PERMISSIBILITY OF CELEBRATING MAWLID NABI MUHAMMAD SAW

Permissibility of celebrating Mawlid

by ahlus-sunna.com

أن إبليس رن أربع رنات حين لعن وحين أهبط وحين ولد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وحين أنزلت الفاتحة

Translation: Iblis cried loudly four times, first when Allah declared him as cursed, second when he was thrown out, Third When Prophet (salallaho alaihi wasalam) was born and fourth when Surah al-Fatiha was revealed [Ibn Kathir in Al Bidayah wan-Nihayah, Volume No. 2, Page No. 166]

Muslims rejoice on birth of Prophet (Peace & Blessings be upon him) because Allah has told us to rejoice on His “Bounties and Mercies”.

This matter of the Mawlid shall be explained based on:

a) Qur’an and it’s sciences

b) Hadith literature

c) Sayings of eminent scholars and fuqaha

Proof No.1

Allah states in the Qur’an:

قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ

Say: “In the bounty of God. And in His Mercy, in that “LET THEM REJOICE”: that is better than the (wealth) they hoard (Surah Yunus, 10:58)
Some might think in their wildest of imaginations that birth and arrival of Prophet (salallaho alaihi wasalam) is not a mercy, some even falsely limit the Mercies of Allah by saying that mercy mentioned here does not refer to Prophet Muhammad (salallaho alaihi wasalam) thus we should not rejoice, so in reply to such people the best answer is found in Tafsir of Qur’an through Qur’an itself.

Allah states in the Quran at another place:

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ

Translation: We have not sent you but as a “Mercy to the worlds”(Surah al-Anbiya, 21:107)

Hence without any shadow of doubt arrival of Prophet (Peace & Blessings be upon him) is a mercy not only upon us but all worlds and creations of Allah azza Wajjal, thus we should rejoice as ordered in Qur’an (10:58)

Imam Ibn al-Jawzi (rah) explains 10:58 in his Tafsir:

أن فضل الله: العلم، ورحمته: محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، رواه الضحاك عن ابن عباس.

Translation: ad-Dhahak narrated from Ibn Abbas (ra) that Bounty mentioned in this verse means Knowledge (i.e of Qur’an and Tawhid) whereas Mercy means Muhammad (Salallaho alaihi wasalam) [Ibn Jawzi Z’ad al Maseer fi Ilm at Tafsir, (4/40)]

Imam Abu Hayyan al Andalusi (Rahimuhullah) also says:

الفضل العلم والرحمة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم

Translation: Bounty refers to Knowledge whereas Mercy refers to Muhammad (salallaho alaihi wasalam) [Tafsir Al-Bahr al Muheet, (5/171)]

Imam Jalal uddin Suyuti (Rahimuhullah) says:

وأخرج أبو الشيخ عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما في الآية قال: فضل الله العلم، ورحمته محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال الله تعالى
{ وما أرسلناك إلا رحمة للعالمين }
[الأنبياء: 107].

Abu Sheikh (rah) narrated from Ibn Abbas (RA) That Bounty of Allah means Knowledge, whereas Mercy means Muhammad (Salallaho alaihi wasalam) Allah Ta’ala said: We have sent thee not but as Mercy to Worlds (Al Anbiya: 107) [As-Suyuti in Dur al Manthur (4/330)]

Allama Aloosi (rah) explains that even Fadhl (i.e. bounty) refers to Prophet Muhammad (salallaho alaihi wassalam):

وأخرج الخطيب وابن عساكر عنه تفسير الفضل بالنبـي عليه الصلاة والسلام

Narrated by Al Khatib (rah) and Ibn Asakir (rah) that Bountry refers to An-Nabi (Alaih Salatu Wassalam) [Al-Alusi in Ruh al Ma’ani (11/141)]

Proof No. 2

Allah states in the Quran:

ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

That is the bounty of Allah; which He giveth unto whom He will. Allah is of Infinite Bounty (وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ )

(62:4)

Hadrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (Radhi Allah) explains “Allah is of infinite bounty” as:

(Allah is of infinite bounty) by bestowing Islam and prophethood upon Muhammad (pbuh); and it is also said this meAnswer: by bestowing Islam upon the believers; and it is also said this meAnswer: by sending the Messenger and Scripture to His created beings. [Tanwir al Miqbas Min Tafsir Ibn Abbas]

Proof No. 3

Allah states in the Quran regarding Yahya (a.s):

وَسَلَامٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَوَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيًّا

Translation:So Peace on him the day he was born,the day that he dies, and the day that he will be raised up to life (again)! [Surah al-Maryum, (19:15)]

So the days when Anbiya are born are days of “Tranquility” in sight of Allah.