THE MOST DETAIL REFUTATION NOTE ON CELEBRATING MILAD: Jashn e Eid Milad un Nabi or Prophet Birthday: Bidah or Islamic? It is not permissible to celebrate (Jashn e Eid ) Milaad un Nabee (the birthday of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), nor the birthday of anyone else, since this is from the acts of bidah (innovations) that have been newly invented into the religion. Neither did Allaahs Messenger (Prescribed Laws) [pbuh], nor the Rightly Guided Khalifahs (Abubakr, Umar, Utham and Ali [May Allah be pleased with all of them]), nor the Companions, nor any of their followers from the first three excellent generations, celebrated this day - and they were the most knowledgeable of people concerning the Sunnah (the Prophetic guidance), and had the greatest love for Allaahs Messenger (pbuh) and were the foremost in following his Shareeah It is known that our Prophet(pbuh) is the best of all the Prophets and the last of them and the most perfect of them with regards to conveying the Message and advising the people. So if celebrating his milaad (birthday) was a part of the religion that Allaah - the Most Perfect chose, then the Messenger(pbuh) would have most certainly explained it to his Ummah, or he would have celebrated it himself, or his noble Companions radiallaahu anhum would have celebrated it. However, since nothing like this happened, then we know that the celebration of milaad has nothing to do with Islaam whatsoever. Rather, it is from those innovations which the Messenger (pbuh)warned his Ummah from. Assalaamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu (May peace mercy and blessings of Allah be on all of you). The article is divided into the following headings: CONTENTS I) The YEAR of HIS Noble birth II) The DAY of HIS BIRTH & DEATH III) Events at the time of HIS birth IV) Definition of a festival in Islam or when should we celebrate? V) Allah says follow Quran & Messenger Teachings, prohibits innovations into religion VI) Ways in which innovated birthday of prophet(pbuh) is celebrated VII) Origin of Celebrating birthday of Prophet (pbuh) VIII) Ruling on Celebrating the Prophets Birthday 1 – Celebration not part of Sunnah 2 – Celebrating the birthday an imitation of the Christians: 3 – Celebration means to exaggeration & excess veneration: 4 – Distraction from Sunnah & opening doors to new bidah 5- False belief of prophet(pbuh) present in milad celebrations 6- It causes hypocrisy and not love to grow in the heart 7- It brings death to the Sunnah 8- It causes chaos and divisions within the Ummah 9- Reward for abstaining from Bidah(Innovation) in Islam is Jannah IX) Discussing arguments of those who celebrate Mawlid 1 – Their claim that this is veneration of the Prophet (pbuh) 2 – Keeping the memory of the Prophet (pbuh) alive by celebrating the Mawlid 3 – Celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh) is indicative of their love for him 4 – Reading the biography of the Prophet (pbuh) on this occasion, they are encouraging people to follow his example 5 – Hadith merits of rememberence of Allah in an assembly 6 – Using as evidence the fact that many people in many countries do this & may quote Ibn Masood to justify their claim 7 – Celebration of the Prophets birthday was introduced by a knowledgeable and just king who intended thereby to draw closer to Allah. 8 – Celebrating the mawlid comes under the heading of bidah hasanah (good innovation) by using examples of rightly guided khalifas 9 – Comparision of Compilation of Quran to Bidah of Mawlid un Nabi 10) 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? 11) Prophets used to celebrate their own birthdays. Allah quotes Isa ﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ as saying: And the peace on me the day I was born and the day I die and the day I am raised alive. (Holy Quran: 19:33) 12) Did not the Prophet (pbuh) celebrate the birthday of his son Ibrahim by freeing a slave? 13) Abu Lahab punishment in hell is reduced every Monday because he rejoiced at the birth of Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ and freed a slave girl? 14) Did not Allah command us to rejoice in His mercy: Say: In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy let them rejoice, that is better than what they accumulate(Holy Quran: 10:58) and was not Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ the greatest of his mercies? 15) If Jumuah is special because Adam (pbuh) was created on it then is not the birthday of Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ worthier? 16) What about the numerous scholars who have written in support of the Mawlid 17) Narration of As-Suyutee (d.911 AH) wherein which he said: Another primary text has occurred to me by which the legitimacy of the Mawlid can be derived 18) Did not Ibn taymiyyah (d.728 AH) say: So honouring the Mawlid, and taking it as a festive season (mawsam) which some of the people have done, there is a great reward in it due to the good intention and the honouring of the Messenger? 