us as Muslims not being in need of it as well as it falling under imitating non-Muslims. (Source)

    It seems – and Allah knows best – that the best way to present this issue, and similar issues, to the rest of the Ummah is to explain that there is a difference of opinion held between qualified scholars. Then it should be stressed that we must strive to worship Allah based on the opinion we honestly feel is closer to the truth and that we should be aware of Shaytaan and our nafs tempting us to follow either of the two opinions, halaal or haraam. This helps us keep our objective in focus, which is the worship of our Lord in the way that pleases Him, and also it keeps us on guard from following our desires. My worry is that our brothers and sisters will follow either opinion – saying “Happy Mother's Day” or “Audhubillah this is an innovation” – with neither based upon the actual evidence of either opinion but rather what pleases our nafs.

    The last situation we want to be on when we meet Allah on the Day of Judgment is with a life of following our desires pretending that we have a Shar'i evidence for it. This is the behavior of a person – may Allah protect us all – who thinks that he or she will fool or trick Allah on that Day and sneak into Jannah. This is similar to what is narrated in the hadeeth about the first to enter into the Hellfire – the scholar, the charitable person and the mujaahid. Even up until that very point they will be claiming they did it for Allah's sake and Allah will tell them that they have lied and order for them to be taken to the Hellfire – may Allah protect us all.

    In summary, often times the solutions to issues we find difficult as Muslims is not found in the books of fiqh, but rather in the books of tazkiyyah and raqaa'iq (heart softeners). And Allah knows best.

  • Brother Suhaib, since you said the fatwa is based on usul principals I wanted to say this.
    We know that Mother’s day originated from pagan Greeks who had a special day for the mother of their false gods. In addition, this practice was modified several times by the Romans before and after they accepted Christianity.
    And so based upon the following principal: “al-hukm ‘ala shay far’un ‘an tasawurihi” it seems like such practice would be haram, right?

    I mean what is the hikma of posting this fatwa when it goes against the clear text which prohibits the celebration of the non-Muslims?

  • Asalamu alaykum,

    Aba Zaid:

    I can certainly respect those who hold that such events are forbidden. I am not censuring that opinion, respect it and hold that this is an issue open for discussion.

    What I fail to understand is the infatuation with censuring others who follow a sound opinion. As al-Nawwai stated as well as Ibn Salah that issues open for ijtihad, if presented by scholars, are not to be censured nor rebuked? Perhaps some of our dear brothers could elaborate on that because according to my limited understanding, that goes against the jumhur. Not that the latter is a sin of course, but if the majority hold something as acceptable, why are people trying to censure and force their understandings on others?

    let us live with both in harmony. As Sh. al-Qaradawi said, “If Allah told the Prophet to say to the non-Muslim, 'To you is your faith and to mine is mine.' Then why can't we say as Muslims, “To you is your opinion and to me is mine?”

    I have nothing but respect for you and pray for the best.

    SDW

  • asalamu alaykum,

    excuse my french, but why do these salafi brothers who have their own opinions and like to argue, post their comments if the intent is to just argue to prove others wrong. its a known fact salafis don't agree with the four schools because the madhabs have sound principled methodologies (which they don't agree with). imam suhaib clearly gave the daleel (something salafis crave for yet can't decipher) and yet brothers will post rudimentary arguments stemming from the statement of the prophet (saw) “whoever rejects my sunna then he is not from me”. salafis rogues (not the ulema like bin baz or uthaymeen) don't even know the conditions or the context of the hadith, yet will use it whimsically not realizing it's a general statement not a specific one from which a ruling can be legislated. some of the salafi brothers on this board have stated some of the “great scholars of our time” consider it a bidah. with much respect to those scholars, none of them belong to or follow one of the accepted madhabs. hence, they will differ alot due to the differences in methodology, and they do. having said that, i hold great respect for even those scholars, from whom the salafis should learn manners before daleel, because it's apparent they lack it. follow the scholars you propagate properly, and we wouldn't have these arguments all the time. sorry to sound negative, but the obvious disrespect in tone and the obvious intent of argumentation for argument sake by individuals (who probably do not have the same level of knowledge as imam suhaib or Sh. bin bayyah) on this thread really frustrated me. if you disagree that's fine, but don't try to convince the shaykh or followers of a school we are wrong or quetion our usool. btw, shaykh abdallah bin bayyah is a scholar amongst scholars, so just be respectful to him and his opinions especially. ironically, he teaches in saudia. jazakallah khayr.

  • Aba Jenaan:

    May Allah reward you for commenting. I certainly appreciate your comments and pray that Allah will grant us insaf and justice in words and deeds.

    SDW

  • Assalam Walaikum w.r.w.b

    bro Suhaib, may Allah bless you with khayr and increase you in knowledge.

    Praise be to Allah. I earned a great deal of knowledge from your this post about the Rank of mother in Islam.

    Please note, All this evidence have nothing to do with Celibrating mother’s day. We are muslim and we must respect, honour, love and be gentle toward our mothers and Islam speaks a great deal about the rights of Parents over child and fulfilling our duties (prescribed by Islam) toward our parents is obligatory but do we really need to celibrate so-called Mother’s day to show love and affection to our mother. We are muslim and we do our duties toward our parents as long as we have them. We’re not like the kuffar who have chosen a single day of the year to show love to mother. Isn’t it weird? Its a reason that proves that its useless to celibrate this day.

    And the second matter is serious. You are wise enough about deen but I think you just missed a thing. IMITATING THE KUFFAR. Imitating the kuffar is haraam and this so-called MOTHERS DAY was started by them. So its not permissible to celibrate this day for muslim as Rasulullah (pbuh) warned us “Don’t imitate the kuffar”. Even if it was permissible I wouldn’t like it because its useless.

    MUSLIM have love, honour, affection and we do love our parents all the life so we don’t need this day and its not permissible. We are not allowed to follow the kuffar.

    Walaikumus salam dear bro.
    Jazak Allahu khayran.

  • As,

    Ibn Ali, immigrating the kufar is haram in certain areas and not 100% as noted by our scholars. Sadly, dear brother, it look as though you didn’t read, or need to read the comments again. In Usol al-Fiqh we have a very important axiom, taught to me by my teacher while I was training as a Mufit in Egypt, that “If something loses its original meaning, then, if it was forbidden, it becomes permissble.” Yes, indeed, many of these holidays did have pagan origins, but those are long since forgotten, thus, according to the Ulema of Azhar, and this principle, the ruling changes and this holiday is permissible.

    Suhaib

  • Seriously, we went out to a restaurant with my non-Muslim family today (mother’s day), exchanged a few cards, and gave my mother some flowers. She was delighted. She was delighted that her grandkids were there too. That was all it was about for me — making my mom happy on this day, as well as on the other days. I didn’t “celebrate” Mother’s Day — there were no extra rakat’s made, or dua’s said. I just tried to make my mom happy by showing her some customary displays of caring (a card, some flowers). I came to the realization that if I didn’t do that, I’d be dissing her. So would I claim that “mother’s day” was all year round, and then diss her on the day she was expecting a little pat on the back? Didn’t make sense, especially since it is in no way a religious holiday.

    Personally as a muslim mom, I couldn’t care less for mother’s day. I respect the notion of having our own distinctive traditions and ways, and have no problem not celebrating the holiday. But for my mom it is customary and it makes her happy so I do it for her. And for my kids, it’s a way to show them that Islamic values of respecting mothers is normal in the larger society (as americans, our society) as well, and that makes them feel like their deen promotes universally acknowledged, known goods such as respect for mothers. Mothers deserve respect and care and this is a ma’ruf in the society. So I show it to them from that angle. Anyway, no scholarly nothings here, but just sharing how i’m trying to implement in my circumstances. May Allah swt Guide us along the straight path.

    • Salaams N.
      Thanks for sharing 🙂
      Excellent reminder for us that we can’t just apply cookie cutter solutions, everyone has to do what they can in their circumstance.

      And Allah knows best.

  • Whether or not you agree with observing Mother’s Day, Inshallah this article/comments/debate will remind you to be good to your mother. She wont be around forever and she is your fastest way to Jannah.

    • This is a very good point. That our time with our mothers is limited so we should make even greater efforts to be good to them.

      And would add that all our claims about how good we muslims are to our mothers all the time — those claims will be tested.

      Reminding myself and others that – especially as they get older our moms become very, very sensitive. They are so easily hurt, but they will rarely let you know it. Even if you are only slightly abrupt or rushed with her, or skip a visit or phone call, or don’t offer to help with chores, or any number of things – they can hurt her a lot. You may not think it’s a big deal, and she might not show it. But Allah swt Knows.

