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The Birthday of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him: can we celebrate it or not?


 The Birthday of Prophet Muhammad: Can we celebrate it or not?


The Birthday of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is Monday 18th October 2021.


The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was born on 12th Rabia Al Awal in the year of the elephant.


He was born on a Monday. 


In an authentic hadith, Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was said to have fasted on Mondays.


When he was asked why he fasted on Mondays he is said to have replied that this was the day he was born.


This is a big evidence that Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him singled out Monday's because it was the day he was born.


Therefore, singling out the day for remembering the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is not contradicting the religion.


Scholars such as Ibn Hajar Al Asqalani and ibn as Subki have used these hadiths as evidence for the permissibility of celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.


However, that does not mean that people who do not celebrate it are wrong.


It is permissible to celebrate it and no harm if not.


However, it is the day that Prophet peace be upon him, said to be the best of creation was born.


Without the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, there would be no Islam.


Therefore, since it is part of our faith to love the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him such a day is an appropriate time to do so.


Therefore, there are certain things encouraged by scholars and others on this day.


For example, reading from the biography of the Prophet peace be upon him.


Reading his sayings and n arrations (Hadith)


Remembering his person and attributes.


Following some of his sunnahs.


Remembering and celebrating parts of his life.


Such things are good and recommended things to do.


Can Mawlid be forbidden? 


It is not forbidden to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet peace be upon him.


People who say it is forbidden misunderstand a hadith that says that : beware of innovations for every innovation is going astray and every going astray is in hellfire.


كل بدعة ضلالة وكل ضلالة في النار 

ابو داود و الترمذي
Abu Dawad and At tirmidhi

This hadith is misunderstood by certain people to mean that everything Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him did not do is a bad innovation.


They say such innovations are forbidden.


However, some of these people even go so far to not allow the things that are actually from the religion.


For example, supplication after the obligatory prayer (it is Sunnah but they say it is innovation).


They also don't allow praying twenty rakats in Ramadan even though Umar began that and he would not have some so if it was a bad thing.


If we were really not allowed to do anything that our Prophet peace be upon him did not do as they say, we would have a hard time.


We would not be able to make up a new supplication and read it ourself for example.


We would not be able to pray extra rakats in the night prayer.


We would have to go to hajj using only caravans driven by camels or horses.


In fact aeroplanes, cars, vans, buses, trains are all innovations.


So is the phone and computer.


We then should not be sending hadiths through watts up or writing blogs if it an innovation as they claim.


Therefore, things that benefit us and are good for us and religious purposes are permitted in the religion.


This is so long as we use them in the right way.


Celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is a good thing so long that it leads to remembering Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him


As well as increasing love for him


And following his teachings.


The only impermissible things are what people may do that is not permissible in the religion, such as missing prayers, gheebah and nameemah and so forth.


Therefore, however people choose to celebrate, whether by parties or with their families they should keep this noble aim in mind and strive to make it a day that he would be pleased with.



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