Celebrating Milad Sharif - the birth of our Holy Prophet

Miladun Nabi is the celebration of Rasulallah (s.a.w)'s birth and is also known as Mawludun Nabi or Mawlid. Some people have declared Miladun Nabi to be Haraam and an evil Bidah because they say that celebrating brithdays and anniversaries have no connection with Islam and is a custom of the Kuffar. They say, "in upholding these innovatory customs, Muslims are in fact imitating the Kuffaar and this our Nabi (s.a.w) has strictly forbidden". Before we discuss the issue of Bidah, we ask those people: what takes place in a Milad celebration? In such a celebration, a session of Naat Sharif (Poems in praise of Rasulallah (s.a.w)) recitals take place, people are fed and their Imaan and love for Rasulallah (s.a.w) is strengthened. The miracles, excellences and beautiful character of Rasulallah (s.a.w) is discussed in Milad gatherings which are started and concluded with Zikr (remembrance of Allah). The Milad functions present people with a way of learning about Rasulallah (s.a.w)'s life and excellent status. A reason to celebrate the Milad of Rasulallah (s.a.w) is even stated in the Holy Quran which says: "In the bounty of Allah Almighty and His Mercy let them rejoice; that is better than the wealth they accumulate". (Surah Yunus: 58). In this verse, Almighty Allah has ordered us to rejoice and show happiness at the blessings he has bestowed upon us - surely the greatest blessing Allah has ever bestowed upon us is our Beloved Nabi (s.a.w), the Mercy unto the worlds. In the time of Rasulallah (s.a.w), the period of the Sahaba and in the period of the Tabi'in, Milad was not celebrated as it is done in the present form. But the Holy Prophet Rasulallah (s.a.w), Sahaba or Tabi'in did not prohibit it either. An accepted principle of Shari'ah that the performance of something is proof of Jawaaz (permissibility), and not doing it is NOT the proof of its prohibition. The Milad celebration is not compulsory but it is Mustahab (recommended). Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti (R.A) himself said that it is Mustahab for us to celebrate Milad of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) as a means to thank Allah. - (Ruhul Bayaan)

Ulema and Muslims of all countries have regarded Milad as Mustahab (recommended). According to the Hadith of Hazrat Ibn Masood (R.A), whichever deed is regarded as good by Muslims is regarded as good by Almighty Allah aswell, and whichever deed is regarded as evil by Muslims is regarded as evil by Almighty Allah aswell. - (Imam Ahmed) The present form of Milad is a Bidah (innovation), but the origin of Milad is found in the time of Rasulallah (s.a.w). The Holy Prophet (s.a.w)'s uncle & arch enemy of Islam, Abu Lahab, set his slave Thuwaiba free out of joy at the birth of Rasulallah (s.a.w). For this reason, Abu Lahab's punishment is made light every Monday as a reward of his act i.e. of expressing happiness for the birth of Rasulallah (s.a.w). - (Bukhari Sharif) In a similiar manner, when the assembly of Zikr of Rasulallah (s.a.w) takes place, a Muslim is happy and joyful, therefore he invites people to partake in the food provided, he gives charity and distributes sweetmeats. To feed people after an important or virtuous deed is the practice of the Sahaba. It is Sunnah to commemorate happiness. Rasulallah (s.a.w) was asked about fasting on a Monday. He replied, "I was born on that day and Wahi (revelation) began upon me on that day." Mishkat. It is thus proven that to keep fast on a Monday is Sunnah because Rasulallah (s.a.w) fasted on that day to thank Allah ta allah. Rasulallah (s.a.w) used to respect the day of his own Milad. He used to thank Allah Ta'ala for that great favour. He used to fast in order to respect that day. Shouldn't we, as his Ummat and devotees, respect that day and commemorate it and thank Allah for this great blessing? Milad celebration causes the recitation of Durood and Salaam. Durood and Salaam are required by Shari'ah. When certain Sahaba e Kiram used to recite the praises of Rasulallah (s.a.w) in poetry form, Rasulallah (s.a.w) used to be pleased and reward those Sahaba. In the Milad function, the character and virtues of Rasulallah (s.a.w) are explained and his praises are recited in poetry and prose form - this is known as Naat Sharif. To mention the miracles and character of Rasulallah (s.a.w) leads towards love and the completion of Iman, which is required by the Shari'ah. Rasulallah (s.a.w) expressed the virtues of Jummah (Friday) by saying that Hazrat Adam (A.S)

was born on that day. Therefore, imagine the virtue of that day when Rasulallah (s.a.w), the Rahmatullil Alameen, was born! Rasulallah (s.a.w) said that anyone who invented a good deed and people later practiced upon it, they will be rewarded. No doubt that Miladun Nabi is a good deed. Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Quran: "And all that We relate to you of the tiding of the Messengers is for the purpose of strengthening your heart therewith". (Surah Hud: 20) We are in need of strengthening our hearts with the mentioning of Rasulallah (s.a.w) and other Prophets (A.S) and the Milad gives us this opportunity. Hazrat Imam Shafi (R.A) said: "Any thing which opposes (or changes) the Quran, Sunnah, Ijma (consensus) or the sayings of the Sahaba is Bid'ah. Any good deed which is not opposed to them is praiseworthy". Milad celebration does not oppose any of them. As in the practices of Hajj, the running between Safa and Marwa are legal in order to refresh the remembrance of pious people ie. Hazrat Bibi Hazra and Hazrat Ishmael (A.S). Similarly, the celebration of Miladun Nabi is also legal to refresh the remembrance of the most pious ie. Rasulallah (s.a.w). Hazrat Moulana Abdus Sammi' (R.A) has counted 73 names of great scholars of Islam who wrote about the validity of Milad celebrations. - (Anwaare Saati'a) Allama Jalaluddin Suyuti (R.A) writes: "The Shari'ah commanded Aqeeqah on the birth of a child. This is a way to thank Allah and rejoice, but on the time of death no such commandment has been given. In fact, mourning and grieving is prohibited. The same principle of Shari'ah demands that happiness and the joy should be expressed in Rabiul Awwal on the birth of the beloved Rasul (s.a.w), and not grieve on his Wisaal (departure from this world)." - (Husnul Maqsad Fee Amalil Moulid Al Haawi Lil Fatawa) Imam Suyuti (R.A) also writes regarding Milad Sharif, that: "According to me, gatherings, recitations of the Quran, mentioning incidents of the holy life of Rasulallah (s.a.w) and mentioning those signs which appear at the time of his birth are amongst the good innovations in which a person is rewarded because in this there is respect, love and expression of happiness for the arrival of Rasulallah (s.a.w)." - (Al Haavi Lil Fataawa) Imam Qastalani (R.A) writes: "In the month of the birth of Rasulallah (s.a.w), Muslims always had assemblies. In the nights of that month, they gave charities and expressed happiness. They always increased good deeds in those nights. They always made arrangements to

perform the Milad of Rasulallah (s.a.w) with the auspicious hope that Allah Ta ala showers His blessings upon them. One of the experienced Barakah (blessing) of Milad is that the year passes upon them peacefully. May Allah Ta'ala send His Blessings and Favour upon that person who took Miladun Nabi as Eid; this Eid should become a reason of hardness upon that person who has disease in his heart". - (Mawahe bul Le Dunya) Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Haqq Muhaddith Delwi (R.A) writes: "All Muslims have always celebrated Milad functions in the month of Rabiul Awwal. They always gave charities in the nights of that month and expressed their happiness. This is a common practice of Muslims that they particularly make mention of those incidents which are related to the birth of Rasulallah (s.a.w)". - (Ma Sabata Bis Sunnah) Mullah Ali Qari (R.A) writes: "Firstly, we see that it is permissible to arrange an assembly of Milad. It is permissible to participate in that assembly for the purpose of listening to the praises and character of Rasulallah (s.a.w). Inviting people and expressing happiness is permissible. Secondly, we do not say that it is Sunnah to celebrate Milad on any fixed night. Anyone who believes that it is Sunnah to celebrate Meelad on any fixed night (and not in any other night) is a Bid'ati because the Zikr of Rasulallah (s.a.w) is required all the time. Though indeed, the month in which Rasulallah (s.a.w) was born has more preference". - (Al Mouridur-ravi fil Moulidin Nabi) Allama Ibn Abedeen Shami (R.A) writes: "Every person who is truthful in the love of Rasulallah (s.a.w) should express happiness in the month of Rabiul Awwal. He should arrange an assembly for the Milad of Rasulallah (s.a.w) in which the incidents of his birth are explained with correct Ahadith. There is a strong hope from Allah that such a person will be included in the group of pious people with the intercession of Rasulallah (s.a.w)". - (Jawahi Rul Bihaar) We do not fix a particular day or night for the Milad, nor do we believe that Milad is not Ja'iz (permissable) on any other date. It is our view that whosoever does such an act does so out of ignorance, because the love of Rasulallah (s.a.w) demands that one should continuously be absorbed in his remembrance. No Muslim ever regards the Milad function as being more important than Salah. As for segregation, women sit in Milad gatherings separate from men and observe the necessary rules of Hijab.