Proofs That Proofs That Celebrating MawlidCelebrating Mawlid

Is a good and Is a good and rewardable practicerewardable practice

‘‘Bismillah-hi-Rahman-ir-Rahim’Bismillah-hi-Rahman-ir-Rahim’As-Salaam^alaikum,As-Salaam^alaikum,

Dear Brothers & Sisters,Dear Brothers & Sisters,

It is our privilege to celebrate It is our privilege to celebrate this honorable event – Milad-un Nabiyy this honorable event – Milad-un Nabiyy

– celebrating the birth of the best of – celebrating the birth of the best of mankind, Sayiduna Muhammad mankind, Sayiduna Muhammad

(Sallallahu alayhi wa Salaam)(Sallallahu alayhi wa Salaam)..

As you all know, millions of Muslims As you all know, millions of Muslims are commemorating this blessed event are commemorating this blessed event

all across the world by coming all across the world by coming together for such rewardable deeds; together for such rewardable deeds; as reciting from the Qur’an, chanting as reciting from the Qur’an, chanting

Islamic praises, telling the story of the Islamic praises, telling the story of the Prophet’s birth, teaching Religious Prophet’s birth, teaching Religious

Knowledge, slaughtering animals to Knowledge, slaughtering animals to feed to the poor, and gathering to feed to the poor, and gathering to

thank and praise Allah and ask Him to thank and praise Allah and ask Him to exalt the honor of Prophet Muhammad, exalt the honor of Prophet Muhammad,

sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallamsallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam..

The honorable, knowledgeable and The honorable, knowledgeable and righteous ruler: al-Mudhaffar, the righteous ruler: al-Mudhaffar, the King of Irbil, initiated this practice King of Irbil, initiated this practice about 900 years ago, and he was about 900 years ago, and he was

praised by Muslim scholars of praised by Muslim scholars of Islam--among them the Egyptian Islam--among them the Egyptian

hafidhs: Ibn Hajar al-^Asqalaniyy & hafidhs: Ibn Hajar al-^Asqalaniyy & Jalal ud-Din as-SuyutiyyJalal ud-Din as-Suyutiyy . .

The famous scholar of hadith, The famous scholar of hadith, Abul-Khattab Ibn Dihyah, wrote Abul-Khattab Ibn Dihyah, wrote a book for the king especially a book for the king especially to be read during the mawlid to be read during the mawlid celebration, and there are celebration, and there are nono great Muslim scholars who great Muslim scholars who dispraised this innovated dispraised this innovated

celebrationcelebration..

The basis for commemorating The basis for commemorating honorable events repeatedly every honorable events repeatedly every year is evidenced in the Sunnah of year is evidenced in the Sunnah of

the Prophet. As related by al-the Prophet. As related by al-Bukhariyy, when the Prophet Bukhariyy, when the Prophet

emigrated to al-Madinah he found emigrated to al-Madinah he found the Jews fasting, so he asked them the Jews fasting, so he asked them

why they fasted on the 10th of why they fasted on the 10th of MuharramMuharram..

They told the Prophet they do so to They told the Prophet they do so to commemorate the day God saved commemorate the day God saved

Prophet Moses (Musa) and the Tribes Prophet Moses (Musa) and the Tribes of Israel (Isra’il) from the tyranny of the of Israel (Isra’il) from the tyranny of the

Pharaoh. It was revealed to the Pharaoh. It was revealed to the Prophet what the Jews said was true, Prophet what the Jews said was true,

so Prophet Muhammad told them: "so Prophet Muhammad told them: "We We are more deserving of Moses (Musa) are more deserving of Moses (Musa)

than youthan you." He said this because ." He said this because Prophet Moses (Musa) was MuslimProphet Moses (Musa) was Muslim . .

Therefore, Prophet Therefore, Prophet Muhammad ordered the Muhammad ordered the Muslims to fast the 9th & Muslims to fast the 9th & 10th of Muharram, and as 10th of Muharram, and as

all of you know this all of you know this Sunnah is still practiced Sunnah is still practiced

todaytoday..

To celebrate the birth of the To celebrate the birth of the Prophet by doing rewardable Prophet by doing rewardable

deeds is considered an innovated deeds is considered an innovated practice because this was not practice because this was not

done at the time of the Prophet – done at the time of the Prophet – however – this innovation was however – this innovation was

praised by the Muslim scholars of praised by the Muslim scholars of Islam, even though some people Islam, even though some people

consider any innovation an consider any innovation an innovation of misguidanceinnovation of misguidance . .

Those who consider any Those who consider any innovation an innovation of innovation an innovation of

misguidance have been misled, misguidance have been misled, because there are two sahih because there are two sahih

hadiths which support celebrating hadiths which support celebrating such an event. Imam Muslim such an event. Imam Muslim

related, through the route of Jarir related, through the route of Jarir Ibn ^Abdullah, that the Prophet Ibn ^Abdullah, that the Prophet

saidsaid::

الله صلى الله رسول الله قال صلى الله رسول قالفي : " سن من وسلم في : " عليه سن من وسلم عليه

فله حسنة سنة فله اإلسالم حسنة سنة اإلسالمبها عمل من وأجر بها أجرها عمل من وأجر أجرها

ينقصمن أن غير من ينقصمن بعده أن غير من بعدهفي سن ومن شىء، في أجورهم سن ومن شىء، أجورهمعليه كان سيئة سنة عليه اإلسالم كان سيئة سنة اإلسالممن بها عمل من ووزر من وزرها بها عمل من ووزر وزرهاينقصمن أن غير من ينقصمن بعده أن غير من بعده

." شىء ". أوزارهم شىء أوزارهم

This hadith means:This hadith means:<<The one who innovates a <<The one who innovates a good good

innovationinnovation in Islam has its reward and in Islam has its reward and a reward similar to those who follow a reward similar to those who follow

him in it -- until the Day of Judgment -- him in it -- until the Day of Judgment -- without lessening their reward. The without lessening their reward. The one who innovates an one who innovates an innovation of innovation of

misguidancemisguidance would be sinful for it and would be sinful for it and has sins similar to those who follow has sins similar to those who follow him in it--until the Day of Judgment--him in it--until the Day of Judgment--

without lessening their sinswithout lessening their sins <<. <<.

From this we know, that here From this we know, that here are two types of innovations are two types of innovations

mentioned in this hadith: mentioned in this hadith:

1. The Innovations of Guidance1. The Innovations of Guidance& & : المخالفة المحد5ثة وهي ضاللة : بدعة المخالفة المحد5ثة وهي ضاللة بدعة

. والسنة .للقرءان والسنة للقرءان

22 . .The Innovations of MisguidanceThe Innovations of Misguidance.. : الموافقة المحد5ثة وهي هدى : وبدعة الموافقة المحد5ثة وهي هدى وبدعة

. والسنة .للقرءان والسنة للقرءان

What complies with the Qur’an, the What complies with the Qur’an, the Sunnah, the Ijma^ (scholarly Sunnah, the Ijma^ (scholarly

consensus), and the sayings and consensus), and the sayings and practices of the Companions is practices of the Companions is an innovation of guidance – and an innovation of guidance – and what contradicts the Qur’an, the what contradicts the Qur’an, the

Sunnah, the Ijma^, and the Sunnah, the Ijma^, and the sayings and actions of the sayings and actions of the

Companions is an innovation of Companions is an innovation of misguidancemisguidance . .

This definition of the two types This definition of the two types of innovations was given by of innovations was given by

many knowledgeable and many knowledgeable and trustworthy scholars of trustworthy scholars of

Islam; among them Imam Islam; among them Imam ash-Shafi^iyy, Imam an-ash-Shafi^iyy, Imam an-

Nawawiyy, al-Bayhaqiyy, and Nawawiyy, al-Bayhaqiyy, and the Hafidh, Ibn Hajar al-the Hafidh, Ibn Hajar al-

^Asqalaniyy^Asqalaniyy..

In closing, Muslims all over the In closing, Muslims all over the world are thankful to Allah for world are thankful to Allah for the blessings of Islam and for the blessings of Islam and for being among the followers of being among the followers of

Muhammad. Therefore, it is only Muhammad. Therefore, it is only fitting that we all honor him by fitting that we all honor him by

participating in praising Prophet participating in praising Prophet Muhammad Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wa Salaam)(Sallallahu alayhi wa Salaam)

Because every Because every Muslim who Muslim who

loves the Prophet loves the Prophet loves praising loves praising

himhim..

As our beloved Prophet once As our beloved Prophet once said (which means), “That said (which means), “That on the Day of Judgment, on the Day of Judgment,

one will be along with one will be along with whom he loves” – And we whom he loves” – And we are proud to declare our are proud to declare our

love to him in this Miladlove to him in this Milad...!!...!!