Under the conservative Wahhabi view of Islam most feasts (including some celebrated by Muslims in other sects) are prohibited with the exception of the Muslim feasts of Eid al-Fitr (at end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (at the end of an annual pilgrimage to Mecca).
Another prominent cleric, Salman al-Audah, triggered the recent controversy by saying on a television that such parties are fine so long as the word Eid is not used. That led to outcry and specifically a warning from Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti and top cleric (and party popper), Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al Sheik who declared the parties as unacceptable. Al Sheik ridiculed the West and its habit of having parties: “Christians have Mother’s Day, an eid for trees, and an eid for every occasion. And on every birthday, candles are lit and food is given out.” Sounds pretty horrible. Eid for trees? I missed that one, but it may be Arbor Day. In Nebraska City, where the tradition began, they actually did not call it the Annual Eid day.
al-Audah is now accused of violating various fatwas. The prior grand mufti Sheik Abdul-Aziz bin Baz declared that “It’s not permissible to take part in them. Birthday parties are an innovation … and people are in no need of innovations.”
bin Baz was never popular at parties to begin with.
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