THE MOWLID AND THE IMAM'S FATWA

The direct meaning of “ Mowlid ” is “ birth time” or “birth place.” However, according to the scholars "Mowlid” is defined as follows: “Gathering people together and reciting parts of Holy Quran, reciting the some hadith of Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam), venerating our holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam), narrating the stories related to Prophet’s (Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam) birth and the signs that accompanied it and finally serving the foods and charities to the poor people.”

Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam) said: “He who inaugurates a good practice (Sunnatun Hasana) in Islam earns the rewards of it, and of all who perform it after him, without diminishing their own rewards in the least.”    (Books: Sahih Muslim, Miskath)

Today some might ask that whether our ancestors (Sahaba, Tabieen, Tab al Tabieen) have praised our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam) and what is the opinions of Islamic Scholars in relation to celebrating Mowlid.

SAHABA (COMPANIONS) PRAISED OUR HOLY PROPHET (SALLALAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM)

In many circumstances the holy sahaba (the companions of holy prophet sallalahu alaihi wasallam) have recited qaseeda that praising our holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) in the presence of our holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam). Specially ibn abbas (radhiallahu anhu), hassan ibn thaabith (radhiallahu anhu), kahf ibn zuhair (radhiallahu anhu), kahf ibn malik (radhiallahu anhu), Abdullah ibn rawaha (radhiallahu anhu) are those who praised our beloved prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam).

Kahf ibn Zuhair (radhiallahu anhu) recited qaseeda which venerating our holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam). By hearing that, our beloved prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) was very happy and congratulated Kahf ibn zuhair (radhiallahu anhu) and presented his burda (mantle) as a gift.

One day, Hassan ibn Thaabith (radhiallahu anhu) stood on the mimber (pulpit) which was built by our holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) and praised our beloved prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam). Holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) was very happy after heard his qaseeda and blessed him as “ May Allah support Hassan by Ruhul Kudhsi (Jibreel Alaihisalam) as long as you defend messenger of Allah.”

(Book: Sahih al Bukhari)

TABIEEN & IMAMS PRAISING OUR BELOVED PROPHET (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM)

Also, most of the Tabieens, Imams (Scholars) & Sufis (Saints) have praised our holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) in most circumstances. Out of them, “ Imamul Ahlam” Imam Abu Hanifa (RadhiAllahu Anhu) has venerated our beloved holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) in his “Qasidaye Nuhuman” as follows: “ Oh! Most honourable of the two weighty ones (Humankind & Jinn) Oh! Treasure of humankind shower your generosity upon me and please me with your pleasure. I am aspiring for your generosity and there is no one for Abu Hanifa in the world but you.”

Likewise, so many Imams, scholars and great saints of Islam have venerated our beloved holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) in so many circumstances and in so many ways. One of that ways is the books of mowlid, which describe the birth, veneration, and the history of our beloved holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) specially mowlid books which way written by imams ibn naasirudeen, Iraqi, sakhawi, shaybani, ibn kathir, and mulla ali qari (rahmathullahi thahala) are most popular.

Likewise, from the inception, there are so many great saints have told their opinions regarding the mowlid. Please note that the following opinions were given by very famous Islamic sufiyas (saints):

O Hazarath Hasan Bashri (Raliallahu anhu): - “ If I have gold in the size of Huhad Mountain, I will spend it all for celebrating mowlid of our holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam)”

O Hazrath Junaidul Baghdadi (Raliallahu anhu) : - “ If one who presents to mowlid majlis of our holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) and if he venerates it, he has got the victory through the imaan (belief)”

O Hazrath Sarrie As Sakathi (Raliallahu anhu) : - If one who presented to mowlid majlis of our holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) definitely he has presented to a garden of paradise. Because he has presented to that place due to the love of holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) and our holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) has told: “ If one loves me he will be with me in paradise.”

(Book: Iz Harul fa – rahi Wassururi Fi Meeladhin Nabiyyil Mabroor)

FOLLOWING ARE THE FATWAS OF GREAT IMAMS (SCHOLARS):

O “ Al Mujaddid” Imam Jalaluddin Suyuthi (Rahmathullahi alaihi):

“ To commemorate the mowlid which is basically gathering people together reciting parts of Holy Quran narrating stories about the our holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) birth and the signs that accompanied it, then serving food, and afterwards, departing is one of the good innovation and the one who practices it gets rewarded because it involves venerating the status of the holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) and expressing the happiness for his honourable birth.”

