The celebration of Mawlid an-Nabawi – is it Khayr (good) or evil?110
From As-Sunnah Newsletter (issue9)
Shaikh al-Albanee: The celebration of Mawlid an-Nabawi is it Khayr (good) or evil?
The opponent: Khayr.
Shaikh al-Albanee: So, were the Messenger of Allah and his Sahabah unaware of this Khayr (good)?
The opponent: No.
Shaikh al-Albanee: I am not convinced with your saying, ‘No’ because it is impossible that this Khayr if it is Khayr – be concealed from the Prophet (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) and his Sahabah because we do not know Islam and Eeman except through Prophet Muhammad (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam). So, how do we know a Khayr (deed) that he did not know of? This is impossible.
The opponent: Establishing Mawlid an-Nabawi is reviving his (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) memories and is a tribute to him (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam).
Shaikh al-Albanee: This is a philosophy that we know of, and have heard from many and read in their books, but when Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) invited the people (to the Deen of Allah), did he call them to Islam as a whole or he invited them to Tawheed?
The opponent: Tawheed.
Shaikh al-Albanee: First, he invited them to Tawheed, next the Salaat was made obligatory, then Siyam, later the obligation of Hajj, and so on. So, you follow this Sunnah of the Sharee’ah, (and discuss the matter) step-by-step.
We have now agreed that it is impossible that there could be a Khayr with us which the Prophet (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) did not know of.
(Because) we know all the Khayr through the Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam).… and I believe that anyone, who doubts in this matter, is not a Muslim.
From the Ahadeeth of Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) that support this statement is, ‘There is nothing that will take you closer to Paradise but that I have enjoined it upon you, and there is nothing that will take you closer to Hell but that I have warned you of it.’
So, if Mawlid was Khayr and something that could bring us closer to Allah, then Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) would have guided us to it. Right or wrong?
I don’t want you to agree with me except if you are convinced of every word I say. You have complete freedom to say, ‘Please, I do not agree with this point.’ So, do you stop at some point from what I have just said, or are you with me completely?
The opponent: I am with you totally.
Shaikh al-Albanee: Jazak Allah Khair.
We say to everybody who approves of this celebration; (if) Mawlid is Khayr in your opinion – so, did the Messenger of Allah (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) guide us to it or did he not.
If they say, ‘He guided us to it’
We say to them, ‘Produce your Proof (Burhaan) if you are truthful.’ [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 11] and they can never bring a proof of it. We have read books of Ulwi and others on this issue and they have no proof or argument except (saying), ‘This is a Bidah Husna (a good innovation)!!’ ‘This is a Bidah Husna!’
Everybody; those who approve of Mawlid and those who forbid it, are agreed upon that this (celebration of) Mawlid did not exist at the time of Allah’s Messenger nor at the time of the Sahabah…
However, the supporters of Mawlid say, ‘What is (evil) in Mawlid? It is remembering the Prophet (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam), sending blessing upon him and similar acts.’
We say, ‘If it was Khayr, there would have been precedence in it (by the Salaf as-Salih). You know the Hadeeth of Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam), ‘The best of my ummah is my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.’ This is an agreed upon Hadeeth.
His (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) generation was in which he (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) and Sahabah lived, then those who followed them were the Tabi’oon, and then those who followed them were the followers of Tabi’oon. This again is an agreed upon matter.
So, do you think that there could be any Khayr in which we could excel them in terms of knowledge and actions? Is it possible?
The opponent: Concerning knowledge – if the Messenger had informed someone at his time that the earth rotates.
Worldly Knowledge and Sharee’ah knowledge110
Shaikh al-Albanee: Please no divergence (from the main issue of discussion).
I asked you about two things; knowledge and action.
As a matter of fact, this divergence of yours has been helpful to me.
So, (to say in a more clear way), I mean (my question is) in terms of the Sharee’ah knowledge and actions not (the knowledge of) medicine for example. The doctor today is more knowledgeable than Ibn Seena in his age because he was born after a long time and many many experiments (were) carried out (during this period) but this does not increase him (in status) before Allah nor does he achieve precedence over the best generations. Rather he possesses a superior status in the field of knowledge he possesses.
We are however, speaking about the Sharee’ah knowledge Barak Allah Feek (May Allah bless you). So, you have to keep this in mind – when I tell you, do we believe that we can be more knowledgeable, it refers to the Sharee’ah knowledge not the experimental knowledge like Geography, Astronomy, Chemistry and Physics. Consider for example, in this time of ours a disbeliever in Allah and the Messenger is the more knowledgeable than the other people in these secular sciences – does this bring him closer to Allah?
The opponent: No
Shaikh al-Albanee: So, now we are not talking in terms of this (worldly) knowledge but we are speaking about knowledge with which we seek to be closer to Allah, and just a little while ago, we were speaking about the celebration of Mawlid.
The question again is and please reply openly without another divergence.
Do you think with the mind and intellect bestowed upon you (by Allah) that it is possible for us, in this later time to be more knowledgeable than the Sahabah and the Taba’een with regards to the Sharee’ah knowledge and be hastier i
n performing actions and that we be closer to Allah than the Salaf as-Salih?
The opponent: Do you mean the Tafseer of the Qur’aan by the knowledge of the Sharee’ah?
Shaikh al-Albanee: They are more knowledgeable than us in Tafseer; they are more knowledgeable than us in the Ahadeeth of Allah’s Messenger, consequently they are more knowledgeable than us in the Sharee’ah of Islam.
The opponent: Concerning the Tafseer of the Qur’aan, perhaps, today in our time (we are more knowledgeable), for example the Qur’aanic verse, ‘And you will see the mountains and think them solid, but they shall pass away as the passing away of the clouds. The Work of Allah, Who perfected all things, verily! He is Well-Acquainted with what you do. [(27): 88]
If the Messenger of Allah (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) had informed someone in his time that the earth rotates, would he have believed him? Nobody would have believed him.
Shaikh al-Albanee: Do you want us to write down another divergence in your record.
Brother, I am asking about the totality and not some part, we are asking a common question;
Who is more knowledgeable as a whole about Islam?
The opponent: Obviously Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) and his Sahabah.
Shaikh al-Albanee: This is (the answer) we want from you Barak Allah Feek
The Tafseer, which you keep repeating, has no relation with actions, it relates to thinking and intellect. Those who mention this verse in order to conclude that the earth rotates are mistaken because the verse relates to the Day of Judgment, `On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens, and they (all creatures) will appear before Allah, the One, the Irresistible.’ [Soorah Ibraheem (14): 48] (However,) We are not discussing this subject.
I accept that that the later people are more knowledgeable about secular sciences; more than the Sahabah and the Taba’een and others, but this has no relation with righteous actions. For example, today the disbelievers are more knowledgeable in the sciences of astronomy but will it benefit them in any way? No So, we don’t have to plunge into this subject, we are to speak about everything that brings us closer to Allah, and we have to discuss about Mawlid an-Nabawi.
So, we have agreed that if there was any Khayr then the Salaf as-Salih and at their head Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) would have been more knowledgeable about it than us and hasty in performing that action. Is there any doubt in it?
The opponent: No, no doubt.
Shaikh al-Albanee: Do not restrict this to experimental sciences it has nothing to do with closeness to Allah or righteous deeds.
So, Mawlid was non-existent during the time of Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) – as agreed upon by everybody. So, this Khayr was non-existent during the time of Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam), his Sahabah, Taba’een and the Imams. How could this Khayr be concealed from them?
We have to say one of the two things;
They knew this Khayr like we know, they were more knowledgeable than us,
or they did not know this Khayr; then how did we know it?
So, if we say, they knew – and this saying is more in favor of those who approve the celebration of Mawlid – so, why did they not act upon it? Are we closer to Allah then they were?!
Why did not even one of them perform this act; a Sahabi or a Taba’ee or a knowledgeable or a common person?
Does it suit your mind that nobody ever acted upon this Khayr? And they were in millions, they were more knowledgeable than us, righteous than us and closer to Allah than us?
You know the saying of Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam), ‘Do not revile my companions. By (Allah) in Whose Hand my soul is, if any one of you spends gold (piled up) like (mount) Uhud it will not equal a pint of any one of them, nor its half.’ [Agreed upon]
Do you see the difference between them and us?
They struggled in the path of Allah with Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) and took the knowledge ‘gaddan taryan’ (fresh and anew) without these many mediums that are between us and the Prophet (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) as Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) pointed towards a similar meaning in the Saheeh Hadeeth, ‘Whoever wants to read the Quran as gaddan taryan as when it was revealed, then let him read according to the recitation of Ibn Umm Abd.’ Meaning Abdullah ibn Mas’ood – ‘gaddan taryan’ means fresh and anew
These Salaf as-Salih and at the head of them the Sahabah (radiallahuanhum) – we cannot imagine that they were ignorant of something that would bring them closer to Allah and we know of it. And if we say that they knew it like we know then we cannot imagine that they ignored this Khayr.
Insha’Allah, this issue has been made clear to you after I have repeatedly mentioned it.
