CELEBRATING "MAWLID AN-NABÎ (THE PROPHET'S BIRTHDAY)"

[Izhâr'ud Dîn]

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Celebrating “Mawlid an-Nabî (the Prophet's Birthday)”

Shaykh’ul Islâm Ibnu Taymiyyah (Rahimahullâh) stated the following regarding celebrating “Mawlid an-Nabî (the Prophet's Birthday)”:

وكذلك ما يُحدثه بعض الناس، إما مضاهاة للنصارى في ميلاد عيسى عليه السلام وإما محبة للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، وتعظيماً له - والله قد يثيبهم على هذه المحبة والاجتهاد، لا على البدع - من اتخاذ مولد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عيداً - مع اختلاف الناس في مولده - : فإن هذا لم يفعله السلف، مع قيام المقتضي له، وعدم المانع منه، ولو كان هذا خيراً محضاً، أو راجحاً: لكان السلف رضي الله عنهم أحق به منَّا؛ فإنهم كانوا أشد محبة لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وتعظيماً له منَّا، وهم على الخير أحرص، وإنما كمال محبته وتعظيمه: في متابعته، وطاعته، واتباع أمره، وإحياء سنَّته، باطناً، وظاهراً، ونشر ما بُعث به، والجهاد على ذلك، بالقلب، واليد، واللسان؛ فإن هذه هي طريقة السابقين الأولين، من المهاجرين، والأنصار، والذين اتبعوهم بإحسان

“Likewise, what some people innovated, either in similarity to the Nasârâ (Christians) in their (celebration of the) birthday of Îsâ (Alayh’is Salâm) or out of Mahabbah (love) or Ta’dhîm (honour) for the Nabî (Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam) -may Allâh reward them for this Mahabbah and this Ijtihâd (strive), but not for this Bid’ah (innovation)- of taking the Mawlid of the Nabî (Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam) as a celebration, even though the people differentiate regarding his Mawlid. For verily, the Salaf did not do this while its performance “was required” for them and the non-existance of a prevantitive. If this was  purely and preferably good, than the Salaf (Radiyallâhu Anhum) were more deserving of (celebrating) it than us: for they had more Mahabbah and made more Ta’dhîm of Rasûlullâh (Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam) than us. They were most-desiring of the Khayr (good). The Kamâl (perfection) of his Mahabbah and making Ta’dhîm of him (Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam) is in following him, obeying him, following his commands, reviving his Sunnah inwardly and outwardly, propagating that which he brought, and striving upon this by utilizing the heart, hand, and the tongue. Verily, this is the path of as-Sâbiqûn al-Awwalûn (the foremost and the first ones) from amongst the Muhajirûn (emmigrants) and the Ansâr (helpers) and those who follow them with Ihsân (the best possible manner).” (Ibnu Taymiyyah, Iqtidâ’us Sirât’ul Mustaqîm lî Mukhâlifati Ashâb’ul Jahîm, 2/123-124)

[Izhâr'ud Dîn]

Bismillâh,

Just a reminder!..