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 Wednesday, 22nd February 2012

Permissibility of Celebrating Mawlid

All Praises is due to Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala, Peace and Blessings be upon the most perfect of creations, His Beloved Habeeb, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam his Noble Family and the Illustrious Sahaba Riwanullahi Ta'ala Alaihim Ajma'een and all the pious servants of Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala.

In present era we are suffering sects and scholars who imposes verdicts of Shirk and Bid’at on those who celebrate Mawlid an-Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam with great enthusiasm and integrity and due to which the simple and straightforward people who are less in knowledge of Qur’an and Hadith get nervous whether they are following the Truth or not.

Here are ample proofs from Qur'an al-Kareem and Ahadith of Beloved Prophet Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him which shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that Celebrating Milad-un-Nabi Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam is absolutely Lawful.
 

قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيداً لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِّنكَ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
Issa son of Maryam submitted, 'O Allah our Lord, 'sends down to us a tray of food from the heaven so that it may be an occasion of rejoicing for us, for the first and the last of us and a sign from You, and provide for us and you are the best of Providers. [Surah Al-Ma’idah, Verse 114]

The day when food is sent from skies is day of rejoicing (EID); then the day when soul of universe Peace be with him was born must be the delight for the day of rejoicing.

Look what Allah has said:
 

وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ
And publicize well the favors of your Lord. [Surah Al-Duha, Verse 11]

Allah himself commemorating Milad in Holy Qar’an as we do in our gatherings, Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala Says in the Holy Qur’an:
 

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا
It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth that he may make it prevail over all other religions And Sufficient is Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta as witness. [Surah Al-Fatha, Verse 28]

وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
And remember when Issa son of Maryam, said, 'O children of Israel, I am Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta's Messenger to you, confirming the previous Book Tourat before me and conveying the glad news of the Messenger who will come after me, his name is Ahmad! ' But when Ahmed came to them with bright signs, they said, 'this is an open magic.' [Surah As-Saf, Verse 6]

لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Assuredly there has come to you a messenger from among yourselves, heavy upon him is your suffering; ardently desirous of your welfare, and to Muslims is most Kind and Merciful. [Surah Tauba, Verse 128]

لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولاً مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُواْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
Undoubtedly, Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta did a great favor to the Muslims that in them from among themselves sent a Messenger who recites unto them His signs and purifies them and teaches them the Book and wisdom, and necessarily before that they were certainly in apparent error. [Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 164]

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۔۔۔ قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُواْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
O people! There has come an admonition to you from your Lord, and healing of hearts, and guidance and a mercy for the believers. Say you, 'only Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta' grace and only His mercy, on it therefore let them rejoice. That is better than all their wealth. [Surah Al-Yunus, Verse 57/58]

And this is what we do, we celebrate; we rejoice; we do spend our money to show gratitude to Allah Almighty on his greatest mercy and Blessing i.e. celebrations of Milad-un-Nabi because Qur’an Says:
 

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
And We sent not you, but a mercy for all worlds. [Surah Al-Anbiya, Verse 107]
 

Let us have the opinions of Prophet (Peace be with him) who himself celebrated his Birthday. See Muslim Sharif:

 

عَنْ أَبِى قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِىِّ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ « فِيهِ وُلِدْتُ وَفِيهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ
Abi Qatada Ansari (Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta be pleased with him) reported that Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta's Messenger (may Peace and Blessings of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta be Upon Him) was asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It is (the day) when I was born and revelation was sent down to me.
 

References:

1. Sahih Muslim, Book 6 – Fasting, Vol. 7, Page 323, Hadith 2807
2. Asad al-Gaba fi Ma’arfat as-Sahaba, Vol. 1, Page 21-22, published in Lahore 1987
3. Sunan al-Kubra lil Bayhaqi, Vol. 4, Page 286
4. Musannaf Abd ar-Razzak, Vol. 4, Page 296, Hadith7865
5. Sunan Abi Dawood, Vol. 7, Page 255, Hadith 2428
6. Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 49, Page 195, Hadith 23200

When beloved Prophet (Peace and Blessings be Upon him) is celebrating his birthday not yearly but every Monday then how it can be labeled as Shirk or Bid’at?

Beloved Prophet Muhammad SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam himself commemorated about his birth in numerous Ahadith. Few of them are presented below.
 

ورأت أمي حين حملت بى أنه خرج منها نور أضاء له قصور بصرى من أرض الشام
Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him) said: “When my mother gave birth to me she saw a light proceeding from her which showed her the castles of Syria”
 

References:

1. Ibn Hisham; Tafsir Ibn Kathir 4:360
2. Bayhaqi, Dala’il an-Nubuwwa 1:110
3. Haythami, Zawa’id 8:221
4. Ibn al-Jawzi ‘al-Wafa’
5. Qadi Iyad, ‘al-Shifa’
6. Musnad Ahmad 4:127
 

أول ما خلق الله تعالى نوري
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has stated, "The very first thing which Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala created was my Noor."
 

References:

1. Tafseer Nashyapuri, Page 55, Vol. 8
2. Tafseer Araa'is ul Bayaan, Page 238, Vol. 1
3. Tafseer Roohul Bayaan, Page 548, Vol. 1
4. Zirkaani ala al-Mawahib, Page 37, Vol. 1
5. Madarij an-Nabuwwah, Page 6, Vol. 2
6. Bayaan al-Miladun Nabi li Ibn Jauzi, Page 24

Sharih al-Bukhari Imam Ahmad Qastalani (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) states in his most distinguished work "Muwahib al ladaniyah" that narration has been made by Hadrat Imam Zainul Abedeen (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) who narrates from His father Hadrat Imam Husain (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) who narrates from His father Hadrat Ali Mushkil Kusha (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) that the Holy prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has stated,
 

كنت نورا بين يدى ربى قبل خلق آدم باربعة عشر ألف عام
“I was a Noor (Light) by my creator 14000 years before the creation of Hadrat Adam (Alaihis Salaam)"
 

References:

1. Muwahib al-Laduniyah, Page 10, Vol. 1
2. Zirkani ala al-Mawahib, Page 49, Vol. 1
3. Jawahir al-Bihar, Page 774
4. Anwaar al-Muhammadiya, Page 9
5. Tafseer Rooh al-Bayan, Page 370, Vol. 2
6. Hujjatullahi Ala al-Alameen
 

Pupil of Imam Malik and the teacher of Imam Ahmed Bin Hanbal and Hafizul Hadith Abdul Razzak Abu Bakr Bin Hamman, the teacher of the teachers of Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, in his Book "Musannaf", has narrated from Hadrat Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari and his son (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhum), that he asked the Holy Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him)

 

روى عبد الرزاق -فيما قيل- عن جابر رضي الله عنه قال: "قلت: يا رسول الله بأبي أنت وأمّي أخبرني عن أول شىء خلقه الله تعالى قبل الأشياء؟ قال: يا جابر إن الله تعالى خلق قبل الأشياء نور نبيّك من نوره فجعل ذلك النور يدور بالقدرة حيث شاء الله ولم يكن في ذلك الوقت لوح ولا قلم ولا جنّة ولا نار ولا ملك ولا سماء ولا أرض ولا شمس ولا قمر ولا جني ولا إنسي، فلما أراد الله أن يخلق الخلق قسّم ذلك النور أربعة أجزاء فخلق من الجزء الأول القلم، ومن الثاني اللوح، ومن الثالث العرش، ثم قسم الجزء الرابع أربعة أجزاء فخلق من الجزء الأول حملة العرش، ومن الثاني الكرسي، ومن الثالث باقي الملائكة، ثم قسّم الرابع أربعة أجزاء فخلق من الأول السموات، ومن الثاني الأرضين، ومن الثالث الجنّة والنار، ثم قسم الرابع أربعة أجزاء فخلق من الأول نور أبصار المؤمنين، ومن الثاني نور قلوبهم وهي المعرفة بالله، ومن الثالث نور أنسهم وهو التوحيد لا إله إلا الله محمّد رسول الله...."
O Prophet of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta (sallAllah SubHanuhu wa Tau Alaihi wa Sallam)! My parents be sacrificed upon you, what did the Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta first create?" The Prophet (SallAllah SubHanuhu wa Tau Alaihi wa Sallam) replied: "Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta first created my Noor (Light) of His Noor. This Noor traveled about according to the Will of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta. At that time, there was no Heaven, Hell, Lawh (Divine Tablet), Pen, Earth, Skies, Sun, Moon, Jinn or Human Beings. When He decided to create, He divided that Noor into four parts. From one part He created the Pen, from the second, the Lawh and from the third, he made the Arsh (Throne). He divided the fourth part into a further four parts. From one, He created those Angels who carry the Arsh, from the second, the Kursi (Divine Chair) and from the third, He created the Angels. He again divided the remaining parts into a further four parts. From one, He created the skies. The second was used in creating the planets. From the third, Heaven and Earth were created. Once again, He divided the fourth part into a further four parts. From one part He created the power with which the believers see. From the second, He created in the hearts of the Believers the Noor of Marifat. From the third, He created Noor in the tongues of the Believers, so that they can read the Kalima of Tauheed.

References:

1. Muwahib al-Ladunniyah, Page 9, Vol. 1
2. Zirkani Shareef, Page 46, Vol. 1
3. Seerate al-Halabia, Page 37, Vol. 1
4. Mutali ul Musarraat Sharah Dalail Khayrat, Page 610
5. Afdal al-Qura by Imam Ibn Hajr Makki
6. Hujatullahu ala al-Alameen, Page 68
7. Anwaar al-Muhammadiya, Page 9
8. Aqidat ash-Shuhada, Page 100
9. Fatawa Hadithia, Page 51
10. Dalaa'il an-Nubuwwah By Imam Baihaqi
11. Khamees by Allama Dayar Bakri
12. Madarij an-Nabuwwat by Skaykh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlvi

Abu Lahab was an uncle to the Prophet (SallAllah SubHanuhu wa Tau Alaihi wa Sallam). The event, which Imaam Qastalaani has referred to, is this. When a maid of Abu Lahab (Abdul 'Uzza) named Thuwaibah informed him of a son being born to his brother Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), he (Abu Lahab) was so delighted at herring this that he pointed his finger to her in a manner which signified her emancipation for carrying the good news to him But when the holy Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) declared his Prophet hood, he (Abu Lahab) did not accept him as a Prophet but became a most severe enemy to him and remained so all his life. In condemnation of him a whole Surah of the Holy Qur’aan descended.

 

لَمَّا مَاتَ أَبُو لَهَب رَأَيْته فِي مَنَامِي بَعْد حَوْل فِي شَرّ حَال فَقَالَ : مَا لَقِيت بَعْدكُمْ رَاحَة ، إِلَّا أَنَّ الْعَذَاب يُخَفَّف عَنِّي كُلّ يَوْم اِثْنَيْنِ ، قَالَ : وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وُلِدَ يَوْم الِاثْنَيْنِ ، وَكَانَتْ ثُوَيْبَة بَشَّرَتْ أَبَا لَهَب بِمَوْلِدِهِ فَأَعْتَقَهَا
After his death, people of Abu Lahab's household saw him in a dream, and asked him how he had fared. To this, Abu Lahab said that after departing from them he did not meet with any good but was being given water every Monday from the finger with which he had indicated the emancipation of Thuwaibah, and this water lessened his torment.
 

References:

1. Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 153, Hadith No 5101, Kitaabun Nikaah, Publisher: Darul Fikr – Berut.
1(b). Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 7, Book 62, Wedlock, Marriage (Nikaah), Hadith 038
1(c). Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 6, Page 764.
2. Fathul Baari Sharha Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Page 118 by Imam Ibn-e-Hajr Asqalani
3. Fathul Baari Sharha Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Page 145 by Imam Ibn-e-Hajr Asqalani
4. Musannaf by Abdur Razzaq San’ani, Vol. 7, Page 478
5. Umdat al-Qaari Sharha Sahih al-Bukhari by Allama Badruddin Ainee, Vol. 2, Page 95

Allama Muhammad Bin Alawai Malki have stated in his work, Houl al-IHtifal Bi Zikri Mawlid an-Nabawi Ash-Sharif:

 

Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam after announcing his prophet hood, did his Aqeeqa, not only this, he also stood on his mim’ber sharif (pulpit) and recited his Shajra (Ancestral Tree), commemorated the birth of Hadrat Adam and Status of Hadrat Ibrahim, Hadrat Esa, Hadrat Moosa Alaihimus Salam. He ordered few of his companions to recite his praise; Many of the Companions offered poems in the prominence and praise of Syyiduna Rasoolullah, He was delighted hearing this and prayed for his companions. [Houl al-iH’tifal Bi Zikri Mawlid an-Nabawi Ash-Sharif, Published in Lahore 1987]