Regarding Celebrating the Birthday of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alahi wa sallam) Ruling regarding celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) Question: Is celebrating the Prophet's birthday halaal or haraam? Response: Establishing the celebration of the Prophet's birthday or (the birthday of) other than him is an innovation. And it has been confirmed on the authority of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) that he said: Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours (i.e. Islaam) that which is not from it, will have it rejected, [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree/2697 and Saheeh Muslim/1718]. And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and his family and his companions. The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz; Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee; Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah ibn Ghudayyaan; Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., - Volume 3, Page 39, Question 3 of Fatwa No.7360 www.fatwa-online.com Question: What is the ruling regarding gathering the people (on the occasion) for the birthday (of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) whilst they insist that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) attends their sitting? And is this gathering Islaamically correct, and what is befitting for us to do on the birthday of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and when was he born, on which day, month, and year? And is the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) alive in his grave now or not? Response: Gathering the people on the night of the birthday and the reading of his life story is not legislated, rather it is an innovation. And their insisting that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) attends their sitting is a lie, and the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) being alive in his grave is the life of barzakhiyyah enjoying the bliss and comfort of paradise, and not like his life in this world, since he died and was washed and covered in the burial shroud and the funeral prayer was performed over him and he was buried like others (are). And he will be the first who shall rise from his grave on the Day of Resurrection, and Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) has said, addressing him: Verily, you will die and verily, they will die. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be disputing before your Lord [Soorah az-Zumar, Aayahs 30 and 31]. And He (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said: After that, surely, you will die. Then, surely you will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection [Soorah al-Mu'minoon, Aayahs 15 and 16]. And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions. The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz; Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee; Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah ibn Ghudayyaan; Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. - Volume 3, Page 33, Question 5, Fatwa No. 5782 www.fatwa-online.com Question: In our locality there are people who hold celebrations of the birthday of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) every year. They think that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is not like the rest of mankind, but that he is light from the Light of Allaah Himself, that he is present and watching in every place, and that he himself attends every gathering held to celebrate his birthday, he hears what the people say about him, and he is there with them. For that reason they stand up and say in unison: “Yaa Nabi-Allaah, yaa Rasool-Allaah, yaa Habeeb-Allaah, salaam ‘alayka (O Prophet of Allaah, O Messenger of Allaah, O Beloved of Allaah, peace be upon you).” They call out to him as if he were present and ask for his help and support. What is the Islamic ruling on this? Is it correct or not? Is it sunnah, bid’ah, or what? Answer: Praise be to Allaah alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger and his family and companions. Celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is an innovation (bid’ah) which goes against the guidance of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and of the Rightly Guided Khaleefahs (al-khulafaa’ al-raashidoon) and the Sahaabah, may Allaah be pleased with them. It is proven that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever does anything that is not part of this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), will have it rejected.” Believing that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is not like the rest of humanity, and that he is light from the Light of Allaah Himself is not a correct belief, because it contradicts the Qur’aan. Allaah has stated that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is human, and has explained what makes the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) different from the rest of mankind. He said (interpretation of the meaning): “Say (O Muhammad): ‘I am only a man like you. It has been inspired to me that your God is One God (Allaah). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” [al-Kahf 18:110] Mankind, human beings, are created, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him He created his wife (Hawwa/Eve), and from them both He created many men and women…” [al-Nisaa’ 4:1] “O mankind, if you are in doubt about the Resurrection, then verily! We have created you from dust, then from a nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge)…” [al-Hajj 22:5] “O Prophet! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, - and as one who invites to Allaah by His leave, and as a lamp spreading light.” [al-Ahzaab 33:45-46] In contrast, Allaah is the First, and He has no beginning, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him), and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of every thing.” [al-Hadeed 57:3] Allaah called His Prophet “light” and a “lamp spreading light” because of the guidance and light with which Allaah sent him, with which Allaah guides all those who answer his call (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “… Indeed, there has come to you a light (Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) and a plain Book (this Qur’aan).” [al-Maa’idah 5:15] Saying that he is present and watching in every place, that he is himself present at every gathering to celebrate his birthday, and that he hears what the people present are saying, is all false. There is no basis for this in either the Qur’aan or the Sunnah. Calling on him and seeking his help and support is a form of major shirk which is not permitted, whether one is calling on the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or on any other created being, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “… so invoke not anyone along with Allaah.” [al-Jinn 72:18] “And whoever invokes (or worships) besides Allaah, any other god of whom he has no proof, then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-kaafiroon (the disbelievers) will not be successful.” [al-Mu’minoon 23:117] (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 3/4) The Muslim should follow, not innovate. He should believe in Allaah alone, call on Him alone and seek His help alone. He should not call on or seek the help of anyone else. The consequences of shirk are devastating, as it will wipe out all a person’s good deeds and lead to his doom in Hell. Bid’ah is a serious matter, which will cause a person’s deeds to be thrown back at him, not accepted. The Muslim should love, respect, honour and obey the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and give his words precedence over the words of any other human being, but it is not permitted to exaggerate about him, or to raise his status above that which has been bestowed upon him by Allaah, or to call on him instead of Allaah, because this is a violation of the rights of Allaah, and involves directing acts of worship to someone other than Allaah, when they should only be directed towards Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted. We ask Allaah to help us to do that which will please Him and to avoid that which will earn His wrath, and to help us to love Him and His Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad. And Allaah knows best. Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com) Question: Why some people accept and some unaccept the celebration of the prophet ( )? What is your opinion? Answer: Praise be to Allaah. There is nothing in the Qur’aan to say that we should celebrate the Mawlid or birthday of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). The Prophet himself (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) 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 (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) 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 (radiallahu 'anhum) were the people who loved the Prophet 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 (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)? 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 (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) 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 (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)? 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 (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) 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 (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) 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 (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) 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. Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com) [TOP] [EDITOR] [FEATURE] [QUR'AAN] [AQEEDAH] [SUNNAH] [ |