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Fatwa CenterWatching films, cartoons with songs
Question
If I want to watch a movie that it has not something bad or what Islam hate it is just a movie about social problems or children's cartoons but its has some song so I can watch it or not? Can I say just happy birthday without going to a party or giving a presents?
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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
It is known that these films are rarely free of religious prohibitions. For example the film might contain something that is contradicting the principles of Islam, or that the film portrays a woman who is not dressed Islamicly, or that it contains music, and so on. So if the film is as such then it is not permissible to watch it and if there is something that is beneficial in it, one could get this benefit from other means like from a book for instance. However, if the film is free from these prohibitions then it is permissible to watch it.
As regards birthdays, in Islam there is no foundation for such a thing, rather it is a habit that is imported by the Muslims (from the non-Muslims). Celebrating a birthday is imitating the non-Muslims so it is not permissible. Since celebrating a birthday is not permissible then participating in it by greeting the person or by any other means is also not permissible as in that way a person confirms that celebration. Finally, it is an obligation to advise those who celebrate such occasions or participate in them of its prohibition. It is confirmed that the Prophet 
said: "[the essence of] Religion is [offering] advice." [Muslim] So one has to advise them with wisdom and fair preaching.
Allaah knows best.
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