      So with all our claims to honoring our mothers every day, do we really have what it takes to back them up?

      The time is now to put in our efforts.

  • Sh. Suhaib, I used to agree opinion that honoring any celebration , other than the 2 Eids, is not acceptable. Today, an Imam asked me if it was OK to bring flowers to the mothers attending a function at a masjid today(Mother’s Day). I told him that doing so without commenting will bring critezism. On the other hand, not doing anything special might lead to the mothers feeling that they are not as appreciated as the nonMuslim mothers; because of the attention. Then I remembered the Hadith of fasting ‘Ashoraa (عاشوراء). The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said “نحن أحق بموسى منكم””We have more claim to Musa than you”. So I thought this might apply! “Our mothers have more right to be appreciated and respected. So we can celebrate the day, as he – peace and prayers be upon him- celebrated ‘Aashoraa. We give our mothers gifts and give them extra attention on mother’s day, then we do it again at a later day.
    So sh. Suhaib, was this a valid Qiyaas?

  • Asalamualaikum, After reading these comments, I couldn’t help but feel that some of these brothers don’t even know what Mothers day is. I Don’t understand why people are going on about imitating the Kuffar. Mothers day is a day when stores like Walgreens make money selling cards and flowers by encouraging people to to do something muslims are commanded to do: Appreciate your mother! Is there something wrong with buying flowers for your mother? I suppose I should specifically avoid telling my mother that I love her on this day in fear of imitating the kuffar.

    mothers day is not a ritual.
    there is nothing to imitate!

  • Assalam’ alykum Sh,

    I can see great benefit from your article. Keep up the effort to write as many knowledge you know about islam. I am a reader who can accept any opinion and thoughts. I did not like to say that one is wrong. For me, any thought is acceptable as long as it didn’t obviously against islamic foundation. Even some greate Ulama has different perspective and opinion based on different circumstances. Different perspective is permissible in islam. But i just didn’t understand why some people too extreme in taking ones opinion to the extent that describing them as wrong. These kind of people also exist in my place.

  • Just replace ” Can we celebrate mothers day ?” with “can we congregate to rejoice or remember mother Hajirah or mother Khadijah ?”

    The usual fallicious reasoning of opponents is based on the word “celebrate” and connecting the particular form to non-muslim origin. So simply replace those with what is directly permitted in the Quran like “rejoicing over the mercy of Allah”.

    Say: “In the Bounty of Allah, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islam and the Qur’an); – therein let them rejoice.” That is better than what (the wealth) they amass. ( سورة يونس , Yunus, Chapter #10, Verse #58)

  • Assalaamu alaikum Imam Suhaib … Jazakumullah khair for this post … helps us to understand some of the principles behind rulings of this nature.

    Regarding the principle you mentioned: “If something loses its original meaning, then, if it was forbidden, it becomes permissble.” … what would this mean with regards to celebrating Halloween or Christmas … some might say that these celebrations, especially in the West, have lost their original meaning … some might see Halloween as not some pagan ritual, but just a time for kids to have some fun eating candy … might hear similar things for Christmas.

    I don’t mean to argue … just wondering if/how this principle would apply here.

  • Irrespective of one’s view on mother’s day, the comments to this post have revealed a grave misunderstanding of “kuffar.” That description is being tossed around like its just another word. Please be sensitive brothers and sisters regarding the over use of this word and description of non-Muslims. My understanding is that “kuffar” is not simply a non-Muslim, but someone who knows the truth of Islam and covers it up, ignores it, and attempts to prevent others from following it. That is my understanding. I’m somewhat shocked that folks throw this word around so easily, when life is so much more complicated than dividing people up into neat little categories.

  • As,

    Idress, the axiom comes with a condition that the religious aspect of an act is lost entirely. I know that, at least in the South, Christmas is still marked by a mass and religious practices.

    SDW

  • As,

    Mohamed, that is truly an interesting question. Could you explain the logic behind your qiyas. I appreciate this higher level of discussion and commend everyone for the great character.

    Suhaib

    • As,

      It seems like every time the Prophet- صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw a chance to do good, regardless of the source, he would get involved / recommend it. If it was ritualistic in some way, he’d change it and make it unique, instead of rejecting it all together. So if people want to honor Mother on a spesific day, we can do so on the same day, but also try to make it unique. Add a lil Islam to da mix LOL Does that make sense?

  • Just a side point worth noting, many of these well intentioned events are now becoming corporatised occassions aimed with the sole purpose of making you part with your cash. Whilst I dont know about halal/haram etc I think people should at least be aware of the context in which these events are being marketed.

    Also, dont forget a cultural event may not be distinguishable to others from a religiously recommended act to others which in turn may be confused for a obligatory act by the next generation. And so it follows.

    Unfortunately I suspect all annualised and repeated cultural events have some religious subtext to their genesis. Maybe this phenomenon of yearly commemoration is from the origin of man’s days on earth and therefore must always link in someway directly or indirectly to a higher being. The extent to which this is manifest will depend on the intentions and spiritual integrity of the aggregate community and vary from moment to moment.

    Perhaps we should support the neutral approach and make the most of the bargains in store!!!

  • I have heard that although a bidah which does not contridict the deen is permissible, yet we shouldnt use this as basis to create a bidah. And is only used in legitimising a already existing tradition.

    I personally would not want muslims to get together with the globalised world in celebrating mothers day with a card, cake & gift. Instead it would be great to have special gatherings in honour of our mother on a date that has significance in the deen like the birth of Bibi Hawwa (as) and in a manner that has basis in the deen.

    “And teach them to remember the days of Allah.” (Surah 14: Verse 5)

  • Assalamualaykum..

    As muslims, mothers are the second most precious and honorable figure in our life after Muhammad (pbuh). Having a special day to honor them is neither obligatory nor forbidden. The prophet Muhammad(pbuh) in many hadith encouraged us to always honor our mothers most by any means as long as it is halal.

    Eventhough Mother’s Day originated from western culture, it is a positive culture and there’s nothing wrong in practising a positive culture as long as it is not against the syariah law.

    It is just the same as wearing t-shirts for man. T-shirts are also of western origin but still we wear it because it still help covers man’s aurat. Even until now no ulama has ever made any fatwa to forbid man from wearing t-shirt because although it’s of western culture, there’s no harm in it.

    While celebrating the day, it can be haram if we spend excessively neglecting the needy around us. And can also be haram if we neglect solah while taking out our mothers for a treat. But then again, only haram to us but not to others for it is not the celebration day that is haram but our actions are haram…

  • I wish this blog was around when I became Muslim!!

    As a convert, I really really hurt the feelings of my family when me finding the truth = ignoring every single family tradition we had. And I’m supposed to be a witness that Islam makes me a better daughter because now I ignored mothers day, fathers day, my parents birthdays, and I am the only person in the whole family to do nothing?

    They could grasp Easter and xmas – but this? But I thought I was practicing an innovation being so sinful as I was taught – that I abandoned all of it. Had SOMEONE given me a door like this, to at least have a way to connect with my family, it would have been appreciated. In the past two years, only, I decided to reverse some of those decisions, because I realized how much it damaged my family relations.

    People – you HAVE to see the big picture!

    We can sit here and debate theoretically speaking, but people need to now HOW to live realistically without feeling like they are the worst Muslims on the planet, destined to hell fire, because of a card and some flowers.

    Have you any idea the spiritual damage this causes, and the imbalanced fear of Allah that can instill in the heart of a person?

    No one wants to be responsible for innovations, and yes, most innovations started out as good intentions, but a bid’ah, as I understand it, is to give the rights of Allah to other than Allah, and is specifically religious in nature (Imam Suhaib please correct if I’m wrong!)

    How scary for someone to think that by trying to please their mother, with something culturally normal, with a good intention, that they are violating the rights of Allah. Yikes.

    Also, do we think we are the only ones who believe in treating the mother well?

    I grew up with a strong model for that, without having an Islamic upbringing. It’s part of the Christian and Jewish traditions too – we aren’t the only ones.

    SO yes it should be “every day” but it rarely is, so let’s get real. If that’s an argument, it is missing a harsh dosage of reality.

    Finally, the idea that something has its roots in that which was originally religious/cultish of some past people. Things and their meanings change of generations of people. So while that was true at one point in time, thousands of years ago, it’s important to understand what something represents TODAY to the very people you are judging.

    All in all, being willing to consider other forms of highly respectable opinions and discussion is crucial to not living in a bubble, and alienating Muslims who have so many different realities and issues to face with.