19) If Iblis cried on this day should we not celebrate it? 20) Allah never told us to do many things - Allah never told us to drive cars, to listen to the radio or to go to the gym. 21) They may quote hadith of: Jareer ibn Abdullaah about starting a good thing 22) They may say: Why to create rift between Muslims by speaking against Milad, let those who want to celebrate milad let them celebrate 23) Quotations from Nemat ul Kubra book by Ibn Hajar Haytami to justify Celebrartion of Mawlid un nabi 24) Did Ibn Jawzi speak in support of Milad un Nabi celebration? X) Scholars who spoke against celebration of Milad 1) Imaam al-Faakihaanee 2) Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah 3) Ibn Al-Haaj Al-Maaliki 4) Naseer Ad-Deen Al-Mubarak 5) Dhaheer Ad-Deen Jafar At-Tizmanti 6) Imam Maalik ibn Anas 7) Qazi Shihab ud din Dolat Abadi 8) Abu Ishaq Shatibi 9) Shaykh Abd al-Azeez ibn Baaz 10) Shaykh Assim Al Hakeem 11) Abu Abdullah al-Haffaar Gharnati (811H) 12) Shaykh Muhammad Bin Bakheet al-Muteeee XI) Conclusion XII) Related articles I) THE YEAR OF HIS NOBLE BIRTH 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. II) THE DAY OF HIS BIRTH & DEATH 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) According to Ahmed Raza Khan Bareilvi, Prophet (pbuh) was born on 8th Rabbi ul Awwal and departed from this world on 12th Rabbi ul Awwal. (Fatawa Rizwiyah, Volume 26, Page 412, 415, Anjuman Faizan Raza and Nutq ul Hilal pg 12 and 13). At the same time Ahmed Raza Khan Bareilvi says Prophet (pbuh) was both born and left this world on the same date 12 Rabi ul Awwal (Malfoozat 220/2) Ironically until few years ago people used to observe 12th Rabbi ul Awwal as Bara wafat (death day) of Prophet(pbuh). But recently they have changed this and re-named it as a festival Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi For more details click here: 10) 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? III) EVENTS AT THE TIME OF HIS BIRTH Certain miraculous events are reported to have occurred at the time that the Prophet (pbuh) was born. However, most of them are not authentically related, rather they are daeef (week) or mawdoo (fabricated) and therefore cannot be relied upon as decisive proof; such as: ■ The narration which relates that some of the galleries of Kisraas palace broke-up and collapsed, ■ That the sacred-fire of the Magians died-out and ■ That some of the churches on Lake Saawah collapsed and sank down. Related by Imaam adh-Dhahabee in as-Seeratun-Nab awiyyah (pp. 11-14), who said: This narration is munkar ghareeb (rejected). However, it is authentically related that the Prophet (pbuh) said: I am a result of the supplication of my father Ibraaheem and the glad-tidings brought by Isaa (pbuh). And my mother - when she bore me - saw that a light shone out from her, which lit up the palaces in Syria ... al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (2/600) and Ibn Katheer in al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah (1/229) who said: Its isnaad is good and strong. Refer to as-Saheehah (no.1545) of Shaykh al-Albaanee for a detailed discussion concerning its authenticity. sunnahonline/ilm/istiqaamah/aug1996c.htm IV) Definition of a festival in Islam or when should we celebrate? Let me quote to you a hadith: 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)] 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 called as Jashn e Eid Milad un Nabi in Islam, and as a result there is no other occasion to celebrate in Islam. Read: Is there any third Eid in Islam called Milad un Nabi? V) Allah says follow Quran & Messenger Teachings, prohibits innovations (Bidah) into religion The commands mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah to follow the laws of Allah and His Messenger, and the prohibitions on introducing innovations (bidah) into the religion are quite clear. Definition of Bidah: ((Linguistically bidah (innovation) means a newly invented matter. The Shareeah definition of bidah is: A newly invented way [beliefs or action] in the religion, in imitation of the Shareeah (prescribed Law), by which nearness to Allaah is sought, [but] not being supported by any authentic proof - neither in its foundations, nor in the manner in which it is performed)). Imaam ash-Shaatibee (rahima- hullaah) in al-Itisaam of ash-Shaatibee (1/37) Allah says in Quran: 1) 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 Imran 3:31] 2) 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! [Quran al-Araf 7:3] 3) One day as The Prophet (s) sat with his companions, he drew a straight line in the dirt, he then drew a series of line branching off from either side of it. When the companions aasked him what it meant, ... he recited the following verse: And verily, this is my straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His (Allahs) path. [al-Anam 6:153] (Reported by Ibn Masood and collected by Nasai, Ahmad, and Darimi) 4) 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). 