Question

salam brother i owed £4.00 to a shop i paid it off however, the money i paid it off with was money given to me by my aunty 1,2 or 3 days after my birthday. when she approched me to give me the money she said "this is for your birthday" then i said "i dont eccept birthday money" but she insited and said its not for your birthday and put it in my pocket. so in my head i was thinking if she said its not for your birthday after first saying it is for your birthday it cant be haram but i had my doubdts. but i paid off a £4.00 bedt with that moey i wat to know brother is my debt payed of islamicaly?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

You have done well when you clarified to your aunt that it is impermissible to commemorate one's birthday or to give and accept gifts on it, or to distinguish that day from the other days. However, since she declared that her gift to you was not for that occasion, then it would be permissible for you to accept it and benefit from it. Since you have repaid your debt from it, then you are acquitted from that debt and nothing is due on you.

As regards the Bid‘ah (religious innovation) of celebrating birthdays, then it is done by the people in imitation of the West. So, it is impermissible to do it; and it is obligatory on a Muslim to clarify to his family that it is unlawful with wisdom and kind instruction.

Allah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb