Why We Should Not Celebrate Birthday of Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) Mawlid-Un-Nabi, Eid Milad-Ul-Nabi.
Allah said in Quran:
“(This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allaah and Islâmic Monotheism) by their Lord’s Leave to the path of the All Mighty, the Owner of all praise” [Surah Ibraaheem 14:1]
“And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)” [Surah al-Hashr 59:7]
Acts of worship in Islam are based on an important principle, which is that no one is permitted to worship Allaah in any way except that which Allaah has prescribed in his Book or which was taught by His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Whoever worships Allaah by doing something that Allaah and His Messenger have not enjoined, Allaah will not accept that from him.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us of that, as it was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours [i.e., Islam] that is not part of it will have it rejected." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Sulh, 2499).
Acts of worship include festivals. Allaah has prescribed two festivals or Eids (Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul- Adh’Ha) for us to celebrate, and it is not permissible for us to celebrate any others.
With regard to celebrating the day on which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was born, Eid Milad-Un-Nabi, it should be noted that he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not tell us to celebrate this day, and he himself (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not celebrate it, nor did his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them).
They loved the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) far more than we do, yet despite that they did not celebrate this day. Hence we do not celebrate this day, in obedience to the command of Allaah Who has commanded us to follow the commands of His Prophet. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)” [al-Hashr 59:7]
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I urge you to adhere to my Sunnah [way] and the way of the Rightly-Guided khaleefahs. Adhere to it and cling tightly to it. And beware of newly-invented matters [in religion], for every newly-invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going-astray.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, al-Sunnah, 3991).
Henceforth, there is no festival in Islamic sharee’ah that is called “The Prophet’s Birthday, Mawlid al-Nabi or Eid Milad-Un-Nabi”. Neither the Sahaabah, nor the Rightly Guided Khaleefahs nor the Taabi’een (Generation after Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) nor the four imams (of schools of thoughts which are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali) recognised such a day as part of their religion.
The extent to which a person loves the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is to be seen in how he follows him (S.A.W) with regard to all that he commanded or forbade. That includes following him in not celebrating the day on which he was born, Mawlid al-Nabi (the Prophet’s birthday). Other examples of celebrations which are also prohibited are be such as Valentines Day etc. because these are innovated acts of worship which Allaah has not prescribed, and because it involves imitation of the Christians and other kaafirs. And in the second and third cases there is imitation of the kuffaar.
Mawlid al-Nabi or Eid Milad-Un-Nabi festival was introduced by some ignorant innovators, then the people began to follow this innovation but the Great imams of Islam have denounced it in every time and place. In fact these practices were not prescribed in any of the Hadith books, nor were they advocated or promoted by any of the four schools of thoughts which are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali Imams.
Any of the things which are intended as rituals or acts of worship aimed at drawing closer to Allaah or glorifying Him in order to earn reward, or which involve imitating the people of Jaahiliyyah or any other groups of kaafirs, is a prohibited bid’ah, an innovation which comes under the general meaning of the hadeeth: “Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it, will have it rejected.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
Whoever wants to venerate the day on which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was born should follow the alternative that is based on Islamic evidence, which is that one should fast on Mondays, not just the day that he was born but every Monday.
It was narrated from Abu Qutaadah al-Ansaari (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on Mondays. He said, “On that day I was born and on that day the Revelation came to me.” (Narrated by Muslim, 1978).
Conclusion: Celebrating the Prophet’s birthday was not prescribed by Allaah or by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), neither the Sahaabah nor the Taabi’een (Generation after Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) nor the four imams recognised such a day as part of their religion. So it is not permissible for the Muslims to celebrate his birthday, in obedience to the command of Allaah and the command of His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
May Allah Guide Us To Right Path, The Path Of Sunnah.
I do not own this article, it was complied from different sources and verified. If there is an error then I except the error. It does not mean that there is an error in the Quran and Hadiths. If you find errors then please do inform me.