5) 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. 6) Ibn e umar r.a said: Every innovation is an astray even if people understands it good. ﺍﺑﻦ ﻋﻤﺮ - ﺭﺿﻲ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻨﻪ - : ﻛﻞ ﺑﺪﻋﺔ ﺿﻼﻟﺔ ﻭﺇﻥ ﺭﺁﻫﺎ ﺍﻟﻨﺎﺱ ﺣﺴﻨﺔ ﻭﺳﻨﺪﻩ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ ﻛﻤﺎ ﻗﺎﻝ ﺍﻷﻟﺒﺎﻧﻲ ﻓﻲ ﺗﺨﺮﻳﺞ ﺍﺻﻼﺡ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺎﺟﺪ ﺹ . ( Related by Ad-Darimee, Abu Shamaah (no. 39), Ibn Nasr in as-Sunnah (no. 82), al-Laalikaa’ee in Sharh Usoolul-Ftiqaad (no. 126) & Sharh I’tiqad Ahl as- Sunnah (1/92), and by al-Bayhaqee in al-Madkhal (no. 191). Its authentic; Ahkaam al-Janaa’iz (258) and Islah al-Masajid (13). Salim Al-Hilaali said: “Its isnaad (chain of narration) is as authentic as the sun!) 7) Prophet (saw) said: ...Beware of newly invented matters, for every invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going astray, and every going astray is in Hell-fire. [Wa sharrul Umoori Muhdathaatuhaa, Wa kulla Bidatin dhaialah, wa kulla dhalatin fin-naar] (Sunan An Nisai, Vol 2, Book 19, Hadith 1579, Sahih. Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi) 8) Abdullaah Ibn Masood (ra) - said: Follow and do not innovate, for indeed you have been sufficed, and every innovation is misguidance. (Saheeh. Reported in Az-Zuhd of Imam Ahmed p. 162, Ad-Daarimee (no. 211), Al-Bayhaqee in Madkhal (no. 204), Wakee in Az-Zuhd (no. 315), Ibnut-Tararaanee in As-Sunnah (no. 104), Ibn Nasr in As-Sunnah (p. 23) and by Mujaahid in As-Sabah (p. 46)) 9) Ibn Abbaas(radhi-yallaahu anhumaa) said: ((Indeed the most detestable of things to Allaah are the innovations)).al-Bayhaqee in as-Sunan al-Kubraa (4/316) 10) Sufyaan ath-Thowree (rahima-hullaah) mentions: ((Innovation is more beloved to Iblees than sin, since a sin may be repented from but innovation is not repented from)). al-Laalikaaee – Sharh Usool Itiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah (no. 238) 11) al-Fudayl bin Iyaad (rahima-hullaah) mentions: ((I met the best of people, all of them people of the Sunnah and they used to forbid from accompanying the people of innovation)).al-Laalikaaee – Sharh Usool Itiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah (no.267) 12) al-Hasan al-Basree (rahima-hullaah) mentions: ((Do not sit with the people of innovation and desires, nor argue with them, nor listen to them)).Sunan ad- Daarimee (1/121) 13) Ibraaheem ibn Maysarah (rahima-hullaah) mentions: ((Whoever honours an innovator has aided in the destruction of Islaam)).al-Laalikaaee – Sharh Usool Itiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah (1/139) 14) Sufyaan ath-Thowree (rahima-hullaah) mentions: ((Whoever listens to an innovator has left the protection of Allaah and is entrusted with the innovation)). Abu Nuaym in al-Hilyah (7/26) and Ibn Battah (no.444) 15) Imaam al-Barbahaaree (rahima-hullaah) mentions: ((The innovators are like scorpions. They bury their heads and bodies in the sand and leave their tails out. When they get the chance they sting; the same with the innovators who conceal themselves amongst the people, when they are able, they do what they desire)). Reported in ((Tabaqaatul-Hanaabilah)) – Volume 2, Page 44 and ((Manhajul-Ahmad)) Sharhus-Sunnah – Imaam al-Barbahaaree 16) Abu Haatim (rahima-hullaah) said: ((A sign of the people of innovation is their battling against the people of Narrations)). Sharh Usool Itiqaad Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah – al-Laalikaaee – Volume 1, Page 179 17) as-Saffaareenee (rahima-hullaah) said: ((And we are not focusing on mentioning the virtues of the people of Hadeeth, for indeed their virtues are well known and their merits are many. So whoever belittles them, then he is despicable and lowly. And whoever hates them, then he is from the backward party of the Devil)). Lawaa.ihul-Anwaar – Volume 2, Page 355 18) Imaam Abu Uthmaan as-Saaboonee (rahima- hullaah) said: ((The signs of the people of innovation are clear and obvious. The most apparent of their signs is their severe enmity for those who carry the reports of the Prophet)). The Aqeedah of the (Pious) Predecessors – Page 101 19) Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn al-Qaasim related to us, saying: Ahmad ibn al-Hasan narrated to us saying: Sulaymaan ibn al-Ashath narrated to us, saying: Abdullaah ibn Chubbi al-Anteeq narrated to us, saying: Yaws ibn Asbaat narrated to us, saying: I heard Muhammad ibn an-Nadr al-Haarithee say: ((Whoever listens to a person of innovation – and knows that he is a person of innovation – then protection is taken away from him, and he is left to himself)). al-Imaam al- Haafiz