Mawlid

[AbuZayd]

Imaam Suyuti writes in Al Hawi li al fatawi:




The Sheikh of Islam and hadith master of his age, Ahmad ibn Hajar (Asqalani) was asked about the practice commemorating the birth of the Prophet (May the Peace and Blessing of Allah be Upon Him), and gave the following written reply: “As for the origin of the practice of commemorating the Prophet’s birth (May the Peace and Blessing of Allah be Upon Him), it is an innovation that has not been conveyed to us from any of the pious early Muslim (Salafus Saleh) of the first three centuries, despite which it has included both features that are praiseworthy and avoids those that are not. If one takes care to include a commemoration only things that are praiseworthy and avoids those that are otherwise, it is a praiseworthy innovation, while if one does not, it is not.” (End of Ibn Hajar Asqalani’s statement.)



Imaam Suyuti continues in his own words:

An authentic primary textual basis from the which its legal validity I inferable has occurred to me, namely the rigorously authenticated (Sahih) hadith collections of Bukhari and Muslim that ‘The Prophet (May the Peace and Blessing of Allah be Upon Him) came to Medinah and found the Jews fasting on the tenth of Muharram (Ashura), so he asked them about it and they replied, “ it is the day on which Allah drowned Pharaoh and rescued Moses, so we fast in it, in thanks to Allah the Most High,”



Speaking about the above hadith Imaam Suyuti says,

Which indicates the validity of giving thanks to Allah for blessings He has bestowed on a particular a benefit or averting affliction, repeating one’s thanks on the anniversary of that day every year, giving thanks to Allah taking any kind of various forms of worship such as prostration, fasting, giving charity, or reciting the Quran. And what blessing is greater than the birth of the Prophet (May the Peace and Blessing of Allah be Upon Him), the Prophet of Mercy, on this day? In the light of which, one should take care to commemorate it on the day itself in order to conform to the above story of Moses and the tenth of Muharram, though those who do not view the matter thus do not mind commemorating it on any day of the month, while some have expanded the time to any day of the year, wherever exception may be taken at such a view.



The foregoing is in regard to its legal basis. As for what is therein, it should be confined to the expresses thanksgiving to Allah Most High, of the like of the above –mentioned practices such as reciting the Quran, feeding others, giving charity, and singing something of the odes that praise the Prophet (May the Peace and Blessing of Allah be Upon Him) or encourage one to do with less of this-worldly things, inspiring the hearts of the listeners to do good and to work for the hereafter. As for what is added to this, of singing to singing, amusement, and so forth, what should be said of it is that the permissible therein that displays rejoicing over the day is of no harm if conjoined with it, while what is unlawful, offensive, or unpraiseworthy (khilaf al-awla) is forbidden.”

[AbuZayd]

Sorry, I know Imam Suyuti and Shaykh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani were not Deobandis but the above is clearly related to the ruling of the Mawlid.

[Muawiyah]

Once the jews said to Umar Radhi Allaahu 'anhu, while he was the khalifah, you people recite a verse, if it were revealed on us we would have made that day an 'Eid. Umar Radhi Allaahu 'anhu asked them what ayah that was. They said:

اليوم اكملت لكم دينكم ...
المائدة

Umar Radhi Allaahu 'anhu said, I know when and where this ayah was revealed, by Allah we were with Rasoolullah Sallalaahu 'alyhi wa Sallam on the day of 'arfah on friday in 'Arfaat when this ayah was revealed. [Sahih Bukhari Kitaab ut Tafseer via Tareekh ul Islaam wa Muslimeen]

Note that Umar Radhi Allaahu 'anhu did not make yaum ul-'arafah an 'eid even though he knew the exact date, which is not known in the case of the mawleed.

[AbuZayd]

Its only the Pakis that call it "Eid"

[Abdul Haq]

As'salamu alikumWRB,


Mujaddid Alf Thani otherwise known as Shaykh Sirhindi (R) on mawlid:

" Gatherings of Meelaad as-Shareef with the recitation of Holy Quraan with
good (melodious) voice and Naats and Qasidaas are recited for Huzoor
Sallallaho alayhi wa sallam then what is the hesitation ? " [Ahmed
Sirhindi, Maktobaat, Volume 1, First Chapter, Maktoob number 42, page 154]


Abdul Haq

[Yusuf]

quoting from Mufti Taqi Uthmaani (hafidhahullah)'s book 'Islamic Months' :

" the observance of the 12th of this month as the birthday of The Holy Prophet SAW is not only an innovation (bid'ah) having no basis in the Islamic teachings, but the accuracy of this date as the real birthday of the Holy Prophet SAW is also very much doubted "

(pg 35 , Islamic months)

What if one is negligent in commemarating the Propet(saw) birthday throughout the year but then is reminded by several events(mawlid) in and around 12th, and decides to go. Does it still remain a bid'ah? Mufti Taqi Uthmani says that his(saw) birthday should be celebrated everyday, isnt 12th counted as one of these days?

[A D I D A S]

Its only the Pakis that call it "Eid"

Nope the bharuchi gujis aroind here cal it eid milad-u-nabi too. I hate the thingy they make sucha big racket n it gets to my nerves. Khair.

[Abdul Haq]

The only intention of Mufti Taqi Usmani is to discourage the celebration of mawlid. We have Mujaddid Alf Thani approving it with some conditions. If those conditions are not followed by some people then that is not the reason for prohibition.

Moreover gatherings & celebrations of such type are meant only for people who are negligent. How can some body say that remembering the Propeht's life or mentioning him does not have any basis. If the problem is only in fixing up the date then what is wrong with it. Is it haram?

Next comes the question of Bidat. What Bidat? Bidat Zalalah or Hasanah. What criterion the Mufti will follow for declaring a Bidat as Bidat zalalah. There are hadiths which say that a Bidat is introduced in religion Allah (swt) lifts an equal portion of Sunnah from that community. By celebrating Prophet's (saws) birthday what Sunnah has been lifted from the Barelvis or other who beleive in it. The following are the hadiths:

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 188 Narrated byHassan ibn Atiyyah

No one ever made an innovation in their religion but Allah withdrew the equal portion from their Sunnah and He would not restore it to them till the Day of Resurrection.
Transmitted by Darimi.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 187 Narrated by Ghudayf ibn al-Harith ath-Thumali

Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Never did a people make an innovation (in religion) there was withdrawn from them the equal measure of Sunnah. Adhering to Sunnah is better than making innovations.

Transmitted by Ahmad.

[Yusuf]

I agree with Sidi Faraz Rabbani that "Sheikh Gibril was unduly harsh to a scholar of such high calibre but the points made were solid."

"The observance of the 12th of this month as the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is not only an innovation having no basis in the Islamic teachings, but the accuracy of this date as the real birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is also very much doubted."

Comment: Here the author contradicts what he had said in the first paragraph: "Rabi'ul-Awwal is the most significant month in the Islamic history, because humanity has been blessed in this month by the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam." Does this not constitute "a basis in the Islamic teachings" since this Mufti deems himself one such basis and these are his words? As for the specific date of the 12th, it is enough to quote Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali on the matter in his book Lata'if al-Ma`arif (p. 185): "The VAST MAJORITY hold that he [the Prophet, Allah bless and greet him] was born on the Second Day of the Week (al-Ithnayn = "Monday") 12 Rabi` al-Awwal... in the Year of the Elephant."

So it is a good date for such a celebration because there is greater readiness for it in the hearts and minds of the people at that time; and, at

the same time "we do NOT claim that it is Sunna to do celebrate the Mawlid on a specific night and whoever claims this has committed innovation in the Religion, because we should remember him at all times... although the reason to do so becomes stronger in the month of his birth due to the turning of people to that event and their gatherings and their feelings [at that time]." Al-Sayyid Muhammad al-Maliki, Mafahim (10th ed. p. 317).

[Sim]

perhaps we should concentrate on what the awliya have said on the matter, rather than looking at what contemporary "deobandi" and "brelvi" ulema have said....i think that would make things a tad bit more simple...

we already have the opinions of Imam Suyuti (ra) and Ibn Hajar Asqalani (ra), the fact that they are classical awliya who condone the practice is good enough for me...alhamdulilah.

yes there may be some gathering which may partake in unislamic practices in the mawlid, however we cannot say that the event as a whole is a bid'ah due to these possibilities..... Ibn Hajar:

"If one takes care to include a commemoration only things that are praiseworthy and avoids those that are otherwise, it is a praiseworthy innovation, while if one does not, it is not.”