I wish that the question or discussion with the Honorable Sheikh/Dr. Abdullah bin Bayyah would have included the actual history behind birthday celebrations, because I believe that his view would have been very different.

The following article clearly traces it back to paganistic practices:

http://suite101.com/a/history-of-the-birthday-celebration-a238069

Jazaakumu Allahu khaira.

as salaamu ‘alaikum.

All praise is due to Allah and we ask that He send the best benedictions and peace upon His beloved. To proceed:

It appears that no one has commented on this in years but I still see it as necessary to mention that despite what the namesake of this web site or anyother person of knowledge has to say, thanksgiving is also a religious holiday that is unlawfull for Muslims to celebrate.

I am only adding this because whether or not people are commenting, it is clear people are still visiting this page and reading it…and ago there should be clarity.

I will not touch the non-religious days as these are other matters completely…birthdays being a great example. (it depends whether or not one takes into account the asl of a thing). But concerning thanksgiving…we must be very clear on this matter! It is not lawfull.

May Allah preserve you all and guide this ummah aright…ameen.

Religion, comes from a root latin word ‘religio’ meaning something you are attached to, physically or emotionally. In this sense all humans beings have a ‘religion’, I agree with Kayvee in that the root of such actions can be derived at what we call religion linguistically, hence thanksgiving, halloween and even independence days can be considered religious. If one takes their ideology of nation as ‘god’, which in today’s nation-state world the attributes of ‘god’ are given to a nation subconciously. When do such celebrations stop as they are created over time?

Wasalaam

Dont birthdays have religious roots. Were they not first practiced by pagan Greeks who believed that the smoke of the candles when blown out would reach their false gods?

According to islam-qa.com birthdays are not allowed:

http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/1027/birthday

why are there differences in opinion between scholars in the middle east and scholars in north america?

wsalam

What about the issue of imitating non-Muslims.

When the Prophet (peace and prayer be upon him) went to madinah he canceled two old celebrations and replaced them with Islamic Eids. Were those celebrations religious or cultural?

Please clarify

May Allah have mercy on us for the hardships we create for others out of our ignorance – Ameen.