A research to find the authentic way of celebrating the birth of Prophet SAW Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions. The commands mentioned in the Quran and sunnah to follow the laws of Allah and His Messenger are quite clear. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): Say (O Muhammad to mankind): If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quran and the sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. [Al-Quran 3:31] Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord (the Quran and Prophet Muhammads sunnah), and follow not any awliya (protectors and helpers who order you to associate partners in worship with Allah), besides Him (Allah). Little do you remember! [Al-Quran 7:3] And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path. [Al-Quran 6:153] And the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, The most truthful of speech is the Book of Allah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, and the most evil of things are those which are newly-invented. And he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), that is not part of it will have it rejected. [Narrated by al-Bukhari, no. 2697; Muslim, no. 1718]. According to a version narrated by Muslim, Whoever doe anything that is not in accordance with this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), will have it rejected. Keeping the above verses and ahadeeth firm and first in our hearts, let’s go through the various parts of this topic: To analyze the topic of celebration of Prophet’s SAW birthday, we will need to analyze the Islamic rulings of the following subparts of this topic: · Islamic rulings on Celebrations · The Birthdate of Prophet SAW · Supporting statements from Quran or Hadith regarding the celebration of prophet’s SAW birthday · Origin · Arguments/refutations · Great Scholars on this topic · Conclusion: The Ruling on the topic Before I proceed, please understand Islam is not what majority does – Islam is what Quran and Sunnah prescribes . Islamic rulings on Celebrations There was no one who had more knowledge than the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and there was no one whose way of calling others to Islam was better. Anas (radhi allahu anhu) said: “The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) came to Madeenah and the people of Madeenah had in Jahiliyah two days of play and amusement (they are the day of Niarooz (New Years Day) and the day of Maharajaan (Final Day of the Year). So, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: I came to you and you had in Jahiliyah two days of play and amusement. Indeed, Allah has replaced them for you by that which is better than them: The day of Nahr (slaughtering) and the day of Fitr (breaking fast). [(saheeh) Musnad Ahmad (3/103, 178, 235 and others)] As Muslims, we celebrate only two ‘eid (festivals): ‘eid ul-fitr (after the end of Ramadhan), and ‘eid ul-Udh-ha, the day of the greater hajj (pilgrimage). During these two festivals, we offer felicitations, spread joy, and entertain children. But more importantly, we offer remembrance of Allaahs blessings, celebrate His name and offer the ‘eid salaat (prayer). Other than these two occasions, we do not recognize or celebrate any other days in the year. Of course, there are other joyous occasions for which the Islamic shari’ah dictates appropriate celebration, such as gathering for special meals during weddings or on the occasion of the birth of a child (aqeeqah). However, these days are not specified as particular days in the year; rather, they are celebrated as they happen in the course of a Muslim’s life. The verdict of Islam is thus very clear. There are only two festivals in Islam, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, there is no other festival in Islam, and as a result there is no other occasion to celebrate in Islam. Conclusion: We are unable prove from the Shari’ah anything mentioned about the Celebration of Birthdays or Celebration of Prophet’s SAW Birthday. The Birthdate of Prophet SAW According to the most correct opinion of the Scholars, the Prophet (pbuh) was born in the city of Makkah in the year of the Elephant (in the year 570 or 571CE), in the month of Rabeeul-Awwal.Taareekh (p.53) of Khaleefah ibn Khayaat, as-Seerah (1/167) of Ibn Hishaam and also Tabaqaatul-Kubraa (1/62) of Ibn Sad. The scholars of Seerah have postulated a number of opinions in regards to when exactly his birth occurred in relation to this event, such as the following:· Fifty days after the destruction of Abraha and his army, this being the position of As- Suhayli Al-Maaliki. · Fifty five days after as narrated by Al- Haafidh Ad-Dimyaati Al-Shaafii · A month (thirty days) after as narrated by Mughlatay Al-Hanafi · Forty days after as narrated by Ibn Sayyid An-Naas Ash-Shaafii · Ten years before as narrated by Imam Az- Zuhri · A few other lesser known opinions ranging from fifty years before and other than this. There is an agreement amongst the Scholars that the Prophet (pbuh)was born on a Monday, since he (pbuh) was asked about fasting on a Monday, and he said: On that day I was born and on that day Revelation descended upon me.