Evidence Proving the Validity of Mehfil e Milad – Share with Your Friends
JASHN E EID MILAD UN NABI ( sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
(1) Celebrating the birth of Rasool Allah is to express joy and
delight towards the personality of Rasool Allah and this act has even
helped infidels.
It is stated in Bukhari Shareef that the punishment of Abu Lahab is
decreased every Monday because when his slave-girl Thuwaiba gave
him the good news of the birth of Rasool Allah on a Monday he freed
her. In relation to this incident, Hafiz Shamshuddin Muhammad bin
Naasiruddin Mishqi states:
‘When the punishment of one whose punishment is never ending,
and whose condemnation is the basis of a whole Surah in the Qur’an,
is reduced because he expressed happiness on a Monday at the birth
of Rasool Allah , then what must be the status of one who spends
his whole life drowned in love of Rasool Allah and leaves this
world with faith?’
(2) Rasool Allah himself used to respect the day of his birth and
would thank the Almighty for the great blessing that he granted
himself and the whole universe because his arrival was a means of
great blessings and benefits for the entire universe. Respect for this
day was expressed in the form of Fasting which is explained in a
Hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Qatadah . He reports that when
Rasool Allah was asked about Fasting on Mondays, he replied, “I
was born on this day and began receiving revelations on this day.”
This is the basis and foundation of celebrating Milad, although the
method and form are different. However, the aim and intention is
exactly the same. Whether expressed through Fasting, feeding others,
organising gatherings to remember Rasool Allah , sending
blessings and salutations upon him, or hearing about his qualities and
virtues, the aim and intention of each method is exactly the same.
(3) To celebrate and express happiness towards the personality of Rasool Allah is an order of the Holy Qur’an. Allah Ta’ala states, “In the bounty of Allah Almighty and His Mercy let them rejoice; that is better than the wealth they accumulate.” (Surah Yunus verse 58).
In this verse, Allah Ta’ala has ordered us to rejoice upon receiving mercy and Rasool Allah is the greatest mercy. Allah Ta’ala Himself states, “And We did not send you except as a mercy for the entire world.” (Surah Anbiyaa verse 107).
(4) Rasool Allah would respect all the days on which religious incidents occurred. Therefore, those days on which special incidents took place are an opportunity to recognise and respect those days. Those days are to be respected because of the specific incidents which took place on those days and those days are special as a result of the incident. Rasool Allah himself specified this rule as is stated in the Hadith when Rasool Allah arrived in Madinah and observed the Jews fasting on the day of A’ashura. When he enquired about the reason for their fasting on that day he was told that the Jews fasted on that day because that was the day on which Allah Ta’ala freed their Prophet and destroyed his enemies. Therefore they fasted to express gratitude for this blessing. Upon hearing this, Rasool Allah said, “We are closer to Moosa than they are” and Rasool Allah also Fasted on that day and instructed the people to Fast on that day as well.
(5) Gatherings of Milad were not arranged during the time of Rasool Allah . They are therefore an innovation (Bid ‘at) but they are a good innovation (Bid’at e Hasana) because its foundation and base is found in Islamic Shariah. Only the method is different but the actual act of celebration is also found in the time of Rasool Allah which we will learn about in the upcoming pages Insha Allah.
(6) Gatherings of Milad are a means of sending blessings and salutations (Salat o Salam). Both these acts are in accordance with the Order of Allah Ta’ala –
“Indeed Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet; O People who believe! Send blessings and abundant salutations upon him.”
(Surah Ahzab verse 56) It is a direct Command to believers from Allah Ta’ala to recite blessings and salutations. Milad gatherings are a method for us to act upon this order and carry it out. It is impossible to list all the benefits and advantages that there are in reciting blessings and salutations.
It is a direct Command to believers from Allah Ta’ala to recite blessings and salutations. Milad gatherings are a method for us to act upon this order and carry it out. It is impossible to list all the benefits and advantages that there are in reciting blessings and salutations.