If the celebration of Mawlid was Khayr then it would have been from Islam.110
The opponent: al-Hamdulillah.
Shaikh al-Albanee: Jazak Allah Khair
One more thing, there are numerous verses and Ahadeeth, which explain that Islam has been completed/perfected. And I believe you are well-aware of this and firmly believe in it; an Alim (scholar) and a common man both know this truth that Islam is complete and it is not like the religion of the Jews and Christians in which there is alteration and modification every day. And I remind you of the Saying of Allah, `This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my Favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.’ [Soorah al-Maidah (5):3]
So here comes the question and this is another way to prove that the celebration of Mawlid is not Khayr different from the previous point in which we established and agreed that if Mawlid was Khayr then it would have surely been performed by those who have passed before us i.e., the Salaf as-Salih – those who were more knowledgeable and righteous.
If the celebration of Mawlid was Khayr then it would have been from Islam.
So, are we all; those who approve of the celebration of Mawlid and those who disapprove of it – agreed upon like our agreement before that the celebration of Mawlid was non-existent during the time of Allah’s Messenger?
Are we agreed upon now that if the celebration of Mawlid was Khayr then it would have been from Islam and if it was not Khayr then it is not from Islam?
The day when the following verse, `This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my Favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.’ [Soorah al-Maidah (5):3] when this verse was revealed, there was no celebration of Mawlid. So do you think the Deen would have been complete (without this celebration of Tawheed)?
Please be frank with me, do not think of me as those scholars who quite their students and common people saying, ‘Be quite, you do not know and you don’t understand.’
No, use your freedom to speak as if you were speaking to a person of your age and knowledge. If you are not convinced say, ‘I am not convinced.’
So, if the celebration of Mawlid was Khayr then it would have been from Islam, and if it was not Khayr then it would not have been from Islam and we are agreed upon that Mawlid was non-existent when this verse was revealed.
I bas
e my argument upon the saying of Malik Ibn Anas, who said, ‘He, who innovates in the religion of Islam a Bidah – notice that he says one Bidah and not many Bidah – and he considers it to be Khayr then he has maligned the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) that he betrayed (i.e., did not completely convey) the Message.’
This is a dangerous matter. What is the proof, O Imam?
Imam Malik said, ‘Read if you wish, `This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my Favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.’ [Soorah al-Maidah (5):3]
So, something that was not from the Deen that day, is not from the Deen today.’
When did Imam Malik make this statement?
In the second century after Hijrah, one of the generations that was promised goodness.
So, how about the fourteenth century?!
This statement should be written with letters of gold. But we are ignorant of the Book of Allah and the Ahadeeth of Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam), and from the saying of the scholars whom we claim to follow, between their example and ours is a distance equal to the distance between east and west.
Imam Malik speaks in clear Arabic, ‘something that was not from the Deen that day, is not from the Deen today’
If it was not so then there would have been no controversy or dispute among the scholars who adhere to the Sunnah and those who defend the Bidah.
So, how can this be from the Deen, when it was not so during the time of Allah’s Messenger, the Sahabah, the Taba’een and their followers?!
Imam Malik was from the followers of the Taba’een and was included in the Hadeeth, `The best of my ummah is my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.’ [Agreed upon]
Imam Malik said, ‘The affairs of the later part of this ummah can never be corrected except with that which corrected the affairs of the early generations of this Ummah.’
With what were the first part of the Ummah corrected?
By innovating in the religion and (seeking to) achieve closeness to Allah with that which Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) did not prescribed??!
Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) said, ‘There is nothing that will take you closer to Paradise but that I have enjoined it upon you, and there is nothing that will take you closer to Hell but that I have warned you from it.’ [Musnad ash-Shafa’ee]
Why did Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) did not order us with the celebration of Mawlid?
This is a question and it has an answer, (because) There exists a legislated celebration of Mawlid an-Nabawi in contrast to the unlegislated celebration of Mawlid an-Nabawi.
The legislated celebration existed during the time of Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) in contrast to the unlegislated one.
There are two big differences between these two celebrations;
1) The legislated celebration is a form of worship and is agreed upon by all the Muslims (in contrast to the unlegislated one, which is neither legislated nor a worship and is not agreed upon by all Muslims)
2) The legislated celebration comes once every week and their celebration of Mawlid comes once a year.
I do not say this without a proof, I will relate to you a Hadeeth from Saheeh Muslim,
Abi Qatadah al-Ansaree related, `There came a man to Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) and said, `O Messenger of Allah, why do you fast on Mondays?’ He (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) replied, `That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was entrusted with the Mission or when I was first given Revelation.’ [Saheeh Muslim]
What is the meaning of this statement?