    May Allah forgive me anything I said that is wrong, and grant us all a sound heart upon our return. Ameen.

  • In addition to my latter comment…married women should never celebrate their mothers without their husbands consent..never spend their husband’s money on their mother without the husband’s consent..never spend time with their mother without their husbands consent..

    Again..it is not celebrating mothers that is haram but the ignorant actions that is haram. There’s a thin line of difference between these..

    Online..our words represents our tongue. Boasting and showing arrogance over our knowledge and hurting other people’s feeling regardless of their background and religion is gravely forbidden…

    Allah is The Most Knowledgable knows better than all of us. Imam Suhaib is merely giving his opinion to enlighten us with more love and honor for our mothers, while we are given aqal to think and choose what best for ourselves…..wallahua’alam..

  • Theres this beautiful tradition i watched on TV of Malaysian muslims where on Eid the children gather around the parents at home and individually seek forgiveness and kiss their parents hands, etc. These are the ways in which we should honour parents. Rather than fall for consumerism.

  • re: Megan Wyatt

    I agree. It appears the answer also will depend on the person and their state.

    Some of us like yourself will find continuing these western traditions helps continue family bonds (Good>harm). But for a family say who never noted mothers day thenn surely there is no need to start?

  • @Fez – I agree with that point for the most part.

    I never established this tradition with my kids so far, and I’m happy with that.

    This year, my daughter on her own, asked if she could get me something for Mother’s Day, because she sees the advertisements in the stores everywhere, and she knew other Muslim girls her age (she is almost 9) doing the same thing for their Moms. So, she bought me a small gift.

    What was nice about this, was she wanted to do it just out of love, not obligation or expectation, she knows we haven’t established it as our own tradition, but there is no need to stamp out her sweet intentions on her own, and she said she just really wanted to give me something because she loves me, masha’Allah.

    So, along with birthdays and other holidays, no I haven’t established them as regular celebrations, but as a family, we find many ways to celebrate all kinds of things, but they aren’t yearly things, aside from Eid.

    Allah ‘Alim.

  • It pains my heart deeply to see what we have come to argue about. May Allah guide and bless us all. Ameen.

  • “It pains my heart deeply to see what we have come to argue about” could not be said better, question?
    Did this matter solve the issues or did it make it worse?
    Did this matter unite us closer or separate us further?
    understanding? or confusion?
    unity? or division?
    this article can be taken by the masses of Muslims around the world and abuse it, because the same can be argued to all other holidays in the u.s., sooner you will see Muslims dressed in Halloween costumes , or taking pictures with Santa clause, sending love letters in valentine, searching for eggs in Easter, cooking turkey on thanksgiving,parading on saint Patrick day etc… this article will open a flood gate to all other issues and it is better if it stayed blocked. I don’t see it wise for matters of “ijtihad” to be displayed for the public like this, and clearly we see now terms like salafi’s ,suffies, and so on? alhamdulillah many brothers and sisters responded well on this article no need for me to repeat what they said,Imam Suhaib Webb is a wonderful imam but he is not infallible, Do i agree with him on this NO, but i still Love him for the sake of Allah and may Allah guide us all to the correct understanding and protect our scholars and imams.

  • Maybe I missed something, but I really don’t see that there was a negative argument on this issue. And if it is a trivial issue for some, it is a very relevant issue for others.

    I appreciated the article alhamdulillah and benefited from all the various pro/con points of view shared. Jazakum Allahu khairan.

  • @Megan Wyatt

    Yes absolutely, as you allude to there is a difference between observing the INSTITUTION that is Mother’s Day and observing good actions with occur concurrently during Mother’s Day.

    There is a subtle yet important distinction between the two which is often lost in an age of slogan and soundbite :p

  • If only we (Muslim) can use what we call as “Common Sense” and able to open our mind wide with some sound understanding of Basic Islamic Knowledge, I believe this issue won’t be that hard to understand. This kind of issue is ‘khilaf’ and has led to various and different notions among Muslim Scholars. Of course some Ulama’ agreed that it is permissible and some reject it with their own reason. For me, If we choose not to celebrate it, then it is fine. But there is still no harm if we choose to celebrate it. Please don’t get me wrong. What i mean is moderate celebration. I think no need to go for holiday or having a Big Party only to celebrate Mother’s Day. Like what i mention earlier, if only we can use our ‘Common Sense’ With some Basic Islamic Knowledge, We can think all of these. Of course Islam prohibits Such Extravagant Action, let alone Unislamic Ritual (Syirik). Just keep in mind, Islam teach us to show love to our Mother every time regardless of their religion.

    There are two reservations worth mentioning; first, considering the Mother’s Day a feast; second, confining the task of showing dutifulness to mothers to that specific day, giving implication that throughout the whole year, just only one day is for showing love to parents. If such two anomalous points are addressed, then there is nothing wrong in considering the Mother’s Day a chance to give more care to mothers.

    For me there is no issue of ‘a Muslims dressing in Halloween costumes’ because it is out of this topic. Valentine Day also not so relevant in Islam.

  • Sheikh Faysal Mawlawi, deputy chairman of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, states:

    Dutifulness to parents, especially the mother, and treating them kindly is an act of worship enjoined in both the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Being dutiful to parents is not confined to a specific time. It is an obligation that should be observed every time, as all people commonly know.

    Yet, the Mother’s Day, as it’s known nowadays is a Western habit. The Westerners specified a day and called it the Mother’s Day. On that day sons and daughters show gratefulness to their mothers and offer them presents. It has become part of important feasts in the West, whereas we Muslims have no other festivals except the Lesser and the Greater Bairams. Any other celebrations are deemed mere occasions or anniversaries; and this is applied to the Mother’s Day.

    The Mother’s Day implies paying more attention and exerting more effort in expressing gratitude to mothers. So there is nothing wrong in that.

    However, there are two reservations worth mentioning; first, considering the Mother’s Day a feast; second, confining the task of showing dutifulness to mothers to that specific day, giving implication that throughout the whole year, just only one day is for showing love to parents. If such two anomalous points are addressed, then there is nothing wrong in considering the Mother’s Day a chance to give more care to mothers.

    Thus, we may take the Mother’s Day as a chance to lay more emphasis on our duty towards our mothers, as Islam enjoins us, because dutifulness to parents is a genuine Islamic teaching. But Muslims, in doing that, should never deviate from the Islamic teachings, they should do things in Islamic manners, not in Western manners. Hence, they would not be imitating the non-Islamic habits of the West.

    Hence, viewed in juristic perspective, we can say that celebrating the Mother’s day is controversial among the contemporary scholars. While a group of them consider it haram (unlawful) as a kind of blind imitation of the Western non-Islamic habits, which have no benefit for Muslims, another group see it halal (lawful) on condition that showing gratitude and dutifulness to parents should not be confined to that day only.

  • Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi states:

    The Arab tend to blindly follow the Western in their celebration of the Mother’s Day, without trying to understand the wisdom behind inventing such an occasion.

    When the European found that children do not deal properly towards their parents nor give them their due right, they resorted to specifying an annual occasion for children to remedy the situation. But in Islam, mothers are to be given due respect and love every time, not only one day a year. For example, when one goes out, he kisses one’s mother’s hand seeking her pleasure and blessing.

    A Muslim must not allow any gap between him and his mother, he must offer her presents every time. This indicates that Muslims can dispense with such an occasion, the Mother’s Day. Unlike the case in the West, where it’s a vogue for some children to show indifference to their mothers’ feelings, and, what’s more, it is so common to see some parents being dragged to infirmaries (as their kids have no time for them), dutifulness to parents in Islam, alongside with worshipping Allah, is a sacred duty.

    In this concern, Almighty Allah says: (And We have commended unto man kindness toward parents. His mother beareth him with reluctance, and bringeth him forth with reluctance, and the bearing of him and the weaning of him is thirty months, till, when he attaineth full strength and reacheth forty years, he saith: My Lord! Arouse me that I may give thanks for the favor wherewith Thou hast favored me and my parents, and that I may do right acceptable unto Thee. And be gracious unto me In the matter of my seed. Lo! I have turned unto Thee repentant, and lo! I am of those who surrender (unto Thee).) (Al-Ahqaf 46: 15)

    Reflecting on the aforementioned Qur’anic verse, we find it stressing both parents’ right, but reviewing the following verses we find them paying special care to the mother and tackling the hardships she suffers in pregnancy, fosterage and rearing children.