(7) Gatherings of Milad are the means for teaching and learning about the blessed birth, miracles, life and excellent qualities and attributes of Rasool Allah . Have we not been ordered to learn about the Beloved Prophet and to obey, respect and follow him? Have we not been ordered to believe in his miracles and testify to the truthfulness of his message? Gatherings and books of Milad are a means of fulfilling these orders.
(8) Learning about the exemplary character and impeccable attributes of Rasool Allah is achieved and obtained through attending these blessed gatherings. Poets used to bring and recite their verses to Rasool Allah and this act was liked very much by Rasool Allah who would shower them with gifts and supplications. When Rasool Allah is pleased with those who praise him then why would he not be pleased with those who speak about his beautiful attributes and sing his praises? This is a means of not only obtaining his pleasure and happiness but also of achieving closeness to Rasool Allah .
(9) Learning about the exemplary manners, amazing miracles and perfect character of Rasool Allah is the means by which love of Rasool Allah is increased in a person. It is in the nature of man to love one who is the most handsome, knowledgeable, learned and possesses immaculate character. There is no one more handsome than Rasool Allah and no person has better character and morals than him. When the aim is to increase our love and respect and thereby perfect our faith then the person who possesses all these qualities should be our focal point.
(10) Respect of Rasool Allah is essential and legitimate. Expressing joy at the blessed birth of Rasool Allah through arranging gatherings of Milad, talking about his blessed life and qualities and feeding the poor and needy on such occasions is a great way to show respect and courtesy. These deeds also express our gratefulness to Allah Ta’ala that He guided us to this truthful religion and bestowed on us a great favour by sending His Beloved amongst us.
(11) In describing the excellence of Friday, Rasool Allah said that on this day ‘Hazrat Adam was born.’ The day on which any Prophet is born becomes a blessed day worthy of merit and respect. So what about the day on which the leader of all Prophets, best of all mankind is born? The respect is not limited to that specific day only but that day should be respected whenever it comes around just as the day of Friday is respected each week and not just once. This is so that remembrance of the blessed event that took place on that day is kept alive and for us to constantly express thanks and gratefulness for the blessings we received on that day. This is similar to respecting the place of birth of a Prophet. On the night of Me’raj Hazrat Jibreel asked Rasool Allah to perform Prayer (Salah) at a particular place. Upon enquiring as to the virtues of that place Hazrat Jibreel replied that it was the place where Hazrat ‘Isa was born.
(12) Scholars from all over the world consider Milad gatherings to be commendable and they are commemorated worldwide. The following Hadith of Hazrat Ibn Mas’ood testifies to the validity and permissibility of Milad where he narrates that, “The thing which is considered good by Muslims is considered good by Allah Ta’ala and the thing which is considered bad by Muslims is considered bad by Allah Ta’ala.”
(13) Gatherings of the remembrance of Rasool Allah where he is praised and respected, where people are invited towards goodness and charity is distributed are Sunnah as these kinds of gatherings have been advocated by Rasool Allah and Muslims have been instructed to attend such gatherings.
(14) Allah Ta’ala states in the Holy Qur’an, “And We relate to you all the accounts of Noble Messengers, in order to steady your heart with it;” (Surah Hud verse 120) This verse makes it apparent that relating the incidents and stories of the Noble Prophets ‘Alaihimus Salaam is a means of gaining peace and contentment in the heart. There is no doubt that we need this more than Rasool Allah because we grant peace and contentment to our hearts by relating incidents from his blessed life.
(15) It is not correct to say that anything that was not in existence during the early days of Islam and which was not done by our pious predecessors is a reprehensible innovation (Bid’at e Sayyi’a) which is forbidden and must be opposed. Rather, it must be presented in the court of Islamic Law and Islamic Law will decide whether the act is compulsory (Waajib), forbidden (Haram), disliked (Makrooh), commendable (Mandoob) or permissible (Mubah). Scholars have differentiated innovations (Bid’ats) into five categories:
Waajib – Such as opposing deviation from the right path, and learning knowledge of Arabic syntax and grammar (‘Ilm e Nahw).
Mandoob – Such as establishing Madrasahs, guest houses and calling to Prayer
(Adhaan) from minarets and performing any good deed that was not done in the first century of Islam.
Makrooh – Such as embellishing a Mosque or the Holy Qur’an with bright colours.
Mubah – Such as sifting flour and using cutlery or utensils when eating and drinking.
Haram – Those things which are contradictory to Sunnah and have no basis or foundation under Islamic Law.
(16) All innovations are not forbidden. If this was the case then it would have been forbidden for Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat ‘Umar and Hazrat Zaid to have the Qur’an compiled and put into the form of a single book. It would also have been forbidden to gather everyone together and perform Taraweeh Prayer with congregation as Hazrat ‘Umar established and then said, “This is a good innovation.” In a similar manner, all educational compilations and publications would also be forbidden and it would be compulsory upon us to fight our enemies with bows and arrows even if they have guns, missiles, tanks, planes, warships etc. Building minarets, calling the Adhaan from them, establishing Madrasahs, guest houses, hospitals, building jails and establishing social agencies etc would all be forbidden.
This is why our respected Scholars have stated that the term ‘every innovation is misguidance’ refers to those things which are classed as Bid’at e Sayyi’a (objectionable or false innovations). This point can be understood and clarified by the fact that many great Companions and Tabi’een carried out many such acts that were not present during the time of Rasool Allah . We ourselves have established many new acts which our pious predecessors never did. For example, in the in last 10 days of Ramadhan, to appoint an Imam to lead the people in Jama’at for Tahajjud Prayers and to complete the whole Qur’an in this manner is not something that was done by any of our pious predecessors. In a similar manner, reciting Dua e Khatmul Qur’an, Imam giving a Khutbah on the 27th of Ramadhan and a caller waking people up for night Prayers (Tahajjud) are things that were not done by Rasool Allah nor by any of our pious predecessors after him. Therefore, does this make these deeds that we do reprehensible and misguidance?
(17) Hazrat Imam Shaf’i states, “Every new thing that goes against the Qur’an, Sunnah or consensus of the Ummah is misguidance. All new things which contain goodness and do not go against Qur’an, Sunnah or consensus of the Ummah are desirable.” Imam ‘Azaluddin bin Abdus Salaam, Imam Noowi, Ibn Atheer and many others are of the same opinion as we have mentioned above.
(18) Anything that is in accordance with Islamic Laws and does not go against Shariah and does not invite towards any forbidden act is considered a part of religion. For bigoted people to simply say, “Our pious predecessors did not do this” is no proof or evidence of its invalidity, rather it is the contrary. Rasool Allah himself classed good innovations as Sunnah and promised reward to one who follows it when he said, “The person who introduces something good (Sunnatey Hasana) will be rewarded the same as all those who act upon that deed without any reward being taken away from those who acted upon it.”
(19) Gatherings of Milad are organised in order to rekindle remembrance of Rasool Allah and in our opinion this is a legitimate and lawful practice. You can see that most of the acts performed during Hajj (Pilgrimage) are rekindling remembrances of historically significant places and dates. Running between the hills of Safa and Marwa, stoning the devil and sacrifice in Mina etc are all incidents that occurred in history. Muslims emulate these acts and rekindle the remembrance of these incidents and the people who performed them. Milad gatherings that have been described as legitimate in the preceding pages refer to those Milad gatherings which are free from any unlawful or un-Islamic activities. Those gatherings which are based on unlawful foundations – men and women freely mixing and sitting together, illegal activities or performing any act or deed that had been disliked by Rasool Allah are undoubtedly forbidden as they are based on prohibited acts. However, this should not apply to gatherings that are free from illegal activities as they are commendable and allowable.
http://www.sunnidawateislami.net/
By: Sayed Mohammed Alavi