(Book: Alhawi lil Fatawa – Part 1 – Page 251)

O Imam Abu Shama (Rahmathullahi alaihi) – Sheikh (Teacher) of Imam Nawawi (Rahmathullahi alaihi) :

“ One of the best innovations in our time is what is being done every year on the prophet’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) birthday such as giving charity doing good deeds displaying ornaments and expressing joy for that expresses the feelings of love and veneration for him in the hearts of those who are celebrating and also shows thankfulness to Allah for his bounty by sending his messenger (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) the one who has been sent as a mercy to the worlds”

(Book: Al Baith ala inkar Al Bida’ wal hawadhis – page – 23)

O Imam Al Shihab Al Qastalani (Rahmathullahi alaihi) – (Shahihul Bhuary’s commentator):

“ May Allah have mercy on the one who turns the nights of the month of the holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) birth into festivities in order to decrease the suffering of those whose hearts are filled with disease and sickness”

(Book: Al Mawahib Al Latunniya – Page – 1. 148)

O Mufti of Holy Makkah Imam ibn Hajr Al Haithami (Rahmathullahi Alaihi):

“ It is a good innovation. There is an acceptance exists between all the Ulamas inthis matter. Therefore, commemorating the mowlid majlis and getting together for it are desirable good innovations.”

(Book: Muhammeddur Rasoolullah – page -162)

Also, Imam ibn Hajar Al Asqalani, Imam ibn Al Jowzi, Imam Sakhawi, Imam Shaybani, Imam ibn Iraqi, Imam Samsuddin and Mufthi of Indonesian Sharia Board, Asseikh Abdul Qadir Ibn Ahmed Balbaki have expressed their fatwas as it is acceptable to commemorate the Mowlid in our religion. Further, Imam Ismail Hakeeki Faroozi has told it in his famous book” Thasbeer Ruhul Bayan” Imam ibn Kathir has told in “Aththari libni Kasir”, Imam ibn Dhihya told in “Aththanwir fi Mowlidhil Basheerinnadeer,” Mulla Ali Qari tells in “Al Mowrithu fil Mowlid,” Imam Shamsuddin ibn Jazri tells in “Urf Tareef bil Mowlid al Shareef,” Professor of Egypt Al Azhar university, Allama Abdul Haleem Mahmood has told in his “ Fatawa Abdul Haleem Mahmood” and Allama Maapillai Lebbe Aalim has told in his books “magani” and “Hadhya Shareef.” Further, so many other great Imams also have told their Fatwas as reciting Mowlid is acceptable.

Therefore, reciting Mowlid is an acceptable good deed in our religion and all our Islamic Imams and Saints have accepted it. But nowadays, some misdirected Muslims are refusing to do it due to their foolishness and also they stop other Muslims by do it. Bye their misguidance most of the Muslims who have poor knowledge in religion are in confuse. Whether to sommemorate the mowlid is correct or not. Therefore insha allah we believed this notice will clear all the doubts and fears about the Mowlid. Therefore without any doubt and fear we must celebrate the meelad un nabi and recite the mowlid of our beloved holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) in every houses and mosques.

As per one hadees narrated by Abu Huraira (Raliallahu anhu) in Shahihul Muslim, our beloved holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) has told: “ In future some people will come in my ummath (society) and they will tell some thing what you have never heard therefore be careful about them and don’t let them to close you. Other wise they will mislead you and let you in fitnas”

As per above hadees nowadays we can see it in our society some misdirected people stop all the good things such as the mowlid and they are telling that reciting the mowlid is shirk and bidhath.

Anti Mowlid people tells that the mowlid is a bidhath and the doer of bidhath will be punished if their statement is truth then did they mean all these Holy Sahabas, Tabieens and Imams did shirk and bidhath? Nahoodhubillahi Minha! We can see a nice pattern of life in their lives Therefore without listening for these kinds of mad statements regarding Anti Mowlid we should recite the mowlid and we should get the rewards of allah and we should get the love of our beloved holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam)

Oh! Allah direct us in the right way that the way of our beloved holy prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam), Sahabas and Tabieens (Raliallahu anhum)

Sallalahu Ala Muhammed Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam.