Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
With regard
to this observance which people call “birthdays” (eid milaad in Arabic),
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) issued the following
fatwa:
“Everything
which is taken as an ‘eid’ (something which is celebrated regularly) and is
repeated each week or each year and is not prescribed in sharee’ah, is a
kind of bid’ah (reprehensible innovation). The evidence for that is the fact
that the Lawgiver prescribed ‘aqeeqah for the newborn, and did not prescribe
anything after that. When they adopt these observances every week or every
year, it means that they are making them like the Islamic Eids, which is
haraam and is not permitted. There are no celebrations in Islam apart from
the three prescribed Eids: ‘Eid al-Fitr, ‘Eid al-Adha, and the weekly ‘Eid’
which is Friday (Yawm al-Jumu’ah).
This does
not come under the heading of customs because it is repeated. Hence when the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah
and found that the Ansaar had two festivals which they used to celebrate, he
said, ‘Allaah has given you something better than these: Eid al-Adha and Eid
al-Fitr.’ (Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 1556; Abu Dawood, 1134; classed as saheeh
by al-Albaani in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Saheehah, no. 124), even
though this was one of their customs.”
From
Sharh Kitaab al-Tawheed, 1/382; see also Question #
1027.
Secondly:
With regard
to how you should deal with your mother, I think that you should be frank
with her, and tell her that this action is not permitted by Allaah, and that
the religion of Islam forbids this, and that as this is the case you cannot
come to this party. Tell her. “Were it not for the fact that Allaah does not
allow it, I would have been happy to come, and I thank you, but it is not up
to me or anyone else, it is up to Allaah Who issues His decree and we – the
Muslims – have to submit to His will; it is not permissible for us to
dispute that so long as it is the command of Allaah, the All-Knowing, Most
Wise.”
Tell her all
of that in the best possible manner and in the kindest way. If she is
convinced and appreciates that, then praise be to Allaah, otherwise try to
be outside the house at the time of this party, so that no one will pressure
you to join in and so that you yourself will not weaken and given in. There
is no sin on you for what your mother is doing, and pleasing Allaah comes
before pleasing any of His creation. Be certain that if your mother objects
vehemently to this matter today, perhaps Allaah will make her pleased with
you in the future, in sha Allaah.