Celebrating Kandoori

15-7-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is Kandoori? Is it an Arabic Word? If a person invite me for a kandoori without mentioning any recital or anybody’s birthday, can I go for the kandoori only to have meal?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Kandoori is not an Arabic word. It is a celebration of the birthday of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al Jeelani born in 471 A.H. Some Muslims in the Indian subcontinent and in some Asian countries celebrate his birthday.

You have to know, dear brother, that it is not permissible to celebrate anybody's birthday, because it is an innovation and an imitation of the Kuffar (non-Muslims). Muslims have two celebrations only, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, and a third weekly celebration which is Friday. Any other celebration apart from the above is an innovation. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "And every Bid'ah (bad innovation) is a misguidance." (Reported by Muslim and narrated by Jabir Ibn Abd Allah.)

Therefore, there is no evidence for birthday celebrations in our religion. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and the righteous predecessors, did not celebrate birthdays, and had there been any good in such celebrating, they would have been the first to do so.

Allah knows best.