Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Celebrating Prophet's Birthday, Permissible Or Not?

it's still controversial among muslims whether or not it's allowed to celebrate Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him)' birthday. Some people said it's not permissible and consider it as bid'ah or an innovation, but many people who think it's permissible commemorating Prophet's birthday with special celebration including muslims in Indonesia.

Alhamdulillah, Indonesia government specified Prophet Muhammad's birthday as a big red letter day, so this year we all have a long weekend till Monday coz Prophet's birthday fall on that day. Have a nice long weekend for everybody ...

back to the main topic whether or not it's permissible for muslims celebrating Prophet's birthday, i read a good article about it on Islamonline. Syaikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a prominent Muslim scholar, head of the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR),and the president of the International Association of Muslim Scholars (IAMS) gives his opinion about celebrating Rasulullah Muhammad (PBUH)' birthday and how Muslim should celebrating it.

Here is what he says;

We all know that the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate the Prophet's birthday, Hijrah or the Battle of Badr, because they witnessed such events during the lifetime of the Prophet who always remained in their hearts and minds.

Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas said that they were keen on telling their children the stories of the Prophet's battles just as they were keen on teaching them the Qur'an. Therefore, they used to remind their children of what happened during the Prophet's lifetime so they did not need to hold such celebrations. However, the following generations began to forget such a glorious history and its significance. So such celebrations were held as a means of reviving great events and the values that we can learn from them.

Unfortunately, such celebrations include some innovations when they should actually be made to remind people of the Prophet's life and his call. Actually, celebrating the Prophet's birthday means celebrating the birth of Islam. Such an occasion is meant to remind people of how the Prophet lived.

Allah Almighty says: (Verily in the Messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the last Day, and remembereth Allah much.) (Al-Ahzab 33: 21)

By celebrating the Prophet's Hijrah, we should teach people values such as sacrifice, the sacrifice of the Companions, the sacrifice of `Ali who slept in the Prophet's place on the night of the Hijrah, the sacrifice of Asma' as she ascended the Mountain of Thawr. We should teach them to plan the way the Prophet planned for his Hijrah, and how to trust in Allah as the Prophet did when Abu Bakr told him: We could be seen so easily, the Prophet replied saying: "O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two when Allah is their third?" (Have no fear, for Allah is with us.) (At-Tawbah 9: 40)

We need all these lessons and such celebrations are a revival of these lessons and values. I think that these celebrations, if done in the proper way, will serve a great purpose, getting Muslims closer to the teachings of Islam and to the Prophet's Sunnah and life.

As for celebrating `Ashura’, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), celebrated this day by fasting only. He asked the Jews why they fasted on that day and they told him that it was the day that Allah saved Moses and the people of Israel. The Prophet replied saying: "We have more of a right to Moses than you." So he fasted on that day and ordered the people to fast on that day. He also said near the end of his life: "By Allah, if I lived longer I would fast on the 9th of Muharram." That is, that he would fast on the 9th and the 10th in order to be different from the Jews who fast on the 10th only. However, some of the Sunnis celebrate `Ashura as if it were a feast. The Shi`ah consider it a day of sadness and mourning, but all such things are innovations and are completely un-Islamic.

the exact date of the Prophet's birth is controversial, but it is most likely to be on Monday, 9th Rabee` Al-Awwal (20th or 22nd of April, 571 AC), the same year in which the invasion of the Elephants took place against the Ka`bah. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away on Monday 12, Rabee` Al-Awwal in the eleventh year of Hijrah (8 June 632 AC.)

So let's celebrate our Prophet Muhammad's birthday as such a great event by reading more about the Prophet's Sunnah and life, doing charity work that remind us of the Prophet's life and his struggle and to show our love to him.

for more scholars speak on the prophet's birthday you can take a look at www.islamonline.net


12 comments:

  1. allahumma sholi ala sayyidina Muhammad wa ala aali sayyidina Muhammad.

    the greatness of the dearest human of Allah, is immortal in the heart of His lovers. i believe it's well known by everyone that in the holy qur'an, even Allah and the angels praised this holy man. i think innovation is almost a ridiculous word to refer to prophet muhammad SAWW birthday commemoration...

    praise be upon muhammad and the holy progeny of muhammad.

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  2. allahumma sholi ala sayyidina Muhammad wa ala aali sayyidina Muhammad ...

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  3. The great statement sis...i think so
    in Iran, prophet Muhammad's birthday is selebrated a week as 12-17 rabiul awal

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  4. temenku yang dari Emirates mengernyit dan agak sinis waktu dibilang kita merayakan Maulid Nabi. waktu itu bhs Inggrisku dangkal untuk menyela dia...
    nice posting, TFS ya Len

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  5. Thank you sister for this post...
    As SOPHIAZAHRA pointed out, the week between 12th and 17th RABIUL AVVAL is celebrated in Iran since one of them is narration from SUNNI'S and the other one from SHIITES, and we celebrate the week in between in order to strengthen the solidarity and unity of Muslims Inshallah.
    We also have holiday for this occasion in Iran.
    Have a nice and blessing long weekend on this holy occasion.

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  6. very nice ... i pray for the unity of all muslims around the world as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) teaches us ...

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  7. Salaam...
    Did the prophet or his companions celebrate his birthday?

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  8. Asalamo aleikum Sister,

    To remember and learn from our prophet Mohammed "Salla allahu aleihi wa salam" we dont need to celebrate hes birthay wich apart of inovation is imitation,( christmas) Also we must know that in the issues wich cause doubt the best is avoid them, and Allah know best.
    We can study seera and learn from hadiths every day of the year. We just worship Allah subhana Wa taala. Our prophet mohammed"Sala allahu aleihi wa salam" said: do not exaggerate about my person"

    May Allah guide us all to the straight way, ameen

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  9. there is no Controversy on this Subject their is only what is correct (Proof)and Anything Added to the deen is a Bidah. Any one innovating in the Deen is not from among the Prophet Sallallah Alayhi wa salaam. The best way to praise and honor him is to Practice what he practice This is the True islam. for Us as an Ummah we don't add anything Extra to what is already been perfected. If we as ummah want to do anything we Need to be upon the Correct matters in the Religion. Allahu allim

    What a Country Makes Lawful has nothing to do with what Allah azz wal jal and Whom he sent made unlawful. Obey Allah Not men in dealing with Islam.

    Ummismail

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  10. i am glad that we have various opinions here ... and we respect all for the views about celebrating prophets birthday ... thanks for sharing your opinion ... salam ukhuwah

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  11. very very controversial.. i don't mind people remembering how the Prophet lived and people uniting in solidarity, but unfortunately for some of these maulids.. are done by reciting from books that are not authenticated, or so i've heard. honestly speaking, i think the best way to "commemorate" his birthday, is not by celebrating, but rather, learn his seerah from authenticated books, and then putting into practice by following his sunnah, and this should be done on every other day, not just on his birthday... sorry to say this, but maulids are like a one-off thingy, in which, after a week or so, people just forget about Rasullullah saw and his teachings. *shrugs* to each his own i guess. heh. =)

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