Abul-Qaasim Habatullaah ibn al-Hasan ibn Mansoor at-Tabaree al-Laalikaaee (d.418 A.H.) reports in his Sharh Usool Itiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah wal- Jamaaah – Volume 1 Pages 135-136 No. 252 Source . Also read detailed commandments of Imams of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamah on Bidah: islamicboard /methodology/5074-general-article-commandmen ts-imams-ahl-sunnah.html 20) Imaam ash-Shaafiee (rahima-hullaah) said: The Sunnahs of the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu alayhe wa sallam) reach, as well as escape from every one of us. So whenever I voice my opinion, or formulate a principle, where something contrary to my view exists on the authority of the Messenger of Allaah (sal- Allaahu alayhe wa sallam), then the correct view is what the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu alayhe wa sallam) has said, and it (that) is my view. Related by Haakim with a continuous sanad up to Shaafii, as in Taareekh Damishq of Ibn Asaakir (15/1/3), Ilaam al- Muwaqqieen (2/363, 364) & Eeqaaz (p. 100) Imam ash-Shafii (rahimahullaah)said, Whosoever considers an innovation to be good has corrected the Prophet. [Bulugh al-Maram of Ibn Hajar (available in English), p190 footnote 2] And all that has been related from him that contradicts this statement, regarding innovation as being of two types is either weak or baseless as al-Hafidh adh-Dhahabi and others from the scholars of hadith state. 21) Imaam Maalik (d.179 AH) said about bidah: Whoever thinks that there is such thing as a good innovation in Islam, has accused the Prophet ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ of treachery because Allah said This day I have perfected your religion.... So what was not religion then, is not religion today (Al-Itisaam as-Shaatibi 1/38) He also said, How evil are the people of innovation, we do not give them salam. [Al-Ibanah of Ibn Battah (d. 387H), no. 441] 22) Imam Abu Haneefah said: You should adhere to the way of the Salaf, and beware of EVERY newly invented thing, for it is an innovation (bid’ah) [Al-Khateeb in Al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih and Sawn ul-Mantaq of as- Suyuti, p32] 23) Imam al-Bukhari said, I have met more than a thousand scholars ... (then he named the more prominent in each of the lands he visited) and I found that they all agreed on the following points: ... they all used to prohibit bidah - that which the Prophet and his Companions were not upon, because of the saying of Allah, ...and hold fast to the rope of Allah and do not separate. [From his article on belief, quoted in Sharh Usul Itiqad, 1/170]. For more refer: point 22 under heading: IX) Discussing arguments of those who celebrate Mawlid (it has excellent examples how sahabas & tabaein dealt when they saw people indulging in bidah) VI) Ways in which innovated birthday of prophet(pbuh) is celebrated Among the reprehensible innovations that people have invented is the celebration of the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh) in the month of Rabi al-Awwal. They celebrate this occasion in various ways: ■ Some of them simply make it an occasion to gather and read the story of the Mawlid, then they present speeches and qasidahs (odes) for this occasion. ■ Some of them make food and sweets etc., and offer them to the people present. ■ Some of them hold these celebrations in the mosques, and some of them hold them in their houses. ■ Some people in these gatherings involve in haram and reprehensible things, such as free mixing of men and women, dancing and singing, or committing actions of shirk such as seeking the help of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), calling upon him, seeking his support against their enemies and so on. ■ Some of them believe that Prophet (pbuh) is actually present at their milaad celebrations, so consequently the participants stand to greet & welcome him. However, this is from the greatest of lies & the worst form of ignorance, because Prophet(pbuh) shall neither come out of his grave before the Day of Judgement, nor will he meet anyone, nor attend their gatherings. Whatever form it takes and whatever the intentions of those who do this are, there is no doubt whatsoever that it is an invented, haram innovation which was introduced after the three best centuries in order to corrupt the religion of the Muslims. . VII) Origin of Celebrating birthday of Prophet (pbuh) This haram innovation was introduced by Shia Fatimid dynasty after the three best centuries in order to corrupt the religion of the Muslims. 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. More recently idle entertainment, extravagance, and wasting of money and time have become associated with an innovation for which Allah has not sent down any authority. 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. Ahsan writes in the newspaper of famous novelist Naseem Hijazi : In Lahore the 1st Eid-e-Miladun Nabi procession/juloos was taken out for the first time on 5th July 1933/12th Rabbi ul awwal 1353. For this license was taken from the britishers (Newspaper Kohistan 22 July 1964). The Milad un Nabi procession was taken out by muslims citing the reason that hindus and Sikhs take out procession of their leaders, so even we have to do the same (Newspaper Kohistan 22 July 1964). So the reason to start milad un nabi procession was clearly to follow the foot stpes of non-muslims even though: 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. Its proven that Milad un Nabi celebration first started 400 years after Hijrah was stopped & again re-started during 700AH, while in India it first started in Lahore afer 1350AH. The reason used to celebrate this milad un nabi & the start date are enough to call it as a bidah in Islam. What Muslims should do is to revive the Sunnah and put an end to bidah (innovation); they should not do any action until they know the ruling of Allah concerning it. For more details refer: Biographies of those who Innovated Mawlid VIII) Ruling on Celebrating the Prophets Birthday Celebrating the occasion of the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh) is forbidden and is to be rejected for a number of reasons: 1 – Celebration not part of Sunnah: It is not part of the Sunnah of the Messenger (pbuh) or of the khalifahs who succeeded him. Since this is the case, then it is a forbidden innovation, because 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). Celebrating the Mawlid is an innovation introduced after the three best centuries in order to corrupt the religion of the Muslims. If a person does anything in order to draw closer to Allah which was not done by the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or enjoined by him, and was not done by the khalifahs who succeeded him, this action implies that he is accusing the Messenger of not explaining the religion to the people, and that he disbelieves in the words of Allah(interpretation of the meaning): This day, I have perfected your religion for you. [al- Maidah 5:3] Because he is adding something extra and claiming that it is a part of the religion, but the Messenger (pbuh) did not bring this. Even deviant sects which supports celebration of Milad un Nabi accepts that none of the earlier generations ever celebrated Milad un Nabi Pro Milaadi Tahir ul Quadri said in his Book (Scan Proof,see image 1 below): Baab Haftum Quroon e Aula k Musalmanoo ne Jashan e Meelad kion nai manaya? Translation: Chapter 7 Why Muslims of Quroon e Aula (Sahaba,Tabiyeen and itteba tabiyeen) didnt celebrated Mawlid? Scan Proof(see image 2 below) Quadri mentioned reasons: A) Sahaba RaziAllahanhum k liye Huzoor Saallahu Alihewasallam ka saneha e irtehaal intehaai ghum angez tha Translation: The death of Prophet peace be upon him was very sad for his Companions May Allah be please with them. Scan Proof(see image 3 below) Then Quadri wrote in last two lines of this heading B) Sahaba e Kiram RaziAllahanhum Wisal e Mahboob Sallahu Alihewasallam ko yaad kar k sadmah zadah logun k sath khushi ka izhar na kar saktey the. So, wo wiladat ki khushi me jashan manatey na wisaal k ghum me afsurdah hotey. Translation: By remembering the death of Beloved peace be upon him, companions could not celebrate with shocked hearts (of people). So they did not celebrate mawlid neither they were dis hearted in the grief of death. [Meelad un Nabi, Chapter no: 7, Page no:454 Minhaj ul Quran Publications] Scan Proof(see image 4 below). For those who want to read refutation of Tahir ul Quadri book Meelad un Nabi can do so over here in urdu So it can also be seen in the books of pro-milaadi sects that none of the Sahaba, Tabiyeen and itteba tabiyeen ever celebrated Milad un Nabi. This indicates that this celebration is Bidah and all kinds of Bidah in religion are deviation from the right way as stated by the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him): Every Bid‘ah is a Dalalah (deviation). It is in contradiction with the way of the Sahabah who were the most knowledgeable and the best people. Therefore, it is a duty upon Muslims to reject this act. 2 – Celebrating the birthday an imitation of the Christians: because they celebrate the birth of the Messiah (pbuh). Imitating them is extremely haram. The hadith tells us that it is forbidden to imitate the kuffar, and we are commanded to differ from them. The 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. 