Allah The Exalted warns us in
Surah Nur verse 54:
Say: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allah's Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)."
The Prophet(
) warned:
“He who does an act which our matter (i.e. our religion)
is not in agreement with, will have it rejected.” [Al Bukhari]
Alhamdulilah we are now in the month of Rabi Al Awwal. It is around this time of the year that some Muslims, in their mistaken belief, celebrate the birthday of the Noble Prophet(
). This is BID'AH (Innovation)!
A certain channel on SKY TV here in the UK heavily promotes many deviant practices that have no basis in Islam. One of these is Milad-un-Nabi. What is particularly worrying is that non-Muslims who watch this channel and thinking of becoming a Muslim and entering Islam, are given the wrong impression.
The celebration of birthdays has no place in Islam and some Muslims still refuse to let go of that concept. The Prophet(
) warned us to not
imitate the Christians and the Jews and follow him(
). In fact this advice is in the following hadith:
Narrated Abu Huraira 
The Prophet said, "Leave me as I leave you, for the people who were before you were ruined because of their questions and their differences over their prophets. So, if I forbid you to do something, then keep away from it. And if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can."
[Sahih Al Bukhari, 9:391]Narrated Abu Sa'id The Prophet( ) "Surely, you will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, in everything as one arrow resembles another, (i.e. just like them), so much so that even if they entered a hole of a sand-lizard, you would enter it."
They said, "O Allaah’s Messenger! Do you mean to say that we will follow the Jews and the Christians?"
He() replied, "Whom else?"
[Al Bukhari, Muslim]
Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee, rahimahullaah, said,
"That a servant meets Allaah with every sin except Shirk is better than meeting Him upon any of the innovated beliefs."
[Reported by Al-Baihaqee in al-I'tiqaad (p.158)]
The evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah are many and all warn against innovative practices. Allah The Glorious has stated in Surah Al Ahzab verse 21:
“Verily in the Messenger of Allah you have the best example for him who looks unto Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.”
The Noble Prophet() said:
“Whoever obeys me, he obeys Allah, and whoever disobeys me, he disobeys Allah, and whoever obeys my ameer, he obeys me and whoever disobeys him, he disobeys me.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Honourable Prophet()
said:
“All of my followers will enter Al-Jannah except those who refuse.” They said: “O Allah's Messenger! Who will refuse?” He said: “Whoever obeys me will enter Al-Jannah and whoever disobeys me is the one who refuses (to enter it).”[Reported by Al-Bukhari]
Still insistent that the birthday of the Honourable Prophet() should be celebrated??? Do not be drawn into Bid'ah(Innovation) and corrupt your Deen(religion)! The Companions(May Allah be pleased with them all) who were the best of people after the Prophets(May Allah's Peace be upon them all), DID NOT celebrate the birthday of the Noble Prophet() so why engage in something that has absolutely no basis in Islam?? We are not even close to the rank of the Companions(May Allah be pleased with them all), yet some Muslims have deviated from the correct teachings of this beautiful Deen and have turned it into something else.
Some of these Muslims will argue that celebrating Milad-un-Nabi is a long standing tradition in their families and communities. Allah says to these people in Surah Surah Al Baqarah verse 170:
"When it is said to them, ‘Follow what Allah has sent down.’ They say, ‘No! We shall follow what we found our fathers following. What! Even though their fathers were void of knowledge and guidance?’
Jaabir narrated the Prophet () said, "To proceed: The best speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance and example is that of Muhammad, and the worse of all things are the newly invented things (in the religion), for every innovation is a error and a misguidance."
[Sahih Muslim]
And in Tirmidhi the extra wording is added:
"…Every innovation is a going astray and every going astray is in the fire." [AlTirmidhi]
Allah The Majestic warns in Surah An Nur verse 62:
"And let those who oppose the Messenger’s way beware, lest some conflict befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them."
Are the above verses and hadiths not sufficient evidence and a stern warning to us all? The only evidence of the Prophet() celebrating his birthday... and it is NOT what you think, read carefully before jumping to a conclusion, is found in this hadith:
Abu Qatada al-Ansari narrates in Sahih Muslim, Kitab as-siyam, that the Prophet() was asked about the fast of Monday, and he answered: "That is the day that I was born and that is the day I received the prophecy." [Sahih Muslim]The Sahaba (May Allah be pleased with them all) loved the Prophet(
) very dearly and so followed the Sunnah by fasting on a Monday and Thursday. In fact Usamah ibn Zayd narrated:
"The client of Usamah ibn Zayd narrated that he went along with Usamah to Wadi al-Qura in pursuit of his camels. He would fast on Monday and Thursday. His client said to him: Why do you fast on Monday and Thursday, while you are an old man? He said: The Prophet of Allah () used to fast on Monday and Thursday. When he was asked about it, he said: The works of the servants (of Allah) are presented (to Allah) on Monday and Thursday."
[Abu Dawood,7:2430]
If you love the Prophet(), follow his example! Shun the innovation! Fast Mondays and Thursdays for the reward is immense!
Abu Hurayrah narrated: "Rasool Allah said: 'Deeds are presented (before Allah ) on Mondays and Thursdays. I desire that my deeds be presented whilst I am fasting'".
[Tirmidhi 42:008]
So hold those decorations, cakes, get togethers, the singing and poetry and instead fear Allah, repent and follow the Sunnah of the Beloved Messenger()!
Lastly, i leave you with the advice of the Beloved Messenger(
) :
"Do not over praise me as the Christians over-praised the son of Mary. I am His slave so say: 'Allah's slave and messenger'[SahihAl-Bukhari and Muslim]
Submit to Social WebsitesCelebrating Milad-un- nabi: BID'AH
