Is it permissible to make and sell birthday Cakes, anniversary cakes, wedding cakes?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

As Muslims, our salvation lies in the adherence of each and every aspect of Deen and by gaining the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. Whilst Shari’ah allows us to celebrate and rejoice on happy occasions, it prohibits us from imitating the ways and lifestyle of the Kuffār (disbelievers).^[1]

It is a custom and a general lifestyle of disbelievers to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, mother’s day and father’s day. Therefore, we advise against making and selling cakes for such celebrations. The income derived from selling such cakes is Makruh.^[2]

It is permissible to make and sell wedding cakes. A wedding is not a distinct custom of non-Muslims and no one understands it as such. The income derived from selling wedding cakes is Halal.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

(06/11/20)

(سنن ابي داود: ٤٠٣١)^[1]

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ

^[2]  الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) – دار الفكر – ج = ٦، ص = ٣٩٢

وَفِي الْمُحِيطِ لَا يُكْرَهُ بَيْعُ الزَّنَانِيرِ مِنْ النَّصْرَانِيِّ وَالْقَلَنْسُوَةِ مِنْ الْمَجُوسِيِّ، لِأَنَّ ذَلِكَ إذْلَالٌ لَهُمَا وَبَيْعُ الْمُكَعَّبِ الْمُفَضَّضِ لِلرَّجُلِ إنْ لِيَلْبَسَهُ يُكْرَهُ، لِأَنَّهُ إعَانَةٌ عَلَى لُبْسِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِنْ كَانَ إسْكَافًا أَمَرَهُ إنْسَانٌ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ لَهُ خُفًّا عَلَى زِيِّ الْمَجُوسِ أَوْ الْفَسَقَةِ أَوْ خَيَّاطًا أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ لَهُ ثَوْبًا عَلَى زِيِّ الْفُسَّاقِ يُكْرَهُ لَهُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ لِأَنَّهُ سَبَبُ التَّشَبُّهِ بِالْمَجُوسِ وَالْفَسَقَةِ اهـ