3 – Celebration means to exaggeration & excess veneration: Besides being bidah and an imitation of the Christians, both of which are haram, celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh) is also a means that leads to exaggeration and excess in venerating him, which even goes as far as calling upon him (making dua to him)and seeking his help, instead of calling upon Allah, as happens now among many of those who observe the bidah of the Mawlid, when they call upon the Messenger instead of Allah, and ask him for support, and sing qasidahs (odes) of shirk praising him, like Qasidat al-Burdah etc. The Prophet (pbuh) forbade going to extremes in praising him, as he said: Do not extol as the Christians extolled the son of Maryam. For I am just His slave, so say, the slave of Allah and His Messenger. (narrated by al-Bukhari, 4/142, no. 3445; al-Fath, 6/551), i.e., do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising the Messiah and venerated him until they worshipped him instead of Allah. Allah forbade them to do that when he said (interpretation of the meaning): O people of the Scripture (Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, (Be! — and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Ruh) created by Him. [al-Nisa 4:171] Our Prophet (pbuh) forbade us to exaggerate concerning him lest the same thing happen to us as happened to them, so he said: Beware of exaggeration, for those who came before you were destroyed because of exaggeration. (narrated by an-Nasai, 5/268; classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Sunan al-Nasai, no. 2863). 4 – Distraction from Sunnah & opening doors to new bidah: Observing the innovation of the Prophets birthday opens the door to other kinds of bidah and being distracted by them from the Sunnah. Hence you find that the innovators are very active when it comes to bidah and very lazy when it comes to the Sunnah; they hate it and regard those who follow it as enemies, until their entire religion is innovated anniversaries and Mawlids. They have split into various groups, each of which commemorates the anniversary of its Imams birth, such as the births of al-Badawi, Ibn Arabi, al- Dasuqi and al-Shadhili. No sooner do they end the celebration of one birthday but they start the celebration of another. This results in exaggeration concerning these dead people and others, and in calling upon them instead of Allah, believing that they can bring benefit and cause harm, until they deviate from the religion of Allah and go back to the religion of the people of the Jahiliyyah of whom Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah. [Yunus 10:18] And those who take Awliya (protectors, helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah. [az-Zumar 39:3] A small Bidah leads to a big Bidah, a small sin leads to a big sin, then the sinner becomes pleased with his sin until he considers it permissible and he becomes destroyed! A classic example of this is the incident which occurred during the time of the Sahaabah: Amr ibn Salmah said, We used to sit by the door of Abdullah ibn Masood before the morning prayer, so that when he came out we would walk with him to the masjid. (One day) Abu Moosa al-Asharee came to us and said, Has Abu Abdurrahmaan come out yet? We replied, No. So he sat down with us until he (ibn Masood) came out. When he came out we all stood along with him, so Abu Moosa said to him, O Abu Abdurrahmaan! I have just seen something in the masjid which I deemed to be evil, but all praise is for Allaah, I did not see anything except good. He enquired, Then what is it? (Abu Moosa) replied, If you live you will see it. I saw in the masjid people sitting in circles awaiting the prayer. In each circle they had pebbles in their hands and a man would say, Repeat Allaahu Akbar a hundred times. So they would repeat it a hundred times. Then he would say, Say Laa ilaaha illallaah a hundred times. So they would say it a hundred times. Then he would say, Say subhaanallaah a hundred times. So they would say it a hundred times. (Ibn Masood) asked, What did you say to them? (Abu Moosa) said, I did not say anything to them. Instead I waited to hear your view or what you declared. (Ibn Masood) replied, If only you had ordered them to count up the evil deeds they acquired and assured them that their good deeds would not be lost! Then we went along with him (Ibn Masood) until he came to one of these circles and stood and said, What is this which I see you doing? They replied, O Abu Abdurrahmaan! These are pebbles upon which we are counting takbeer, tahleel and tasbeeh. He said, Count up your evil deeds. I assure you that none of your good deeds will be lost. Woe to you, O Ummah of Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam! How quickly you go to destruction! These are the Companions of your Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam and who are widespread. There are his sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam clothes which have not yet decayed and his bowl which is unbroken. By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! Either you are upon a religion better guided than the religion of Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam or you are opening the door of misguidance. They said, O Abu Abdurrahmaan! By Allaah, we only intended good. He said, How many there are who intend good but do not achieve it. Indeed Allaahs Messenger sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said to us, A people will recite the Quraan but it will not pass beyond their throats. By Allaah! I do not know, perhaps most of them are from you. Then he left them. Amr ibn Salmah (the sub-narrator) said, We saw most of those people (refering to the people who initiated bidah in mosque) fighting against us on the day of Nahrawaan, along with the Khawaarij. (Sunan ad- Daarimi 1/79) 5- False belief of prophet(pbuh) present in milad celebrations: One of the strangest matters also is that some of them believe that Allaahs Messenger(pbuh) is actually present at their milaad celebrations, so consequently the participants stand to greet and welcome him. However, this is from the greatest of lies and the worst form of ignorance, because the Messenger (pbuh) shall neither come out of his grave before the Day of Judgement, nor will he meet anyone, nor attend their gatherings. Rather, he shall remain in his grave until the Day of Judgement, whilst his noble rooh (soul) resides in the highest of places with his Lord in the home of the exalted, as Allaah - the Most High - said: Then you shall surely die, then you shall be raised-up again on the Day of Resurrection. [Soorah al- Muminoon 23:15-16]. The Prophet (pbuh) said: I will be the leader of the children of Aadam on the Day of Resurrection, and I will be the first for whom the earth will split open, and will be the first to intercede and the first whose intercession will be accepted. (Muslim (7/59), from Abu Hurayrah). So this noble aayah (verse) and this noble hadeeth - and those verses and ahaadeeth with a similar meaning - prove that the Prophet (pbuh) and others that have also died, will only come out of their graves on the Day of Resurrection. And this is a matter about which there is an agreement amongst the Muslim Scholars, there being no difference between them. 6. It causes hypocrisy and not love to grow in the heart: Hence, you will find the innovators, when it comes to the waajibaat they are negligent, but when it comes to their Bidah they are the first in the queue! 7. It brings death to the Sunnah: That is why you will find that those who celebrate the Mawlid once a year, they rarely observe the Sunnah of fasting on Mondays. Ibn Abbas (d.67 AH) said: When Bid’ah is created then the Sunnah dies, and continues to die until Bid’ah is alive and the Sunnah is dead” (Tirmidhi 187). 8. It causes chaos and divisions within the Ummah: No group has ever split from the Jamaaah except by way of an innovation. So when they return back to the Quran and Sunnah then Allah will give them back their honour and will establish them upon the Earth. Allah said: Allah has promised those amongst you who believe and do righteous actions that He will certainly grant them Khilafah (succession) on the earth, as He granted it to those before them; and that He will grant them authority to practice their religion, the one that He has chosen for them; and He will change their state from one of fear in which they lived to one of peace and security, providing they will worship Me alone, not associating any partner with Me. But whosoever disbelieves after this, then they are the rebellious ones. (Holy Qur’an 24:55) 9. Reward for abstaining from Bidah(Innovation) in Islam is Jannah A man from Najd with unkempt hair came to Allahs Apostle and we heard his loud voice but could not understand what he was saying, till he came near and then we came to know that he was asking about Islam. Allahs Apostle said, You have to offer prayers perfectly five times in a day and night (24 hours). The man asked, Is there any more (praying)? Allahs Apostle replied, No, but if you want to offer the Nawafil prayers (you can). Allahs Apostle further said to him: You have to observe fasts during the month of Ramad, an. The man asked, Is there any more fasting? Allahs Apostle replied, No, but if you want to observe the Nawafil fasts (you can.) Then Allahs Apostle further said to him, You have to pay the Zakat (obligatory charity). The man asked, Is there any thing other than the Zakat for me to pay? Allahs Apostle replied, No, unless you want to give alms of your own. And then that man retreated saying, By Allah! I will neither do less nor more than this. Allahs Apostle said, If what he said is true, then he will be successful (i.e. he will be granted Paradise).