Download pdf - Bihar Anjuman

To Celebrate or Not to Celebrate...
That is the Question
by Asma bint Shameem
Some of us celebrate it with great devotion celebrating that day as a form of worship. (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam). They gave up
and diligence, while some of us are against it Why? their homes, families, lives, everything they
with an equally great vengeance. Some say it Because there is nothing in the Shareeah had... for his sake, in the blink of an eye. Yet
is our religious duty while others say it is that permits me to do that. this love did NOT promote them to celebrate
nothing but bid'ah. Also, I cannot start praying three rakaah for his birth.
People argue about it. Families split up, Fajr from tomorrow, even if I want to worship This love translated into the practical
friends forsake each other. And sometimes Allaah more, because Fajr Salah is only two application of his teachingsand NOT picking
people literally fight over it and hurt one rakaat as commanded upon us by the the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal as a day of
Shareeah.
celebration.
And similarly, if there is no order for us to What about the Four Imaams and other
celebrate the birthday of the Prophet (Sal Ulama?
Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam), then we dont.
Did any of the Imaams – Abu Haneefah,
In fact, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Maalik, al-Shaafi’i, Ahmad, al-Hasan al-
Sallam) said: “Whoever innovates anything Basri, do this or command others to do it or
in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), that is not say that it was good? No. In fact, it was not
part of it will have it rejected.” (Bukhaari).
even mentioned during the first and best
Now someone might argue that we dont three centuries.
celebrate the Mawlid/Milad as an act of The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)
worship.
said: “The best of mankind are my
So let's see what other evidences we have. generation, then those who come after
2. What does the Sunnah say about it? them, then those who come after them.
Again, there is nothing in the Sunnah of the (Bukhaari, Muslim and al-Tirmidhi).
another.
Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) that And if the 'best of mankind' didnt celebrate
So what is it that I am talking about?
shows us that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu his birth, then we shouldnt either.
I am talking about celebrating the birthday
Alaiyhi wa Sallam) EVER celebrated his Actually, the celebration of the Prophet’s
of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa
birthday or that of his wives, children, or birthday appeared many centuries later. By
Sallam), the Mawlid or Milad, as some of us
Sahaabah.
this time, many of the features of true
say.
There is not a single hadeeth that tells us that religion had disappeared and bid’ah had
Yes, the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal came and
he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) thought become widespread.
went. But, ever wondered..... what is the
this day was significant enough to celebrate Think about it!
reality regarding the celebration of the birth
it.
Can it be possible that the Sahaabah, the
of our beloved Prophet anyway?
Just think.....if there was any good in doing Imaams and the people of the best three
Let's examine the facts.
so, wouldnt he would have done so himself centuries were unaware of the importance of
First of all, whenever a Muslim is faced with a
and wouldnt he have ordered the Sahaabah celebrating the birthday of the Prophet or
problem or confusing situation, what are we
to do so?
that they were lacking in their love for him?
supposed to do? Allaah tells us:
And obviously, it is not possible that he (Sal And it was only those who came later who
“O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey
Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) forgot to tell us were aware of it or loved him more?!!! How
the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of
about it, Aoodhu billaah!
can that be?!!
you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if
D i d t h e S a h a a b a h c e l e b r a t e t h e Actually, dear brother/sister in Islaam, TRUE
you differ in anything amongst yourselves,
Mawlid/Milad?
love of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa
refer it to Allaah and His Messenger, if you
The Sahaabah were witnesses to the Sallam) is shown and proven by following the
believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is
revelation of the Quraan.
guidance that he brought. So follow his
better and more suitable for final
They had the Prophet right in front of their Sunnah to the best of your ability and don't
determination” [Nisaa’:59]
eyes.
fall into innovated forms of worship. It is
Referring it to Allaah and His Messenger
They ate, drank, sat, slept, talked, walked, nothing but a trap of the Shaytaan.
means to turn to Allaah's Book and the
lived with the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa “Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you (really) love
Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi
Sallam).
Allaah, then follow me, Allah will love you
wa Sallam).
If they misunderstood anything or were and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-
1. What does the Qur'aan say about the
mistaken, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Aal ‘Imraan 3:31)
Mawlid?
wa Sallam) immediately corrected them. And remember the words of the Prophet (Sal
Nothing. Yes that's right.....NOTHING.
And thus, their understanding and practice Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) when he said:
There is absolutely nothing in the Quraan
of Islaam was the best.
“The best of speech is the Book of Allaah, and
that tells us to celebrate the birthday of the
Yet, when we look at the lives and practice of the best of guidance is the guidance of
Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam). Not
the Sahaabah, we find that none of them Muhammad. The most evil of things are
one single ayah.
EVER celebrated the birth of their beloved those which are newly-invented (in religion),
You see, all acts of worship are tawqeefi
Prophet, whether during his life or even after and every innovation (bid'ah) is a going
which means that they are not subject to
he passed away.
astray.”
personal opinion and it is not permissible to
Not Abubakr, not Umar, not Uthman, not Ali, (Muslim and al-Nisaai).
do any acts of worship except those which
nor Aaishah, Ibn Umar, Ibn Masud, Talha, Azare
approved by Shareeah.
Zubair, not a single Sahaabi.
So, for example, I cannot pick a special day or
Doesn't that prove anything?
time, say the 22nd of every month, and start
The Sahaabah absolutely loved the Prophet
Bakhabar
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