What is baby shower party? Is it appropriate for Muslims to practice the customs like that introduced by non-Muslims?
Dear Brother / Sister,
Baby shower party means preparation for the baby. It is mostly celebrated in America. Some people have started to celebrate it in our country recently. The aim of the baby shower party is to meet the needs of the baby to be born and to have fun together with the mother-to-be. The friends of the mother-to-be organize the party. They buy the things that the baby will need to help the family. Everybody buys a gift in accordance with their budget. The mother-to-be is asked to make a list of needs and her friends buy gifts based on the list. Thus, the same gift is not bought by more than one person.
As for the question whether this party has any drawbacks in terms of our religion, these kinds of activities, which are done based on good intentions, cannot be called haram. However, there must not be anything haram during the celebration. It can be carried out within the boundaries of halal. As for buying gifts, it is not religiously appropriate to make people by gifts by embarrassing them. Some people might not afford to buy expensive gifts. It is also not appropriate to invite the rich to the celebration and to exclude the poor. When these aspects are taken into consideration, it is seen that the customs of foreign cultures do not comply with our culture.
The customs that exist in our culture are sufficient for us. If the aim is to meet the needs of the baby, people buy gifts and go to see the baby in our culture anyway. It is more reasonable to buy a gift for a newborn baby and to go to see it than buying a gift for a baby that has not been born yet and that is not definite to be born.
Besides, if the baby is not born alive after such a celebration and the gifts that have been bought, the mother-to-be may suffer a more severe psychological depression.
In conclusion, our customs in our culture are sufficient for us. There is no need to imitate the customs of non-Muslims.
Questions on Islam
- Is it permissible to receive gifts from non-Muslims?
- Is it permissible to celebrate Valentine's Day and to exchange presents on that day?
- Is it permissible for a man to buy a present for his wife on Valentine’s Day?
- What are children's rights over their parents?
- Is it permissible to receive gifts from non-Muslims (atheists, Christians, Jews) and giving them gifts?
- What are the criteria for social intercourse with non-Muslims? Is it permissible to be business partners with them?
- Can sadqah money be given to non-muslims?
- Is it permissible to celebrate father’s day?
- Question 36: Why are foster siblings (milk siblings) not allowed to marry? Is there a scientific study about milk kinship?
- Is it a bid’ah (something which is entered into religion afterwards) to celebrate the birthday of our Prophet, Mawlid Qandil (the Eid Milad an-Nabi)? If it is not, how should we evaluate it? Is there a kind of prayer exclusive to Eid Milad an-Nabi?