(Ref erence:-Sahih Bukhari Book 1 Volume 2 Hadith 44, Muwatta Imam-Malik Book 9 : Hadith 9.25.97 ) For more details refer: V) Allah says follow Quran & Messenger Teachings, prohibits innovations (Bidah) into religion IX) Discussing arguments of those who celebrate Mawlid Those who think that this bidah should be continued produce specious arguments which are flimsier than a spiders web. These specious arguments may be dealt with as follows: Arugment: 1 by those who celebrate Mawlid – Their claim that this is veneration of the Prophet (pbuh): Response: 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. Arugment: 2 by those who celebrate Mawlid– They say that by celebrating the Mawlid they are keeping the memory of the Prophet (pbuh) alive. Response: The answer to that is that the memory of the Prophet (pbuh) is constantly kept alive by the Muslim,such as: ► When his name (pbuh) is mentioned in the adhan ►When his name (pbuh) is mentioned in the iqamah ► When his name (pbuh) is mentioned in the khutbahs, ► Every time the Muslim recites the Shahadatayn after doing wudu ► Every time he sends blessings upon the Prophet (pbuh) in his prayers or when he(pbuh) name is mentioned, and ►Every time the Muslim does a wajib (obligatory) or mustahabb (recommended) action that was prescribed by the Messenger (pbuh). In all of these ways (the Muslim) remembers him and the reward equivalent to the reward of the one who does that action goes back to the Prophet (pbuh). Thus the Muslim constantly keeps the memory of the Messenger alive and has a connection with him night and day throughout his life through that which Allah has prescribed, not only on the day of the Mawlid and things which are bidah and go against the Sunnah, for that puts one at a distance from the Messenger (pbuh) and the Messenger will disown him because of that. The Messenger (pbuh) has no need of this innovated celebration, because Allah has already bestowed veneration and respect upon him, as He says: ... and raised high your fame ... [ash-Sharh 94:4] For Allah is not mentioned in the adhan, iqamah or khutbah except that the Messenger (pbuh) is mentioned after Him; this is sufficient veneration, love and renewal of his memory, and sufficient encouragement to follow him. Allah did not refer to the birth of the Messenger (pbuh) in the Quran, rather He referred to his Mission, and says (interpretation of the meaning): Indeed, Allah conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves [al Imran 3:124] He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves. [al- Jumuah 64:2]. Argument 3 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! Response: 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, for that is one of the greatest manifestations of love, as it is said: If your love is sincere then obey him; for the lover obeys the one whom he loves. 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. That includes celebrating his birthday and other kinds of bidah. A good intention does not mean that it is permissible to introduce innovations into the religion. Islam is based on two things, purity of intention and following [the Prophet (pbuh)]. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): Yes, but whoever submits his face (himself) to Allah (i.e. follows Allahs religion of Islamic Monotheism) and he is a Muhsin (a doer of good) then his reward is with his Lord (Allah), on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. [al-Baqarah 2:112] Submitting ones face to Allah means being sincere towards Allah, and doing good means following the Messenger and implementing the Sunnah. Argument 4 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! Response: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). We find in the biography great details about the life of the Prophet (s). But regarding his date of birth there is confusion, whether it is 9,10,11,12, or some other date of Rabi-ul-Awwal, it is not definite, we find no consensus, have we ever reflected as to why is it so, it is because, the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh) was never considered to be an important event in Islam. What is important however is his mission, his life, his path, his teachings, and his traditions. Argument 5 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) Response: How on earth this is proving Mawlid celebrations? 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. Imam Nawawi said in the commentary of the hadith that It is allowed to gather in Mosque to read Qur`an this is our madhab and the madhab of majority, according to Imam Malik this is makrooh Comment: Meaning of saying of Imam Malik is that you should not recite Qur`an loudly so that the people who are praying should not be disturbed. Not a single companion,tabiyee,itteba tabiyee plus muhaddith said mawlid celebrations is proven from this hadeeth. This is just recitation of Quran and teaching the Quran 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? Response: 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 belo
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 16:51:39 +0000
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