Recently, there has been a strong wave of critisim against celebrating the Mawlid of the Prophet (saw). Some have said that is is a bid’a (innovation) and goes against Islam. Others have claimed that the Mawlid celebrations lead people into engaging in un-Islamic behaviour. Through defining the specific terms and analysing the accusations, we will be able to deduce that not only is celebrating the Mawlid a positive thing, it is one of the most important thing we can do as Muslims today.

 

1. What does bid’a mean and is the Mawlid bid’a?

In order to understand if celebrating the Mawlid is a bid’a or not, we need to first understand what a bid’a is. Bid’a is an Arabic word that means creating something from scratch. In some situations, bid’a could be very beneficial, like if a scientist creates a new medicine or an engineer creates new machinery, and so on. However, it can also be very dangerous. In an Islamic sense, it is ascribing to the religion a certain belief or law without being substantiated with any evidence from the body of shari’a, Qur’an and hadiths. It is considered a sin, which could pose a great risk to Islamic society and so should be avoided. The religion of Allah (swt) is perfect and needs to be followed in the way He intended it to be.

The key point in figuring out if something is bid’a or not, is if you ascribe a jurisprudential ruling to it. For example, there is no problem with scholars wearing turbans, however, if someone turns around and says that the Prophet or one of the Imams said that it was obligatory, then, it would be classified as a bid’a since there is no Islamic evidence for it being a part of the shari’a. This goes for many of the practices we do as Muslims, such as using a prayer mat and prayer beads, commemorating various Islamic historical occasions, Islamic art and calligraphy, putting up decorations during Eid and the like. There is no issue with any of these as long as:

• They don’t contradict Islamic principles, and;
• That we do not claim they are inherent parts of Islam.

So according to this, we can celebrate the Mawlid as long as we don’t claim that it is something divinely ordained and that during our celebration, we do not do that which displeases Allah (swt).

 

2. Why do people claim the Mawlid is a bid’a?

There are many accusations against celebrating the Mawlid, with some claiming it is bid’a. This mainly stems claims that some Muslims take the Mawlid as an Eid. As we know, there are only two Islamic Eids according to shari’a; Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-Fitr. Calling any other Islamic occasion an Eid is incorrect. So, we should celebrate the Mawlid but be careful not to call it an Eid.

Another claim is that it is a bid’a simply because it is something that did not occur at the time of the Prophet. However, this is a flawed definition of bid’a since not everything that did not occur at the time of the Prophet is haram. It goes back to the two key points mentioned earlier; that it should comply with Islamic teachings, and not be considered a part of the shari’a.  

Moreover, it seems that there is a historical tension between different Islamic groups about this event. It is narrated that the celebration of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad started in the fifth Hijri century, and it was approved by many scholars regardless of their madhhab (sect). In the seventh Hijri century it was questioned by ibn Taymiyya who considered it bid’a, and then some Muslims followed him until today.

One of the most important teachings from our Prophet is to know Islamic teachings well, instead of judging Islamic beliefs through people. In every Islamic practice, people might perform bad things, but that would not make that matter bad or haram. For example, if someone does not pray well or adds things to the prayers, that does not make salat itself a bid’a. If un-Islamic things occur during Mawlid celebrations, like exaggerations in poetry for example, that does not mean we should ban these events. Instead, we should simply ensure that everything we do is always in compliance with Islam.

 

3. Why should we celebrate the birthday of the Prophet?

There are many benefits that come from celebrating the blessed Mawlid. Firstly, it is an opportunity to develop a connection with the Prophet and his message, and to teach the new generation about him. This connection enhances the confidence of Muslims in their religion and strengthens their Islamic identity. It is also a way to establish unity between Muslims to be strong against the challenges that face them at present.