As if he (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) is saying, why do you ask me this while on this day Allah gave me life and revealed the Qur’aan upon me?! Which means that it is required to fast on Mondays as a gratitude to Allah for His creating me and revelation of the Wahy on this day.
And this is similar to the fast of Aashoorah, know that the fast of Aashoorah was made obligatory upon every Muslim before the month of Ramadaan.
It has been related in the Ahadeeth that when Allah’s Messenger migrated to al-Medina, he found the Jews fasting the day of Aashoorah and inquired about it. They replied saying this is the day when Allah saved Moosa and his people from Fir’awn and his army. So we fast on this day in thankfulness to Him. Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) said, ‘We have more right upon him than you.’ So, he fasted and ordered fasting on this day and it was made obligatory until Allah revealed this verse, `The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and criterion (between right and wrong).’ [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 185]
And the obligation of fasting on the day of Aashoorah was abrogated and it became a Sunnah.
It is evident from this that Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) participated with the Jews in their fasting on the day of Aashoorah in thankfulness to Allah for saving Moosa from Fir’awn. So, even for us the door of Shukr (thankfulness) has been opened in the form of fasting on Mondays because it is the day when Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) was born and on this day the Wahy (revelation) came down upon him.
Now I ask, ‘These people who celebrate Mawlid, do they fast on Mondays?’
No, they do not fast on Mondays. But most of the people celebrate Mawlid an-Nabawi every year! Is this not altering the facts?
For these people, the following verse is true with regards to Jews (alone), `Would you exchange that which is better for that which is lower?’ [(2): 61]
This is Khayr; the fast which is agreed upon by all the Muslims, and it is the fast on Mondays while majority of the Muslims do not fast this day!!
There are a very few people who fast on these days. So, do they know the reason behind this fast? No, they don’t.
So, where are the scholars who defend Mawlid, why don’t they enlighten the people that fasting on Monday is the legislated celebration of Mawlid (i.e., birthday of Allah’s Messenger)? And why don’t they encourage the people to it instead of defending the unlegislated celebration?
Allah truly Says, `Would you exchange that which is better for that which is lower?’ [(2): 61]
And the Messenger truly said, ‘They will follow the ways of those who came before them, handspan by handspan, cubit by cubit, until even if they entered a lizard’s hole they will follow them.’ We said, `O Messenger of Allah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?’ He said, `Who else?’ [Agreed upon]
So, we have followed in the footsteps of the Jews, they chose that which was less over that which was Khayr, like we have chosen the celebration of Mawlid an-Nabawi that comes once a year and is baseless – over the Khayr i.e., celebration (of Mawlid an-Nabawi) every Monday. This is a legislated practice that you fast while keeping in mind the motive behind it which is being thankful to Allah for His creation of Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) on this day and revelation of Wahy…
The opponent: Isn’t reading the Seerah (biography) of Allah’s Messenger an act of honoring him?
Shaikh al-Albanee: Yes
The opponent: In it is reward – this is Khayr from Allah.
Shaikh al-Albanee: All of it is Khayr, there is no benefit (for your stance) in this question so I interrupt you with a question, ‘Does anybody stop you from reading his (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) Seerah?’
Let me ask you a question, `If there was a legislated worship, but Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) did not assign a specific time or specific mann
er for it. Is it allowed for us to set a specific time and manner for it from ourselves? Do you have an answer?’
The opponent: No, I don’t have an answer.
Shaikh al-Albanee: Allah says, ‘Or have they partners with Allah, who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed.’ [Soorah Shurah (42): 21]
Similarly, Allah says, They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam, while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the Taurah and the Injeel) to worship none but One Ilah (Allah) La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshiped but He). Praise and glory be to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him).’ [Soorah Tawbah (9): 31]
Narrated Adee Ibn Hatim t that he heard the Prophet of Allah (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) reciting the verse: (above verse), he (Hatim) said ‘We didn’t worship them.’ The Messenger of Allah (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam), `Did they not make Haraam what Allah made Halaal and you all made it Haraam, and they made Halaal what Allah made Haraam and you all made it Haraam?’ He replied, `Certainly.’ The Prophet of Allah (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) said, `That is your worship to them.’ [at-Tirmidhee, vol. 3, p. 56. no. 247]
This shows the danger of innovating in the Deen of Allah.
Adapted from
cassette no 1/94 of the series al-Huda wan-Nur
Translated by Shawana A. Aziz
Arabic text can be found on www.binbaz.org
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