Ruling On The Celebration Of Al-Mawlid
(The Prophet’s
[PBUH] Birthday)
OR
Shaykh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 13 | Size: 1 MB
Many people have asked about the ruling concerning celebrating the
birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him),
standing up for him, sending salaam (greetings) upon him and reading
soorahs from the Qur’aan during such celebrations, holding gatherings of
dhikr, doing various things to show their joy, reciting qaseedahs and
poems, and other things that are done to commemorate “Mawlid” which many
people celebrate on the 12th day of Rabee’ al-Awwal each Hijri year.
The answer is that it is not permitted to
celebrate the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him), or the birthday of any other person, because this is a
matter that has been innovated in the religion. The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not do this, neither did his
successors, the Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs (al-khulafaa’ al-raashidoon),
or others among his Companions (may Allaah be pleased with them), or
those who followed them exactly (in faith) during the best centuries –
these are the people who had the best knowledge of the Sunnah of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who loved him the
most and followed the sharee’ah most perfectly, better than any who came
after them. It is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever innovates something in this matter of
ours (i.e., Islam), will have it rejected” i.e., it will be thrown back
at him. In another hadeeth, he said: “I advise you to adhere to my
sunnah and the way of the rightlyguided successors (al-khulafaa’
al-raashidoon) who will come after me, and to cling stubbornly to it.
Beware of newly-invented things (in religion), for every newly-invented
thing is an innovation and every innovation is a going astray.” These
two ahaadeeth contain a very stern warning against coming up with
innovations (bid’ah) and acting on them. Allaah says in His clear Book
(interpretation of the meaning):
“… And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain from it…” [al-Hashr 59:7]
“… And let
those who oppose the Messenger’s commandment beware, lest some fitnah
(disbelief, trials, afflictions, etc.) befall them, or a painful torment
be inflicted on them.” [al-Noor 24:63]
“Indeed in
the Messenger of Allaah you have a good example to follow for him who
hopes in (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day and remembers Allaah
much.” [al-Ahzaab 33:21]
“And the
first to embrace Islam of the muhaajiroon (those who migrated to
Madeenah from Makkah) and the Ansaar (the citizens of Madeenah who
helped and gave aid to the muhaajiroon), and also those who followed
them exactly (in Faith). Allaah is well-pleased with them as they are
wellpleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which
rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme
success.” [al-Tawbah 9:100]
“… This day,
I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you,
and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…” [al-Maa’idah 5:3]
There are many other aayaat which convey
the same meaning. Innovating things like “Mawlid” could be interpreted
as meaning that Allaah did not complete the religion for this ummah,
that the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) failed to
convey to this ummah all that they should do, until those people came
along later and innovated in the religion things that Allaah had not
permitted, claiming that these were things that would bring them closer
to Allaah. Without a doubt, this is a very serious matter, which
indicates opposition and resistance towards Allaah and His Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Allaah has perfected the
religion for His slaves and completed His favour upon them. The
Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has conveyed the
Message clearly, and there is no way of reaching Paradise and avoiding
Hell that he has not explained to his ummah, as is clear from the saheeh
hadeeth narrated by ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr (may Allaah be pleased with
them both), in which the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has not sent any prophet but it was
his duty to point out to his ummah the best of what he knew, and to warn
them against the worst of what he knows.” (Reported by Muslim in his
Saheeh). It is well known that our Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) is the best and the Seal of the Prophets, the most
eloquent and the most sincere in advice. If celebrating his birthday had
been a part of the religion which Allaah liked, His Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) would have told his ummah about it, and
he would have done it during his lifetime, or his Companions would have
done it. Since nothing of the sort happened, we know that this is not
part of Islam at all, rather it is one of the innovations about which
the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) warned his
ummah, as stated in the two ahaadeeth quoted above. Other ahaadeeth also
convey the same meaning, such as the words spoken by the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in his Friday sermons: “… The best
of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the
guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The
most evil of things are those which are newly-invented (in religion),
and every innovation is a going astray.” (Reported by Imaam Muslim in
his Saheeh).
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