In the Qur’an there are some verses that include a salutation from Allah (swt) to his prophets on their birthday. For example, in Chapter 19 (Maryam) Allah greets his prophet Yahya on the day he was born: “Peace on him the day he was born, and the day he dies and the day he shall be raised alive” 19: 14

“وَسَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيۡهِ يَوۡمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوۡمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوۡمَ يُبۡعَثُ حَيًّ۬ا”  

Also in another verse Prophet Isa greets himself on the day he was born: “Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive” 19: 33     

“وَٱلسَّلَـٰمُ عَلَىَّ يَوۡمَ وُلِدتُّ وَيَوۡمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوۡمَ أُبۡعَثُ حَيًّ۬ا” 

The salute that comes from Allah (swt) means that this person deserves peace, honour and mercy from Allah (swt), especially during the three critical times in life; the day he was born, the day he died, and Judgement Day. So, if Allah (swt) salutes one of his prophets, what is the problem if Muslims salute their prophet on the day he was born? While celebrating the birthday of a normal person is empty of values, except strengthening the relations between family and friends, celebrating the birthday of a great personality like Prophet Muhammad, provides many opportunities to the betterment of people and the advancement of humanity. It reminds us of him so we can follow his example in our lives.

People need a good example to follow in their lives, and the Prophet is the best example. This matter is necessary these days, especially for young people who need to connect with the Prophet to lead them to the right path, rather than appreciating other famous people who might deviate them from the path of Allah (swt). Celebrating the Prophet’s birth anniversary would bring him alive, especially in the minds and hearts of young people who significantly need his guidance, especially in our time where social media is dominating the minds of people.

Celebrating this event collectively could create a healthy environment for families and encourages unity and strengthens Islamic brotherhood relations.

Further, Prophet Muhammad worked extremely hard to teach us the Islamic message. He was hurt immensely and was keen to guide people to the right path. Celebrating the birth of the Prophet provides an opportunity to reflect on the Prophet’s ethics and manners and learn from him. It is also an opportunity to appreciate his hard work and promise him to maintain the Islamic message in our hearts and in our lives. This would be the greatest reward for him.

Moreover, Islam is facing a huge campaign that attacks its basic principles and aims to eradicate it from the life of many Muslims in the world. Prophet Muhammad is the best representative of Islam. Constant remembrance of such great personality would enhance his teachings in our societies. In this regard, Muslims should focus on the teachings, stances and morals of the Prophet in addition to his personal attributes.

Celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammed is a happy occasion. People need happy times to give them energy to continue their lives and do their tasks. However, celebrating the birth of the Prophet does not mean singing and dancing. People need to be more aware of the Islamic way of celebration. In Islam, the closer to Allah (swt) you are the happier you will be. Celebrating the Prophet means appreciating his message, his knowledge and his ethics. It also means maintaining his teachings, by giving an oath to follow Islamic rules in every aspect of life. Also it is recommended for Muslims to gather and love each other and celebrate brotherhood, and maybe share ideas and food. In this way we can achieve the best celebration, entertainment and happiness.

So, the positive aspects of celebrating this occasion are much more than the negative aspects and it is not a bid’a. That’s why Muslims should celebrate this great event and remember our great Prophet.

 

4. What is the ideal way of celebrating Mawlid Al-Nabi?

So now that we have established that we should celebrate this momentous occasion, the question remains, how should we celebrate the Mawlid in a way that would please Allah (swt) and His Prophet? We can hold gatherings, talk about his personality and merits and reflect on them, give charity to the poor, provide food and sweets, recite poems and nasheeds and decorate our houses and Islamic centres. These help to create a feeling of joy and makes the Mawlid an important occasion. However, while these ways of celebration are great and valuable, they are not actually enough, especially at this time where Islam and Muslims are facing many challenges. In addition to the usual ways of celebrating the Prophet’s birthday, we need to implement the Islamic teachings, and learn the meanings of the Qur’an, so we can celebrate the birthday of the Prophet all year round. Above all, we need to try our best to achieve unity between Muslims, as unity would make a strong Ummah and solve most of Muslims’ problems and suffering.

 

By Dr. Iman Alattar