CELEBRATION OF

THE BIRTH OF OUR BELOVED PROPHET

(Blessings of Allah and Peace be Upon Him)

What is the reality regarding the celebration of the birth of our beloved
Prophet anyway?
Let's examine the facts.
First of all, whenever a Muslim is faced with a problem or confusing
situation, what are we supposed to do? Allaah tells us:

“O you who believe! Obey Allaah 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 Allaah and His Messenger, if you
believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable
for final determination” [Nisaa’:59]

Referring it to Allaah and His Messenger means to turn to Allaah's Book

and the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam).

1. What does the Qur'aan say about the Mawlid?

Nothing. Yes that's right.....NOTHING.

There is absolutely nothing in the Quraan that tells us to celebrate the
birthday of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam). Not one single
ayah.

You see, all acts of worship are tawqeefi which means that they are not
subject to personal opinion and it is not permissible to do any acts of
worship except those which are approved by Shareeah.

So, for example, I cannot pick a special day or time, say the 22nd of
every month, and start celebrating that day as a form of worship.
Why?
Because there is nothing in the Shareeah that permits me to do that.

Also, I cannot start praying three rakaah for Fajr from tomorrow, even if I
want to worship Allaah more, because Fajr Salah is only two rakaat
as commanded upon us by the Shareeah.
And similarly, if there is no order for us to celebrate the birthday of
the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam), then we dont.
In fact, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Whoever
innovates anything in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), that is not part of
it will have it rejected.” (Bukhaari).
Now someone might argue that we dont celebrate the Mawlid/Milad as an
act of worship.
So let's see what other evidences we have.
2. What does the Sunnah say about it?
Again, there is nothing in the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi
wa Sallam) that shows us that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)
EVER celebrated his birthday or that of his wives, children, or Sahaabah.
There is not a single hadeeth that tells us that he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa
Sallam) thought this day was significant enough to celebrate it.
Just think.....if there was any good in doing so, wouldnt he would have
done so himself and wouldnt he have ordered the Sahaabah to do so?
And obviously, it is not possible that he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)
forgot to tell us about it, Aoodhu billaah!
Did the Sahaabah celebrate the Mawlid/Milad?

The Sahaabah were witnesses to the revelation of the Quraan.

They had the Prophet right in front of their eyes.
They ate, drank, sat, slept, talked, walked, lived with the Prophet (Sal
Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam).

If they misunderstood anything or were mistaken, the Prophet (Sal

Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) immediately corrected them. And thus, their
understanding and practice of Islaam was the best.
Yet, when we look at the lives and practice of the Sahaabah, we find that
none of them EVER celebrated the birth of their beloved Prophet,
whether during his life or even after he passed away.
Not Abubakr, not Umar, not Uthman, not Ali, nor Aaishah, Ibn Umar, Ibn
Masud, Talha, Az-Zubair, not a single Sahaabi.
Doesn't that prove anything?
The Sahaabah absolutely loved the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa
Sallam). They gave up their homes, families, lives, everything they had...
for his sake, in the blink of an eye. Yet this love did NOT promote them
to celebrate his birth.
This love translated into the practical application of his teachings and
NOT picking the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal as a day of celebration.

What about the Four Imaams and other Ulama?

Did any of the Imaams – Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafi’i, Ahmad, al-
Hasan al-Basri, do this or command others to do it or say that it was
good? No. In fact, it was not even mentioned during the first and best
three centuries.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The best of mankind
are my generation, then those who come after them, then those who
come after them. (Bukhaari, Muslim and al-Tirmidhi) .
And if the 'best of mankind' didnt celebrate his birth, then we shouldnt
either.
Actually, the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday appeared many
centuries later. By this time, many of the features of true religion had
disappeared and bid’ah had become widespread.
Think about it!
Can it be possible that the Sahaabah, the Imaams and the people of the
best three centuries were unaware of the importance of celebrating the
birthday of the Prophet or that they were lacking in their love for him?
And it was only those who came later who were aware of it or loved him
more?!!! How can that be?!!
Actually, dear brother/sister in Islaam, TRUE love of the Prophet (Sal
Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) is shown and proven by following the guidance
that he brought. So follow his Sunnah to the best of your ability and don't
fall into innovated forms of worship. It is nothing but a trap of the
Shaytaan.
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me, Allah
will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful. (Aal ‘Imraan 3:31)

And remember the words of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)
when he said:
“The best of speech is the Book of Allaah, and the best of guidance is the
guidance of Muhammad. The most evil of things are those which are
newly-invented (in religion), and every innovation (bid'ah) is a going
astray.” (Muslim and al-Nisaa’i).
As Salaam o Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barkatuh!
Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,
Assalam Alaikum WaRehmatAllah Wabarakatuh,

Praise be to Allaah.

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. Indeed, he told them not
to exaggerate about him as the Christians had exaggerated about Jesus (upon whom
be peace). He said: “Do not exaggerate about me as the Christians exaggerated about
the son of Maryam. I am only a slave, so say, ‘The slave of Allaah and His
Messenger.’” (Reported by al-Bukhaari). What has been reported is that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made the day of his birth a day of
worship, which is different to celebration. He was asked about fasting on Mondays,
and he said: “That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was
entrusted with the Mission or when I was first given Revelation.”
(Reported by Muslim, al-Nisaa’i and Abu Dawood).

Moreover, we know that the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) were the
people who loved the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) most. Was
it 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? No, by Allaah! Is it because they were
not aware of its importance, or did they not truly love the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him)? No one would say such a thing except one who has
gone astray and is leading others astray.

Did any of the imaams – Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafi’i, Ahmad, al-Hasan al-Basri,
Ibn Seereen – do this or command others to do it or say that it was good? By Allaah,
no! It was not even mentioned during the first and best three centuries. The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said in a saheeh hadeeth: “The best of
mankind are my generation (or my century), then those who come after them, then
those who come after them. Then there will come a people who will not care if their
testimony comes before their oath or vice versa (i.e., they will not take such matter
seriously).” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Muslim and al-Tirmidhi). The celebration of the
Prophet’s birthday appeared many centuries later, when many of the features of true
religion had vanished and bid’ah had become widespread.

Thus this celebration became a sign of one’s love for the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him)? But can it be possible that the Sahaabah, the imaams and the
people of the best three centuries were unaware of it, and it was only those who
came later who were aware of its importance?! What the Qur’aan tells us is that love
of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is demonstrated by
following the guidance he brought. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me, Allah will love you
and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Say: ‘Obey Allaah and the Messenger.’ But if they turn away, then Allaah does not like
the disbelievers.” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:31-32]

The first aayah explains that love is just a claim, but the proof of sincerity is
following what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) brought. The
second aayah reaffirms the importance and necessity of obeying Allaah and His
Messenger. Hence Allaah ended the aayah with a very stern warning in which those
who refuse to obey are described as kaafirs, and Allah does not love the disbelievers.
We ask Allaah to keep us safe from that. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) told us of the danger of not obeying him, and the danger of adding to
what he brought. The celebration of Mawlid or his birthday is indeed an addition to
what he brought – as all the scholars agree. He said: “The best of speech is the Book
of Allaah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The most evil of
things are those which are newly-invented (in religion), and every innovation is a
going astray.” (Reported by Muslim and al-Nisaa’i).

We ask Allaah to protect us from bid’ah and to bless us by helping us to follow. Allaah
knows best. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/249/prophet%27s%20birthday

Answered By: Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islamqa.com)

We ask Allah the Most High, the All-Powerful, to teach us that which will benefit us, and to benefit us by that
which we learn. May Allah grant blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad and his family and
companions! (Ameen)