بِسْمِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
I’m always faced with questions about Meelad from others. They often ask, why do you celebrate it when the Sahabas didn’t? Why do you celebrate it when it’s not Farz? Why do you decorate the streets and houses with lights and flags? Why do you carry out Juloos’? These are the questions I am often faced, and I have your religious knowledge to answer them. Please provide some answers for these questions.
With regards to the Meelaad and its benefits, please scroll down and read the answer posted.
Islam does not only have within it actions that are fardh. Other actions such as waajib, sunnah, nafl,etc are also found. There isn’t any scholar of repute in the world (to my knowledge) who commemorates the Meelaad and regards it to be Fardh. It is merely the remembrance of the Beloved Messenger (peace be upon him). By the mere utterance of his name, we are remembering him and if remembering him is incorrect, how then can we justify our salaah as being correct when we utter his name in tashahhud??
Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) himself remembered his birth. The Noble Messenger himself was asked about fasting on a Monday. He explained, “I was born on that day and revelation (of the holy Qur’an) began on it as well” (Mishkaat, Kitaabus Sawm)
This establishes that fasting on a Monday is Sunnah because this is the day the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was born. Three facts emerge from this
- It is Sunnah to hold Remembrance (of this great favour of Allah…life)
- To fix a day for that remembrance is Sunnah as well
- To make ibaadah on the happiness of the Holy Prophet’s birth (peace be upon him) is Sunnah, irrespective of whether it is physical (i.e fasting, nafl salaah,etc) or financial (giving out charity, distributing food, etc.)
There is no harm in the commemoration of the birth of Rasoolullah (peace be upon him), be it individually, or collectively in the form of a juloos.
The Al-Qibla Newspaper of Makkah al-Mukarrama witnesses:
On the eve of Mawlid un-Nabi Sall Allaho Alaihi wa Sallam celebrations are observed in Makkah and dwellers of Makkah name this day as Youm al-Eid li Mawlid ir-Rasoolullah (peace be upon him). People use to cook food. The Ameer of Makkah and Commander of Hijaz with their army use to visit the birthplace of the Prophet Peace be Upon Him and recite Qasidah there. Rows of shining candles are positioned from Haram al-Makki to to his blessed Birthplace and Shops and Houses on the way are also decorated. People use to recite Qasaaid the entire day at his Birthplace. On the night of 11th Rabi al-Awwal after Isha, Mawlid Gatherings are organized. From the Maghrib prayer of the 11th Rabi al Awwal to the Asar Prayer of the 12th Rabi al Awwal, after every prayer Salutations are presented.
References: 1. Al-Qibla Paper – Makkah Mukarramah
- Monthly Tariqat – Lahore, January 1917, Page 2/3
Allah and His Rasool know best.
Darul Iftaa
Islamic Lifestyle Solutions
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