(Muslim (2/820) and Ahmad (5/297). However, as regards the exact date of his birth, then the Scholars have differed about this, although the majority of Scholars say that he (pbuh) was born on the 12th of Rabeeul-Awwal. Imaam an-Nawawee (d.676H) - rahimahullaah- said: There is on agreement that he was born on Monday in the month of Rabeeul-Awwal. There is a difference of opinion whether this day was the 2nd, 8th, 10th or 12th day of the month - and these ore the four most well- known opinions concerning this.Tahdheeb Seeratun-Nabawiyyah (p.20) of Imaam an- Nawawee. Prophet (pbuh) left this world on Monday morning, the twelfth of Rabi‘ Al-Awwal, in the eleventh year of Al-Hijrah. He was sixty-three years and four days old when he died. (Sealed Nectar) Conclusion: There is a difference in opinion about the date of birth, but prophet SAW passed away on 12th Rabee’ul-Awwal which is the greatest catastrophe befallen on Muslim ummah. Supporting statements from Quran or Hadith regarding the celebration of prophet’s SAW birthday There is nothing in the Qur’aan to say that we should celebrate the Mawlid or birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Prophet himself (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not do this or command anyone to do it, either during his lifetime or after his death. Knowing that the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) were the people who loved the Prophet SAW the most a check was done whether it was reported that Abu Bakr, who was the closest of people to him and the one who loved him the most, celebrated the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)? Was it reported that ‘Umar, who ruled for twelve years, or ‘Uthmaan, did this? Was it reported that ‘Ali, his relative and foster son, did this? Was it reported that any of the Sahaabah did this? We were unable to find it. The Prophet (pbuh) said: I urge you to follow my Sunnah and the way of the rightly-guided khalifahs after me; adhere to it and cling to it firmly. Beware of newly-invented things, for every newly- invented thing is an innovation (bidah) and every innovation is a going- astray. (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/126; at- Tirmidhi no. 2676). Abu Qatada Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allahs Messenger (pbuh) was asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It is (the day) when I was born and revelation was sent down to me . (Muslim, Book-6, Fasting, Hadith-2606). This hadith states that all that we are allowed to do is keep a fast on every Monday, this is a weekly cycle, and there is no yearly cycle associated with the prophets birthday. Origin While we look into the Origin of this custom of Prophet’s SAW birthday celebration, we will also need to look into the evolution of Birthday celebration concept itself. Evolution of Birthday Celebration: Both the Greek and Roman cultures subscribed to the idea that every individual had a protective spirit or daemon who attended his birth and watched over him in life. This spirit had a mystic relation with the god on whose birthday the individual was born. Another belief held that birthdays were a day where individuals were more susceptible to harm from bad spirits. On this day, in order to keep the bad spirits at bay, the celebrant would be surrounded by friends and family who would shower them with gifts and well- wishing. Noise making was employed as an additional measure for warding off the bad spirits. The working of magical spells was an integral part of living in ancient times. Giving birthday greets was a way of working a spell for protection as further shielding from evil spirits. They believed that the recipient was surrounded by his personal spirits, therefore more exposed to the power of the spell. Its quite obvious the practice of birthday celebrations is based in paganism. Once the Christian religion formed, followers shunned the rituals. Jews and Christians during the first and second centuries AD regarded the celebrations as a facet of idolatry, condemning the custom. It wasnt until the fourth century the practice began again, becoming common. This change was caused in part to the conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine, who upon legalizing the practice of Christianity, also brought many pagan rituals known to the Romans for thousands of years. Conclusion: Concept of birthday celebrations come from Pagan customs or Greeks or Romans NOT from Islam. Prophet (pbuh) said: Whoever imitates a people is one of them. (narrated by Ahmad, 2/50; Abu Dawud, 4/314). And he said, Be different from the mushrikin.(narrated by Muslim, 1/222, no. 259) – especially with regard to things that are the symbols or rituals of their religion. Origin of Prophet’s SAW Birthday Celebration: The first person to do this after them was the King al-Muzaffar Abu Said Kawkaburi, the King of Irbil, at the end of the sixth century or the beginning of the seventh century AH, as was mentioned by the historians such as Ibn Khalikan and others. Abu Shamah said: the first person to do that in Mosul was Shaykh Umar ibn Muhammad al-Mala, one of the well-known righteous people. Then the ruler of Irbil and others followed his example. Al-Hafidh Ibn Kathir said in al-Bidayah wal-Nihayah (13/137), in his biography of Abu Said Kawkaburi: He used to observe the Mawlid in Rabi al-Awwal and hold a huge celebration on that occasion … some of those who were present at the feast of al-Muzaffar on some occasions of the Mawlid said that he used to offer in the feast five thousand grilled heads of sheep, ten thousand