Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I would like to know that if we can celebrate Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) Birthday in india some Scholars say that we should celebrate by putting new dress and so on kindly clear my doubt.Jazakhal Khair

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Answer:

Eid Mila dun Nabi Celebrating Prophet Muhammed (SAWS)

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, one cannot determine the permissibility or legality of an event, or rite, or ritual in Islam by seeing which scholars permit or practice it and which scholar don’t!!!  But the right and only way to determine its legality is to search for its permissibility in the Quran and the authentic and established Sunnah or practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws).  If the event, or act, or rite, or ritual is endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws), it would be lawful for the believers to perform it; and if it has not been endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws), then it has to be an innovation; and every innovation in the pure and perfect deen of Islam is an error and a grave sin in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Although every day one lives is a day to be grateful to the Lord and a day of celebration and commemoration, Allah and His Messenger (saws) have nominated every Friday of the week, and the two days of Eid (Fitr and Adha) as days of special celebration and commemoration.  The birth-day or death-day of any individual has absolutely no significance in the deen of Islam, and never ever did the Messenger of Allah (saws) celebrate his own birthday, nor did he ever celebrate the birthdays of his loved ones, nor did even his noble companions, who loved the Prophet (saws) more than anyone else, ever celebrate the birthday of their Noble Leader and Prophet (saws) during his (saws) life-time or after his (saws) death!

Therefore if someone starts the ritual of celebrating the Prophet’s (saws) or any others birthdays, thinking of it as a rite which will bring about the Pleasure or Good Will of Allah Subhanah, he will be inventing a thing in the deen of Islam which is not from the deen!   And that is exactly what the Messenger of Allah (saws) termed as bida or innovation; and every single innovation in the pure and perfect deen of Islam is an error, a sin, and absolutely detestable to the Lord Most Majestic.

Aisha narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘If somebody innovates something which is not present in our religion, then that thing will be rejected. ’Related by Bukhari.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it.   If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His Angels, and by all the people.”

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885     Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon:  “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran;  and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws).   The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

The celebrating or commemorating of the birthday of the Noble Prophet (saws) is a clear and manifest bida, and the believers should fear Allah and absolutely abstain from this and all other innovations which have unfortunately crept into the pure and perfect deen of Islam…if indeed they fear Allah and the Last Day.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan