Prophets birthday?

[alan]

Simple Q,do we celebrate the prophets pbuh?
Some have said there is no evidence that the prophet,pbuh did,so we shouldnt.Then other say we do,is it called mawlid?

[Kabeer]

Simple Q,do we celebrate the prophets pbuh?

Salaams

Simple answer: up to you. Whether you do or not has nothing to do with following Islam.

Peace

[alan]

Ok,that makes sense.Todays Khutba,we was told its a definate no.
But I know alot do,so,in relation to this and iam aware that the date is fictitious(xmas) and that we are not condoning Christian shirk,but what,if anything is wrong in sharing the good tidings of the birth of prophet Isa,as,as a muslim and in knowledge of our truth about him?

[Kabeer]

Salaams alan,

I assumed you were talking about Prophet Muhammad, but it doesn't make a difference either way really.

You'll get those Muslims who celebrate his birthday and its a big celebration in their culture so they find it very important, and some even go as far to think its a religious obligation (its not). There are also those who hold a more rigid opinion and think that its an innovation and as such its haram (or that it had lead to many innovations).

As I said before its not part of the religion, its like anything else, you can do it as long as it doesnt involve anything prohibited, or leading to shirk. If you are trying to link this to a way of celebrating Christmas.... well you have to be honest in your mind what you are setting out to do. Are you following a tradition or really honouring the prophet.

If you are feeling like a long read: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/S...=1119503543944

Peace

[alan]

Both,honouring a most beloved prophet and satisfying an element of culture.
P.S
I did origionally mean Mohammad,saw.

[Kabeer]

Salaams Alan,

Im not convinced that its a good thing to celebrate Christmas, to me it seems like you are just holding onto a superficial (only using this word due to what it has become in todays world, there are obviosly a smaller majority of people who still use the day for a more spiritual meaning) Christian tradition. If it is more than that, then I would like to pose the following questions to you;

Why would you want to do it on Dec 25th? And would you set aside days to celebrate the other prophets?

I currently do not have any real solid argument against it, so I dont want to speak up and say something when I can be wrong, just voicing an opinion (if im incorrect, please forgive me).

Peace.

[alan]

Salaams,
It appears that Mohammads,pbuh,birthday is celebrated extensively in Pakistan,is this a Christianisation,I wonder,from the days of the colonials,or was it celebrated long before the Brits went there?
Anyhow,people seem to enjoy it and it brings their Prophet to mind,so why not celebrate other prophets????

[lumumba_s]

As salamu `alaykum,

The Prophet's birthday is celebrated in more places than Pakistan, but yes, it is celebrated "extensively" there and much of the criticism that people have towards the excesses of its commemoration are because of the cultural excesses that have crept into the festivities. The mawlid is by no means a "Christianization" of Islam and most of those who associate the two, only do so by means of extremely superficial criterion.

The mawlid is commemorated every few months in many places, and even every Thursday in Yemen and communities that have been influenced by their scholars. I believe 2005 was the first year that I participated in mawlid gatherings, and I believe I had attended 3 that particular year. How it is celebrated depends a great deal upon whom is hosting it. In-of-itself, very few scholars have condemned it and it pre-dates Colonialism. It has nothing to do with Christmas and no one who has attended one hosted in a traditional manner would ever make such an assumption.

[DocW]

In my limited knowledge and humble opinion there are two areas of concern. Firstly, practices that were not either performed by the prophet pbuh himself or authorised have concerns of being Bidat or innovations.

Secondly such ceremonies seem to raise the status of prophet pbuh and raise concerns about hero worship which is different from the love and respect for prophet. In my opinion it is against the ethos of Islam.

If we have love and respect for prophet pbuh then the best way to show and express it is by following the message and Path that he has showed us and not in the way it is done atleast in Pakistan, where people sing religious songs, distribute sweets and have food festivities. In some areas they bring large gatherings onto the streets. None of these represent the ethos of Islam in any way. I do not know what happens in other countries.

[lumumba_s]

As salamu `alaykum,

Firstly, when the Prophet first entered into Medina, the entire city of believers, men, women and children burst into singing the now famous song, "Tala al-badru `alayna...." and both singing in praise of the Prophet and poetry in his honor was a very common facet of early Muslim life. He both encouraged and accepted it in his presence. Songs and poetry composed by the Companions in praise of the Prophet were transmitted along with the rest of earlier Islamic literature to latter generations. Secondly, the fact that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) did not do something only establishes that it isn't obligatory. Thirdly, the Companions did things like collect his sweat, "fight" over the remnants of his wudu and even purposefully drink is blood on one occasion and I think those things are much more likely to be construed as "hero-worship" than a simple (or elaborate) gathering in commemoration of his existence.

If anything is an innovation, it is this idea that Prophet is ordinary and any public show of affection towards him is against the very "ethos" of Islam. Raising the Prophet's status is the very essence of Islam. The whole point of the mawlid is to help increase one's love for him and thus, one's desire and commitment to following his example.

Here is a short reflection on the mawlid that Imam Zaid Shakir wrote for Zaytuna's journal and the speeches that both Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Imam Zaid Shakir gave during a mawlid event that they held at Zaytuna earlier this year.

"Muhammad is a human being, but not like other human beings. He is like a precious jewel amongst stones."

[Hashim]

wa'salaam alaaykum,

Akhee Lumamba, I am sure you agree there is little benefit in discussing this age-old debate which more often than not leads the debators to yet another dead-end with no side budging.

First and foremost, as you aware of the numerous ahadeeth and ayaat from the Qur'aan as well as the unanimous consenus of the companions and early muslims prohibiting Bid'a in any way shape or form there is no need to waste time with the usual going through the motions act.

Secondly, the companions who loved Nabi (sallallhualaayhee'wa'salaam) more than you or I declined from celebrating the birthday, period. Allaah subhanhu'wa'ta'Allaah loved the messenger more than you and I and there is no legislation permitting this innovation, more over, Allaah azzawajjaal completed the deen as the Qur'aan categorically states so there is addition, subtraction or change.

Thirdly, the date inwhich the misguided deviants from the sufis and those who celebrate the 'mawlid' forget that the same day the prophet (sallalhualaayhee'wa'salaam) died, how can we celebrate the death of the greatest of mankind, the leader of Bani Adam and the greatest tragedy to ever befall this 'Ummaah.

Finally, the statement of the believers chanting the famous greeting when the prophet (sallallhu'alaayhee'wa'salaam) arrived at Madina al Munawara for the first time is a misconcpetion. There was not enough believers at Madina at this time as this was still the early stages of the Islaamic state of Madina and just after the culimation of the Muslim migration from Makka to Madinah. The scholars say it is more likely this took place when the prophet (sallallhualaayhee'wa'salaam) and his men came back to Madina from a successful military expedition, the battle of Tabuk if I am not mistaken.

The status of Muhammad (sallalhualaayhee'wa'salaam) does not require amplifying or raising excessively by you or the sufis as Allaah azzawajjaal raised him to a station of respect and global recognition.

'Do not praise me over exessively as the Christians over praised Isa, for I am only a messenger of Allaah, so instead call me slave of Allaah' (Saheeh Hadeeth).

And Allaah ta'ala knows best.

[lumumba_s]

As salamu `alaykum,

I am sure you agree there is little benefit in discussing this age-old debate which more often than not leads the debators to yet another dead-end with no side budging.

You are absolutely right. There is no point in arguing over something that many fuqaha across madhahib have established as an legitimate expression of the ummah. "What an excellent innovation this is!" Have a nice day...

[DocW]

Quote:how can we celebrate the death of the greatest of mankind, the leader of Bani Adam and the greatest tragedy to ever befall this 'Ummaah.

Two points.Firstly In my limited knowledge and humble opinion death of the prophet pbuh wasnot the gretaest tragedy to befall this Ummah. It was Allah's percieved wisdom. Prophet pbuh had completed the task given to him and the test of Ummah had to begin. Prophet pbuh is awaiting the sucesful followers in Paradise.

Secondly, the Sahabha, practised religion as it should have been practised and loved the prophet pbuh as he should have been loved. The celebrations that take place today is by people and followers who have scant regard for the message and the religion itself. In many ways it mimics the celebration of X-mas by Christians.

[vinod]

The celebrations that take place today is by people and followers who have scant regard for the message and the religion itself

Not true. Even knowledgable people celebrate it.

In many ways it mimics the celebration of X-mas by Christians

And in many ways it does not.

The above two are not principled reasons to not celebrate it.

Regards

[Hashim]

Aslaam Alaaykum,

Actually Vinod the two points raised are valid points and solid arguments, brother Kabeer, you are absolutly right in this part of your post. I don't know how Vinod can claim knowledgable people celebrate this bid'a, if anyone disregards a fundamental command of the prophet (sallallhualaayhee'wa'salaam) there is something wrog with that persons Islaam, if anyone celebrates mawlid they have not got a iota of 'ilm or faith.

However Kabeer you erred in one of the points raised, the death of rasool'allaah (sallallhualaayhee'wa'salaam), remember the statment from his final sermon that after my (sallalhualaayhee'wa'salaam) death waves of fitnaa will strike this Ummaah.

Lumamba, I respect your self-constraint from pointlessly joining in this debate and this should be a example for all to see sense and leave debates as if we are learned scholars, you can do the same thing and save time by banging your head against a wall or try drawing blood from a stone.

And Allaah ta'ala knows best.