chickens and one hundred thousand large dishes, and thirty trays of sweets … he would let the Sufis sing from Dhuhr until Fajr, and he himself would dance with them. Ibn Khalikan said in Wafiyat al-Ayan (3/274): When it is the first of Safar they decorate those domes with various kinds of fancy adornments, and in every dome there sits a group of singers and a group of puppeteers and players of musical instruments, and they do not leave any one of those domes without setting up a group (of performers) there. The people give up work during this period, and they do no work except going around and watching the entertainment. When there are two days to go until the Mawlid, they bring out a large number of camels, cows and sheep, more than can be described, and they accompany them with all the drums, songs and musical instruments that they have, until they bring them to the square… On the night of the Mawlid there are performances of nashids after Maghrib in the citadel. This is the origin of this celebration on the occasion of the Prophets birthday. Conclusion: Its proven that Milad un Nabi celebration first started 400 years after Hijrah was stopped & again re-started during 700AH. Celebration of Milad un Nabi via Juloos (procession) started first in undivided-India (prior to independence) in lahore, Pakistan on 5th July 1933/12th Rabbi ul awwal 1353. Arguments/refutations Arugment 1: by those who celebrate Mawlid – Their claim that this is veneration of the Prophet (pbuh): The response to that is that the way to venerate him is to obey him, do as he commanded and avoid that which he forbade, and to love him; he is not to be venerated through innovations, myths and sins. Celebrating his birthday is of this blameworthy type because it is a sin. The people who venerated the Prophet (pbuh) the most were the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them), as Urwah ibn Masood said to Quraysh: O people, by Allah I have visited kings. I went to Caesar, Chosroes and the Negus, but by Allah I never saw a king whose companions venerated him as much as the companions of Muhammad venerated Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). By Allah, whenever he spat it never fell on the ground, it fell into into the hand of one his companions, then they wiped their faces and skins with it. If he instructed them to do something, they would hasten to do as he commanded. When he did wudu, they would almost fight over his water. When he spoke they would lower their voices in his presence; and they did not stare at him out of respect for him. (al-Bukhari, 3/178, no. 2731, 2732; al-Fath, 5/388).Yet despite this level of veneration, they never took the day of his birth as an Eid (festival). If that had been prescribed in Islam they would not have neglected to do that. Argument 2: by those who celebrate Mawlid– They may say that celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh) is indicative of their love for him; this is one way of showing that, and showing love of the Prophet (pbuh) is prescribed in Islam! The answer to that is that undoubtedly loving the Prophet (pbuh) is obligatory for every Muslim; he should love him more than he loves himself, his child, his father and all the people – may my father and mother be sacrificed for him – but that does not mean that we should introduce innovations for doing so that have not been prescribed for us. Loving him dictates that we should obey him and follow him. Loving the Prophet (pbuh) implies keeping his Sunnah alive, adhering firmly to it, and avoiding words and deeds that go against it. Undoubtedly everything that goes against his Sunnah is a reprehensible innovation (bidah) and a manifest act of disobedience. A good intention does not mean that it is permissible to introduce innovations into the religion. Argument 3: by those who celebrate Mawlid– Celebrating the Mawlid and reading the biography of the Prophet (pbuh) on this occasion, they are encouraging people to follow his example! We say to them that reading the biography of the Prophet (pbuh)and following his example are required of the Muslim all the time, all year long and throughout his life. Singling out a specific day for that with no evidence for doing so is an innovation, and every innovation is a going astray. (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/164; at-Tirmidhi, 2676). Bidah does not bear any fruit but evil and it leads to a person distancing himself from the Prophet (pbuh). Following a nonmuslim tradition to encourage people to follow Sunnah is astray. Argument 4: by those who celebrate Mawlid– They use hadith merits of rememberence of Allah in an assembly and try to prove Milad celebration Hadith used by them to support Milad celebration: Agharr Abi Muslim reported: I bear witness to the fact that both Abu Huraira and Abu Said Khudri were present when Allahs Messenger may peace be upon him) said: The people do not sit but they are surrounded by angels and covered by Mercy, and there descends upon them tranquillity as they remember Allah, and Allah makes a mention of them to those who are near Him. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shuba with the same chain of transmitters. (Muslim Book #035, Hadith #6520) This hadith no where proves the Mawlid or birthday celebration! Imam Muslim mentioned this hadeeth under the Chapter THE MERIT OF AN ASSEMBLY FOR THE RECITATION OF THE QURAN OR FOR TIIE DHIKR (REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH) let us understand it with another hadith ...and those persons who assemble in the house among the houses of Allah (mosques) and recite the Book of Allah and they learn and teach the Quran (among themselves) there would descend upon them the tranquillity and mercy would cover them and the angels would surround them and Allah makes a mention of them in the presence of those near Him, and he who is slow-paced in doing good deeds, his (high) descent does not make him go ahead.[Muslim Book 35, Number 6518] Comment: It is clear that hadith is regarding reading and teaching Qur`an. Argument 6 by those who celebrate Mawlid– Using as evidence the fact that many people in many countries do this and may quote: Ibn Mas’ud said: “Whatever the Muslims collectively deem as good is good with Allah and whatever the Muslims collectively deem as bad is bad with Allah”. How can such a large majority be wrong? This hadith has been taken out of context. The full hadith is: “Allah looked into the hearts of mankind and found that the heart of Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ was the finest, so He chose him to be his beloved and sent him with His message. Then Allah looked into the hearts of everybody else and found that the hearts of Muhammad’s ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ companions were the finest, so He made them succeed His Prophet ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ and made them fight for His religion. Therefore, anything which the Muslims collectively deem to be good is good with Allah and anything which the Muslims collectively deem to be bad is bad with Allah.” (Ahmad 3600). As- Sindhi said: “The ‘Muslims’ in this narration is obviously referring to the companions. Therefore, the consensus must be that of the companions and the consensus of others cannot be included, let alone the agreement of a single group of people on one opinion...” The notion that the Ummah as a whole are united upon celebrating the Mawlid is a fallacy. The scholars of the Ummah never united upon misguidance, rather they spoke in refutation of this celebration ever since it’s invention. Check the next section to read opinions from various scholars. Argument 7 by those who celebrate Mawlid– They may say that Prophet ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays citing the reason as for Monday, it was the day I was born. (Muslim 1162) The Prophet ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ commemorated the day of his birth NOT THE DATE. Monday is a weekly occurrence but the Mawlid is celebrated yearly in month of Rabbi ul awwal. He did not follow up his fast by any celebration nor did he encourage it. Besides, this was not the only reason why he used to fast on this day. Other narrations mention that he also fasted on these days because Monday was the day when he started receiving the revelation (Muslim 1162), and Mondays and Thursdays are the days when the record of our deeds are raised up to Allah (Tirmidhi 747). Also, it is forbidden to fast on an Id day; if the Mawlid was a legitimate Id then why did the Prophet ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ fast on it? Furthermore, there is not a single narration from the 6 collections which mention an exact date for the Prophet ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ birth. It is important to mention here that within Arab custom, an individual is recognized by the date of his death and not by the date of his birth. Great Scholars on this topic Did any of the imams – Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafi’i, Ahmad, celebrated Milaad or command others to do it or say that it was good? NO, they didnt. Among those who denounced the celebration of this occasion was: Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah may Allah grant him His mercy, said: Similar to this is what some people do, they celebrate the birthday of the Prophet either to resemble the Christians celebration of the birthday of Jesus, whom Allah saved from evil, or out of their love and adulation to the Prophet . Although people are at variance with regard to the actual date of the Prophets birthday. Such functions were not held by the Pious Predecessors. Were such functions to be a good thing, the Pious Predecessors, may Allah be pleased with them, would have been more deserving than us in holding it. They loved and revered the Prophet more than we love and revere him, and they were keener than ourselves in seeking goodness. His true love and reverence can be materialized in following and obeying him, and adhering to his commands, and reviving his Sunnah internally and externally. It can also be materialized by propagating the message with which he was sent, and struggling by heart, hand and tongue for that purpose. This is the way of the Pious Predecessors and the Muhajireen and Ansar, and those who followed them with piety. [Iqtida As-Sirat 2/165. This quotation has been abridged by the author] Ibn Al-Haaj Al-Maaliki states in his Al-Madkhal regarding the Mawlid,specifically in regards to when it is devoid of any evil actions which contradict the Shariah (for those who claim it is permissible if nothing haram or evil is carried out as part of the celebrations) Even if none of the aforementioned evil or haram actions take place, it is still in and of itself a bidah (innovation) because of the same intention only. This is because that is making an increase in the religion and also it is was not from the conduct of the pious predecessors (As-Salaf). It has not reached us that a single one of them ever celebrated it nor intended to do so. Thus following in the footsteps of the Salaf is paramount, rather it is obligatory.[Al- Madkhal 2/312] Naseer Ad-Deen Al-Mubarak better known as Ibn At-Tabbaakh states, This (the Mawlid) is not from the Sunnah.[Quoted by Sheikh Muhammad bin Yusuf As-Saalihi Ash-Shaami in his book Subul Al-Hudaa War-Rashaad fi Seerati Khayril Ibaad 1/441] Dhaheer Ad-Deen Jafar At-Tizmanti says, This action (of celebrating the Mawlid) did not occur during the early times of the pious predecessors out of their exaltation and love for him (SalAllahu alayhi wa sallam), yet all of us together could not match even a single one of them in their love and exaltation of him (SalAllahualayhi wa sallam).[Quoted by Sheikh Muhammad bin Yusuf As-Saalihi Ash-Shaami in his book Subul Al-Hudaa War-Rashaad fi Seerati Khayril Ibaad 1/441] Imam Maalik ibn Anas states, Whomsoever from this Ummah innovates something (into this Religion) for which there is nothing of its like preceding it, then he has declared that the Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu alayhi wa sallam) has indeed betrayed his trust in conveying the message, for Allah states, This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as the religion.[Quran, Al-Maaidah 05:03] Thus what was not part of the religion then, is not part of the religion today. Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: If celebrating the Prophet’s birthday was prescribed, then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would have told his ummah of that, because he is the most sincere of people and there is no Prophet after him who could explain anything he did not speak about. He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the Seal of the Prophets and he explained to the people what he had to explain of the truth, such as loving him and following his sharee’ah, sending blessings and salaams upon him and other rights of his that are explained in the Qur’aan and Sunnah. He did not tell his ummah that celebrating the day of his birth was something prescribed so that they would do that. He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not do that during his lifetime and his companions (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) who were the dearest of people to him and the most knowledgeable of his rights did not celebrate that day, neither did the Rightly- Guided Caliphs or any others. Then those who followed them in truth of the best three generations did not celebrate this day either. Do you think that all these people were ignorant of his rights or fell short with regard to them, until the later generations came and made up for this shortfall and made the truth complete? No, by Allaah. No wise man who understands the nature of the Sahaabah and how they followed the truth would say this. If you understand that the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday was unknown at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the time of his companions and the time of their earliest followers, you will realize that it is an innovation that has been introduced into the faith, and it is not permissible to do it, approve of it or advocate it, rather we must denounce it and warn people against it. (Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 6/318, 319) Shaykh Assim Alhakeem (from Saudi Arabia): They believe that the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam controls the universe and that is why they supplicate to him! You can see them in Medinah, giving their backs to the Qibla and facing the grave supplicating the Prophet. They claim that he is not dead and that he physically leaves his grave to visit those who are throwing a mawlid party to bless them! When their teacher recites the birth of the Prophet in their mawlid, they all stand up chanting and throwing perfume all over the place. They claim that the Prophet’s soul is visiting them. They even say that if you offer salutation to the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, you will not die until you see him alive and shake hands with him! Look how they are mocking our Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam and making fun of him. These people are ignorant and don’t know the Quran, the Sunnah nor Arabic! That is why they hide their ignorance by holding on to their Christmas once a year and deviating away from Islam the rest of the year. By the way, all Muslim scholars acknowledge that our beloved Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam died on the 12th of Rabe’e Alawal. Therefore, these people are not mourning his death, they are celebrating it. The majority of those who celebrate the mawlid leave a lot of the Prophet’s Sunnah because it goes against their desires and logic. That is why the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam warned them by saying: “Allah has blocked repentance from every innovator.” Scholars say that this is because an innovator believes that he is doing a good thing and that is why he will not repent. The Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam also told us that he will object to members of his Ummah being turned away from his pool on the Day of Judgment. He told us that the reason he got was that “You don’t know what they had innovated after you”. The Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam told us that he will comment by saying: Woe to those who innovate after me. I beg you brothers and sisters to stay away from this innovation. Shaykh Muhammad Bin Bakheet al- Muteeee former mufti of Egypt said about origin of mawlid: The first to introduce them in Cairo wer the Fatimid rulers & the first of them was Muizz li Dinnillah, he advanced from Morocco to Egypt in 361H. He innovated 6 birthday celebrations: The prophets birthday, birthday of Ali bin Abi Taalib, birthday of Fatimah al Zahraa, birthday of Hasan, birthday of Husayn & birthday of presently serving ruler (Ahsan Al Kalaam fi ma yatlaq bi sunnah wal biddah minal ahkaam pages 59-60) Conclusion: The Ruling on the topic To summarize: Is birthday celebration an Islamic custom? NO Is celebrating prophet’s birthday a Sunnah? NO Is there any reference in Quran or Sunnah for celebrating prophet’s birthday? NO Is celebrating birthdays imitating the mushrikeen? YES Are there any reports from first three generations as they celebrated prophet’s SAW birthday? NO Is there a difference in opinion regarding the date of birth? YES In conclusion, celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh), whatever form it takes, is a reprehensible innovation. The Muslims should put a stop to this and other kinds of bidah, and occupy themselves with reviving and adhering to the Sunnah. They should not be deceived by those who promote and defend this bidah. Whoever is like this, it is not permissible to imitate him or follow his example, even if the majority of people are like this. Rather we should follow the example of those who follow the path of the Sunnah, among the righteous salaf (early Muslim scholars) and their followers, even if they are few. Truth is not measured by the men who speak it, rather men are measured by the truth. The Prophet (pbuh) said: Whoever among you lives (for a long time) will see many differences. I urge you to follow my Sunnah and the way of the rightly-guided khalifahs who come after me. Hold on to it firmly. Beware of newly-invented matters, for every innovation is a going astray. (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/126; at- Tirmidhino. 2676). So the Prophet (pbuh) explained to us in this hadith what we should do when there are differences of opinion, just as he explained that everything that goes against his Sunnah, be it words or deeds, is a bidah, and every bidah is a going astray. If we see that there is no basis for celebrating the birthday of the Prophet, whether in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) or in the way of the rightly- guided khalifahs, then it is one of the newly-invented matters, one of the bidahs which lead people astray. This principle is what is implied by this hadith and is what is indicated by the ayah (interpretation of the meaning): O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. [an-Nisa 4:59] Referring to Allah means referring to His Book (the Quran), and referring to the Messenger (pbuh) means referring to his Sunnah after he has passed away. The Quran and Sunnah are the reference point in cases of dispute. Where in the Quran or Sunnah does it indicate that it is prescribed in Islam to celebrate the Prophets birthday? Whoever does that or thinks that it is good must repent to Allah from this and from other kinds of bidah. This is the attitude of the Muslim who is seeking the truth. But whoever is too stubborn and arrogant after proof has been established, then his reckoning will be with his Lord. We ask Allah to help us adhere to His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger until the Day when we will meet Him. May Allah grant blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and the righteous followers of the Prophet (pbuh) througout the ages. Irbaad bin Sariyaah – May Allaah be pleased with him – narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (SalAllahualayhi wasallam) admonished us, and his admonishment caused our hearts to tremble, and our eyes to overflow with tears, so we said: O Messenger of Allaah it is as though this is a farewell sermon, so advise us, he said: I advise you to fear Allaah, hear and obey, even if the one in command is a slave, and he who lives amongst you will witness many differences, so hold fast to my Sunnah, and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs, bite onto it with your molar teeth, and beware of newly invented matters for indeed ALL Bidah is misguidance....[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi] Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors. [Imran 3:110] And why does Allah call us the best of peoples, the reason is also stated in the same verse, it is because, we enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah. Since Allah calls us the best of peoples, we have to behave as the best of peoples, this brings upon us the duties of a Muslim, so how to go about it, Allah states: Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity. [Imran 3:104] jazakkumUllahu khayran
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 10:55:42 +0000
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