On the ruling on celebrating the Prophet’s birthday and other occasions

 

The question has been frequently asked about the ruling on celebrating the Prophet’s birthday (Mawlid), standing up during it, greeting him, and other practices done during Mawlids.

The answer is that it is not permissible to celebrate the Prophet’s birthday or any other person’s birthday because this is one of the newly invented innovations in religion. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not do it, nor did his rightly guided caliphs, nor any of the companions (may Allah be pleased with them), nor the followers who followed them in goodness in the preferred centuries. They were the most knowledgeable about the Sunnah, the most complete in love for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and the most committed to following his Shariah compared to those who came after them. It has been authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours (Islam) something that is not part of it, it will be rejected.” In another hadith, he said: “You must follow my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs. Hold on to it and cling to it with your molar teeth. Beware of newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance.”

In these two hadiths, there is a severe warning against introducing innovations and acting upon them. Allah the Exalted said in His clear Book: “And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from” [Al-Hashr: 7]. And He said: “So let those beware who dissent from his order, lest a trial strike them or a painful punishment” [An-Nur: 63]. And He said: “There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often” [Al-Ahzab: 21]. And He said: “And the first forerunners among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment” [At-Tawbah: 100]. And He said: “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion” [Al-Ma’idah: 3].

There are many verses with this meaning. Introducing such Mawlids implies that Allah did not complete the religion for this Ummah and that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not convey what should be acted upon until these latecomers came and introduced into the Shariah of Allah what He did not permit, claiming that this brings them closer to Allah. This is undoubtedly a great danger and an objection to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). Allah has perfected the religion for His servants and completed His favor upon them.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) conveyed the clear message and did not leave any path that leads to Paradise and distances from Hell except that he explained it to the Ummah, as it is authentically reported in the hadith of Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “There was no prophet before me but was incumbent upon him to guide his nation to what he knew was good for them and warn them against what he knew was bad for them” (Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih).

It is well known that our Prophet (peace be upon him) is the best of the prophets, the last of them, and the most complete in conveying the message and advising. If celebrating the Prophet’s birthday (Mawlid) was part of the religion that Allah is pleased with, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would have explained it to the Ummah, or done it during his lifetime, or his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would have done it. Since none of this happened, it is known that it is not part of Islam, but rather one of the newly invented innovations that the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned his Ummah against, as mentioned in the previous two hadiths. There are other hadiths with similar meanings, such as his saying in the Friday sermon: “The best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the worst of matters are those that are newly invented, and every innovation is misguidance” (narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih).

There are many verses and hadiths on this topic. Many scholars have explicitly denounced Mawlids and warned against them, based on the mentioned evidence and others. Some later scholars permitted them if they did not include any prohibited acts, such as exaggeration in praising the Prophet (peace be upon him), mixing of men and women, use of musical instruments, and other things that the purified Shariah condemns, thinking that they are good innovations.
The legal principle is to refer what people dispute about to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him), as Allah says: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result” [An-Nisa: 59]. And He says: “And in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah” [Ash-Shura: 10].

We have referred this issue, which is the celebration of Mawlids, to the Book of Allah, and we found that it commands us to follow the Messenger (peace be upon him) in what he brought and warns us against what he forbade, and informs us that Allah has perfected the religion for this Ummah. This celebration is not part of what the Prophet (peace be upon him) brought, so it is not part of the religion that Allah has perfected for us and commanded us to follow the Messenger in.
We have also referred it to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and did not find that he did it, nor commanded it, nor did his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) do it. Thus, we know that it is not part of the religion, but rather one of the newly invented innovations, and an imitation of the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) in their festivals. This makes it clear to anyone with the slightest insight and desire for the truth, and fairness in seeking it, that celebrating Mawlids is not part of Islam, but rather one of the newly invented innovations that Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) commanded us to leave and beware of.

A wise person should not be deceived by the large number of people who do it in various countries, for the truth is not known by the number of people who do it, but by the legal evidence. As Allah says about the Jews and Christians: “And they say, ‘None will enter Paradise except one who is a Jew or a Christian.’ That is [merely] their wishful thinking. Say, ‘Produce your proof, if you should be truthful’” [Al-Baqarah: 111]. And He says: “And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah” [Al-An’am: 116].

Moreover, most of these Mawlid celebrations, besides being an innovation, do not lack other prohibited acts, such as mixing of men and women, use of songs and musical instruments, drinking of intoxicants and drugs, and other evils. There may even be something greater than that, which is major shirk, such as exaggeration in praising the Prophet (peace be upon him) or other saints, invoking them, seeking their help, asking them for aid, believing that they know the unseen, and similar acts of disbelief that many people engage in during their celebration of the Prophet’s birthday or other saints’ birthdays. It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Beware of exaggeration in religion, for it destroyed those who were before you” and he said: “Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising the son of Mary. I am only a servant, so say: the servant of Allah and His Messenger” (narrated by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih, from the hadith of Umar, may Allah be pleased with him).

Among the wonders and oddities is that many people become active and diligent in attending these innovated celebrations, defending them, while neglecting what Allah has obligated upon them, such as attending Friday prayers and congregational prayers. They do not see this as a great evil, which undoubtedly stems from weak faith, lack of insight, and the accumulation of sins and disobedience on their hearts. We ask Allah for well-being for us and all Muslims.
Some people believe that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) attends the Mawlid (celebration of his birth), and thus they stand up to greet and welcome him. This is one of the greatest falsehoods and the ugliest ignorance. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) does not leave his grave before the Day of Resurrection, nor does he connect with anyone, nor attend their gatherings. He remains in his grave until the Day of Resurrection, and his soul is in the highest place with his Lord in the abode of honor, as Allah Almighty said in Surah Al-Mu’minun: “Then indeed, after that you are to die. Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected.” [Al-Mu’minun: 15-16]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “I am the first for whom the grave will be split open on the Day of Resurrection, and I am the first intercessor and the first whose intercession will be accepted.” May the best blessings and peace from his Lord be upon him.

This noble verse, the honorable hadith, and what is similar in meaning from other verses and hadiths all indicate that the Prophet (peace be upon him) and other deceased people will only emerge from their graves on the Day of Resurrection. This is a matter agreed upon among Muslim scholars without dispute. Therefore, every Muslim should be aware of these matters and beware of the innovations and superstitions introduced by the ignorant and their likes, which have no basis in the religion of Allah. Allah is the one whose help is sought, and upon Him we rely. There is no power and no strength except with Him.

As for sending blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), it is one of the best acts of worship and righteous deeds, as Allah Almighty said: “Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.” [Al-Ahzab: 56]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him ten times.” It is prescribed at all times and is especially emphasized at the end of every prayer. It is even obligatory according to some scholars in the final tashahhud of every prayer and is a confirmed Sunnah in many situations, including after the adhan, when mentioning him (peace be upon him), and on Fridays and their nights, as indicated by many hadiths.

We ask Allah to grant us and all Muslims understanding of His religion and steadfastness upon it, and to bestow upon everyone adherence to the Sunnah and caution against innovation. Indeed, He is Generous and Noble. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.