Ruling on throwing a baby shower

17-11-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

Salam Alaykum, I was wondering if celebrating Babyshower is haram? It is a celebration where before the birth of a child where you eat cakes and give gifts for the person who awaits its baby. It is not something like birthday, because people celebrate birthday at a specific time each year, while people only celebrate babyshower when the moment is current. And as far as I know, it is not taken from non-muslims, it is only something traditional which you can choose of.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It seems to us - and Allaah knows best - that throwing a baby shower in celebration of an awaited baby is an act of custom (as opposed to an act of worship). In principle, customs are permissible unless proven otherwise in the Sharee‘ah.

Ash-Shaatibi stated in his book Al-Muwaafaqaat that the purpose and meaning are what counts in custom, as opposed to acts of worship. He wrote, "The basic principle in acts of worship is compliance/submission without consideration of meaning/relevance; whereas in custom, the basic principle is consideration of meaning/relevance.”

Celebrating the coming of a baby is an expression of joy and happiness and this is a purpose approved by the Sharee‘ah. Therefore, such a custom is not held impermissible unless it involves a violation of the Sharee‘ah.

Allaah Knows best.