    In this verse, Almighty Allah informs man of the debt he owes his mother since he was a fetus, passing by the process of childbirth, infancy, childhood until he comes of age. A child normally forgets the hardship which his mother underwent during pregnancy. Hence Almighty Allah draws his attention to such hardships, laying emphasis on her great status in Islam.

  • Finally, Dr. `Abdul Fattah `Ashoor, professor of Qur’an Exegisis at Al-Azhar University, concludes:

    Holding celebrations in honoring others and commemorating anniversaries are neither feasts nor Islamic. But one may seize any chance to express gratitude to those who deserve it. This is how we should consider the Mother’s Day. The mother has a special place in the Islamic culture, and all other civilized cultures. So it is something good to do anything to please her and show gratefulness to her.

    So dedicating a day to showing good feelings towards parents, especially the mother, is by no means blameworthy as it does not contradict the Islamic teachings, nor can it be merely considered a form of joining the Western vogue of making celebrations. Conversely, it is a kind of devotion to Allah’s orders that we should be dutiful to our parents.

  • Assalamu alaikum,

    My teacher taught us that any Eid, I.e. celebrations occurring on a cyclical repetitive basis, whether weekly or.annually, whether religious or otherwise, automatically come under the category of what Islam sanctions, thus anything other than Eid al Adha, al Fitr and Jumuah are considered bid’ah. The classical scholars have included Eids in their definition of various bida’. I am curious as to whether any of these contemporary scholars who allow these celebrations have any evidence in terms of variant opinions to this.

    • Bid’ah is prohibited in Islam.

      The Messenger of Allah stated: “On the Day of Judgement, some people will come to me when I will be standing by Haudh-e-Kauser (Well). They will be grabbed and taken towards the Hellfire. I shall say: “These are my people” but in reply I will be told: “These are the people who introduced innovations after you, so they are unbelievers.”
      [Bukhari & Muslim, Kitaab-ul-Haudh]

      However, Some Scholar Categorizes Bid’Ah into certain types. Two of them are Bid’ah Sayyiah and Bid’ah Hasanah. Bid’ah sayyiah is a Bid’ah that opposes the Qur’an and sunnah and Bidah Hasanah is a Bid’ah that is not against the Qur’an or Sunnah.

      Eg.: If we celebrate Valentines Day and Halloween Day, It is a BAD BID’AH because it has no basis in Quran and Sunnah.

      Mother’s Day Will turn to be BAD BID’AH if the way we celebrate it against the Quran and Sunnah.

      But there are many evidence in the Quran and Sunnah that we MUST show love to our Mother, Physically and Spiritually.

  • If mother day is Halal for Ahl Sunnah, then why birthday celebration or other ceremonies like prophets birthday are not halal and they are very strict about it?

    • Yes.We are not the ones to wait for 1 single day in the whole year to treat your mother in a special way. We are supposed to do it EVERY SINGLE DAY.
      Q: What is the status of the mums on the other days?

  • If I am a prospecting mother and have unsuccessfully tried so hard to get pregnant but could not get a child. I feel so depressed not having someone to call me mom…and then comes one national day, “Mother’s Day”…this would be a devastation/depression day for me…It is for this reason that ALLAH ASKED THE PROPHET MOHAMAD SALLA ALLAHOU ALIEH in Qouran in the only Sourat titels WOMEN “NISSAA” that Our DEEN WAS COMPLETE ….

    • in my point of view is the mother day according Islam forbid we all Muslim not celebrate this day . because before Muslim people it celebrate by kuffar not by Muslim . thanks

      • I totally agree, as Mothers Day was first celebrated by Kuffar, and the date was also first chosen by them due to their religious or traditional reasons, and thus which I see that we have no right to follow them and their traditions… It is not wrong to show our love and appreciation to our mothers, but this can be done everyday and not just once a year. Thank you…

  • Everyone here is saying that western culture is kuffar. A. Christians are Ahl Kittab and so are Jews which makes them not kuffar. B. y’all are talking about tradition bug many Muslims around the world have different traditions. Yall are talking about your culture and tradition which is different for us who were born and raised in America. Many people heave traditions that aren’t mentioned in the Sunnah. Practicing something that isn’t d
    Said to be haram and isn’t detrimental to our deen isn’t bid’ah. Stop saying it is if you do not know.

    • There is scholarly consensus (ijma) that ahl al-kitab are kufar. The assertion that they are believers is a modern concept that acknowledges certain ayahs of the Qur’an and ignores a great many asserting otherwise.

      This is not a matter of difference of opinion but rather a tenet of faith that no one has challenged until recently. Those that are now doing so in the West usually did not go through the a traditional Islamic education and/or have been influenced by the Salafi “fatwa do-it-yourself” methodology.

      May Allah enable us to humbly seek the Truth.

  • Asalamu alaikum brothers and sisters, in Islam everyday is mother’s day. Mother’s day in the west is a may be a huge thing because of other implications that tell people to buy a gift, a card or hug your mother on that day. For a Muslim everyday is mothers’ day hug your mother, treat her well, call her, buy her a gift, cook for her,take her to dinner. Even consider making repairs around her house when she needs them. When the designated day(mothers’ day) comes do it even more, give her more kisses,hug and many thanks. Pass it to another member of your family who was a mother figure and if that is not possible pass lt to your father who cared for you, inshallah. Our caregivers in our years of youthful training should be reflected upon and say alhamdillilah! There is no debate here about the celebration of Mothers’ Day, everyday is mothers’ day. Yes, you can celebrate it that is optional, Walaikum salam.

  • I never taught my children to celebrate Mother’s Day. It wasn’t one of our holidays as Muslims.I had always believed that every day is a Mother’s Day.Love should be given and received every day throughout the year.

    Realistically life doesn’t really work that way and human nature does not allow for that.
    We become so engrossed our day to day activities like home chores,washing,cleaning,errands,cooking,etc.Working parents are even busier trying to make ends meet.

    Children are busy with school work,studies,sport and social and religious activiies. It is so easy to forget to show special appreciation like a to say a simple “I love you.”Our rat race denies us time to spent with each other,to sit as a family,to hug and get to appreciate one another…

    My kids unexpectedly came home from school on Mother’s Day with little gifts in their hands. One had a rose. Another a less expense perfume. A third had a candle. And a fourth had a little teddy bear.
    Happy Mother’s Day! the sung and rushed in to hug and kiss me.

    It was one of the happiest days of my life and it brought tears to my eyes. It still does. Every year since then, they save up their allowance to get me gifts for Mothers Day.

    And those gifts from my kids are priceless and are the ones I cherish the most. One day every year my children conspire to do something special for me. And I love them for it.By the way they love me evey day and so do I.BUT THEY WONT BE ABLE TO GIVE ME PRESENTS EVERY DAY…

    To all those ranters and ravers out there, I say chill.
    Don’t turn everything into a religious battle because, many times, it simply isn’t.

    Yes, Eid is our special day. Yes, love should be expressed every day. And yes, it is also very easy to forget to do that with our busy contemporary lifestyles.

    We need to hold onto our own cultures and traditions. But there are things in other cultures that are good as well.

    Strike the balance.

    Take the positive. Leave the negative or the irrelevant. And celebrate love a little more often.

    It is a positive thing to have an annual reminder that your spouse, your parent, or your child deserves that extra bit of extra special attention.

    What is even more wonderful is to be able to do it your own way. A way that brings joy rather than stress. A way that builds a family and brings it together.

    A little extra special attention can go a long way.Dont deprive Islam and Muslims from being human and to show love.I rather celebrate Mother’s day within the parameters of Islam than kidnap 249 school girls in the name of Islam.

  • Dear Akhi kareem Mr. Webb,

    The reason the scholars of the salaf prohibit new celebrations like birthdays and like Mother’s Day is so that in the future people keep to following the sunnah. The knowledgeable of the salaf enjoin to “advise” in a dignified manner. What should the reaction be if someone continues to refuse to follow the sunnah, that are shuyukh (like yourself) explain to us? By rebuking the lack of devotion to our shuyukh and the message that Allah sent to prophet Muhammed, it would exemplify the knowledge, and debase the whims. Otherwise one would approve of this lack of devotion. You could say that this rebuking is so that the words of our shuyukh prosper in the future.
    When you look at a concept, the branches (furooh) would be like the origin (usool). If the origin is from the guidance of Allah, that is the Quran and the sunnah and the Ilm, the flow of Allah’s message, it will continue to be guidance. If the origin is not based on that, it would have to go through a great change in order to conform to Allah’s message.

  • Assalam alaykum,

    It would be good to know what the Fiqh Academy of Jeddah has to say because it comprises of over 400 scholars from all over the world. This allows for a broader base of scholarly opinions.

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