To The Celebrators of Prophet's Birthday [<][>]
This year we appeal again to our brothers and sisters to remember their duty to the Creator and to their Religion. To pay tribute to Prophet Muhammad (S) is not resorting to sloppy and false admiration for him by celebrating his birthday. This year this event will culminate to a ridiculous height than ever before because so-called religious leaders and politicians are backing the festivities to gain publicity for themselves and to see their pictures printed in newspapers. Hundreds of rupees will be thrown away on expensive decorations to make banners and models for display etc. What is this frolicking in aid of? Who is meant to be pleased by such materialistic and hypocritical activities? Allaah or His Messenger? Don't these people realise that while they indulge in these worthless festivities the less fortunate Muslims all over are crying out for help. If they were to channel this money to these needy people they would prove their love for Allaah and His Prophet more convincingly.

Do these people want to show that their love for the Prophet (S) surpasses that of the first Khalifah, Abu Bakr (R)? Do they not realise that Abu Bakr (R) sacrificied everything for Allaah's Rasool to promote his mission. He put his foot over a hole to save the Prophet from a snake bite. He ruled the Islamic Empire for two years following the example of the Prophet to the letter. Yet! he never celebrated the Prophets' birthday, never drew a dinner party for the event or arranged a march through the streets. Strange? Wasn't he able to or didn't he want to or was he less close to the Prophet (S) THAN YOU?

Do you want to prove that you love the Prophet (S) more dearly than the second Khalifah Umar ibn Al-Khataab (R). Umar (R) ruled a vast Islamic Empire for 12 years but he never celebrated the Prophet's birthday, threw dinner parties on the occasion for the Christian and the Roman ambassadors, or arranged marches through the streets. Why didn't he? Do you think he was being disrespectful to the Prophet (S)? Do you think that he lacked the financial resources? Do you think he didn't love the Prophet (S) more than you so he couldn't care about his birthday?

What was the reason? You have to answer these questions here or on the Day of Judgement when it will be too late. It was this same Umar (R) for whom the Prophet made a special prayer to Allaah to grant him faith. It was the same Umar (R) who was so broken hearted at the Prophet's death that he never knew what he was saying.

What about Uthman (R), the third Khalifah. He married two of the Prophet's daughters and the Prophet (S) is reported to have said that if he had 100 daughters he would give them one by one in marriage to Uthman (R). In return what was Uthman's response? Do you think he was forgetful, ungrateful and less in love with the Prophet than you?

Finally Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (R), a cousin and son in law of the Prophet (S). The Prophet (S) is reported to have said that Ali was to him as Haroon was to Moses. And yet! Ali (R) never celebrated the Prophet's birthday.

So what kind of Muslims are you? Why don't you admit that you are following the footsteps of Christians and not of the companions? Why don't you admit that it is inferiority complex that drives you to celebrate the birthday of your own Prophet?

Do you think that homage to Christ by the Christians is sufficiently paid by celebrating his birthday and by imitating their ways of celebrations you would have fulfilled your duties towards your Prophet? Nay, these actions are nothing but a show-piece, lack sincerity of the heart, are entirely fruitless, useless and hypocritical.

Don't you know that Abdullaah bin Ubayy the chief of the hypocrites, used to try to please the Prophet with his affectionate gestures and sweet remarks but to everyone else these actions were hypocritical.

So O Muslim brothers and sisters! The Prophet (S) has never advocated celebrations of birthdays, least of all his own. These people are not only guilty of disobeying the Sunnah of Prophet but have lost the real essence of the message of the seerat of Prophet. The life of Prophet is supposed to be an example for us throughout the whole of our life span and not just be confined to one day, one month or one year.

We hope that Muslims will give up their anti-Sunnah practices of the past and start anew. Be aware of the greatness of your Prophet. He is not of those whose portrait could or should be sketched, whose pictures could or should or be erected and framed, whose statues could or should be erected, whose personality could or should be worshipped to commemorate his memories each year. HE IS ABOVE ALL SUCH METHODS OF COMMEMORATION. Try to tribute him all the time every moment, every minute and every second by sending salaams to him. Remember him by following his footsteps in your daily life otherwise on the Day of Judgement you wouldn't be able to face the angerness of the Prophet - your own Prophet, who will disown you!

WHAT ISLAAM SAYS ABOUT MEELAAD

To find out which act is part of religion and which is not, we turn to the Law-Maker Allaah (Subh) and the law-giver Muhammad (S). NO ONE else has the authority to differentiate for us what is religion and what is not. Depending on these sources, we find out that there are many Ahaadeeth which prohibit the acts of Bid'ah. One such hadeeth: "He who does an act which matter is not (in agreement) with will have it rejected." It is illegitimate even to pay respect to the person who innovates in religion. The Prophet (S) has already warned that such a person will be deprived from the blessing of drinking from the Hawd on the Day of Judgement, rather he will not even be allowed to get close to it. If someone still insists that the prohibition on Meelaad is not proven then his condition is pitiable. IMAAM SHAAFI'EE (S) said: "Whoever innovates something in Islaam and considers it as a righteous act has claimed that Muhammad (S) betrayed the trust of Prophethood". The books of Principles of Fiqh have also closed the doors of innovation by making the following important ruling: "THE BURDEN OF PROOF IN THE RULINGS OF SHAREE'AH IS NOT ON THE ONE WHO DISAPPROVES BUT ON THE ONE WHO APPROVES."

Hence those who celebrate Meelaad have to support their case from Qu'raan and the Sunnah rather than those who disapprove of it. Those who disapprove of it have the strongest evidence that such an act has no basis for it in Qur'aan and the Sunnah neither was it ever performed by any of the Companions nor by any of the righteous Imaams.

Those who approve of Meelaad say that the evidence for doing it, is that, there is no direct prohibition for it in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah and other excuses. If we ponder upon it, this a very dangerous idea. Using this one can do anything against Sharee'ah and be satisfied that there is no direct prohibition for it in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. This devilish concept has given rise to many innovations in the past as well as the present. It has encouraged polythestic practices and roused people to openly and shamelessly transgress the limits set by Allaah (Subh) and His Messenger (S). Such are those who have mixed innovations with Sunnah, Shirk with Tawheed (Oneness) and non-Islaam with Islaam.

We must understand that Bid'ah has been strictly prohibited by the Prophet (S) and that which the Prophet (S) prohibited we must renounce. Allaah (Subh) commanded us in His Noble Book: "And whatsoever the Prophet (S) gives you, take it and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)." (Soorah al-Hashr, 59:7).

Qur'aan has clearly declared the personality of the Prophet (S) a perfect example to be followed. Whatever he (S) did not do cannot be considered to be in obedience to him.

Meelaad was never celebrated by the Companions of the Prophet (S) neither by the Muhaajiroon nor by the Ansaar about who Allaah (Subh) has said "And the first to embrace Islaam of the Muhajiroon and the Ansaar and also those who followed them exactly (in faith). Allaah is well pleased with them as they are well pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the Supreme Success." (Soorah at-Tawbah 9:100)

And we believe strongly that the best period was that of the Prophet (S) and his companions and then afterwards was that of the Successors (Taabi'oon) as the Prophet (S) mentioned: "The best of all generations is my generation then those who come after them then those who come after them."

We also believe strongly that the Companions, the Successors and the righteous scholars of this nation excelled all others in their love for Allaah (Subh) and His Deen. None of them ever performed the act of Meelaad rather every single one of them disapproved and hated any such activity which has no basis.

We also believe strongly that whatever is good for the Muslim nation has already been explicity mentioned by the Prophet (S). Any act of worship which contains any reward has not been left unexplained. Moreover, the Prophet (S) also explained fully all the ways of Shaytaan which will distract humans from the Path of Allaah (Subh) and that he clearly explained the destination of following such ways.

So if there was any benefit for the nation in the celebration of Meelaad he (S) would definitely have made explicit mention of it.

'Allaamah Abu Tayyab 'Ataa'ullaah Haneef states in his annotation to Sunan An-Nasaa'ee: "The celebration of Meelaad is one amongst those innovations which can in no way be considered commendable as has been claimed."

Imaam Al-Basree said: "All the four schools of Fiqh agree on that such an act (ie. the celebration of Meelaad) is highly objectionable."

THE CELEBRATION OF ONLY TWO 'EEDS

Since Islaam is undeniably all-encompassing and complete, it cannot be said that it has left us without guidance as to the matter of our social holidays ('eeds) - when and how we should celebrate them and the best spiritual, moral and material benefits we can acquire as a result of them. Celebrating 'Eed al-Fitr and 'Eed al-Adhhaa according to the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (S) and his pious companions is a means of fulfilling our duties in Islaam and consequently a source of blessing and happiness. Allaah fixed the annual festivals for the Muslims, He did so for only two, neither more nor less. Unfortunately, some Muslims ignorantly celebrate a third 'Eed - the Birthday of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S).

Such a practice is without any authority from the Sunnah or from the lives of any of our pious predecessors, and those who support the celebration of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (S) knowingly or unknowingly support an innovation in Islaam wihich is without any justification at all.

Nowadays people claim that their love and reverence for the Prophet (S) is sufficient justification to celebrate his birthday, but there is not a single piece of evidence to support the introduction of a third 'eed! Indeed, Prophet Muhammad (S) lived among the companions for more than 20 years after the first revelation from Allaah was manifested. If Allaah had wanted the Muslims to celebrate Prophet Muhammad's birthday, He would have instituted a third 'eed and would have announced it to the Muslim Ummah through the Prophet (S). Instead of the 2 Jaahiliyyah festivals that the people at that time were accustomed to celebrating, Allaah decreed not three, but two authentic festivals - 'Eed al-Fitr and 'Eed al-Adhhaa.

Finally, May Allaah fill our hearts with the true love of Prophet that can lead us to practise his life's examples throughout our life. One should not be decieved by the great number who celebrate it in various places. TRUTH IS ALWAYS KNOWN THROUGH EVIDENCE....We pray to Allaah to save Muslims from these digressions and guide them to the true path of Islaam.

"Verily, the best speech is the Book of Allaah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (S); the worst of affairs are the newly devised ones and every bid'ah is misguidance."