Proofs That Celebrating Mawlid Is a good and rewardable practice

‘Bismillah-hi-Rahman-ir-Rahim’ As-Salaam^alaikum, Dear Brothers & Sisters, It is our privilege to celebrate this honorable event – Milad-un Nabiyy – celebrating the birth of the best of mankind, Sayiduna Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wa Salaam).

As you all know, millions of Muslims are commemorating this blessed event all across the world by coming together for such rewardable deeds; as reciting from the Qur’an, chanting Islamic praises, telling the story of the Prophet’s birth, teaching Religious Knowledge, slaughtering animals to feed to the poor, and gathering to thank and praise Allah and ask Him to exalt the honor of Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam.

The honorable, knowledgeable and righteous ruler: al-Mudhaffar, the King of Irbil, initiated this practice about 900 years ago, and he was praised by Muslim scholars of Islam--among them the Egyptian hafidhs: Ibn Hajar al-^Asqalaniyy & Jalal ud-Din as-Suyutiyy.

The famous scholar of hadith, Abul-Khattab Ibn Dihyah, wrote a book for the king especially to be read during the mawlid celebration, and there are no great Muslim scholars who dispraised this innovated celebration.

The basis for commemorating honorable events repeatedly every year is evidenced in the Sunnah of the Prophet. As related by al- Bukhariyy, when the Prophet emigrated to al-Madinah he found the Jews fasting, so he asked them why they fasted on the 10th of Muharram.

They told the Prophet they do so to commemorate the day God saved Prophet Moses (Musa) and the Tribes of Israel (Isra’il) from the tyranny of the Pharaoh. It was revealed to the Prophet what the Jews said was true, so Prophet Muhammad told them: "We are more deserving of Moses (Musa) than you." He said this because Prophet Moses (Musa) was Muslim.

Therefore, Prophet Muhammad ordered the Muslims to fast the 9th & 10th of Muharram, and as all of you know this Sunnah is still practiced today.

To celebrate the birth of the Prophet by doing rewardable deeds is considered an innovated practice because this was not done at the time of the Prophet – however – this innovation was praised by the Muslim scholars of Islam, even though some people consider any innovation an innovation of misguidance.

Those who consider any innovation an innovation of misguidance have been misled, because there are two sahih hadiths which support celebrating such an event. Imam Muslim related, through the route of Jarir Ibn ^Abdullah, that the Prophet said:

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "من سن في الإسلام سنة حسنة فله أجرها وأجر من عمل بها بعده من غير أن ينقص من أجورهم شىء، ومن سن في الإسلام سنة سيئة كان عليه وزرها ووزر من عمل بها من بعده من غير أن ينقص من أوزارهم شىء".

This hadith means: >

From this we know, that here are two types of innovations mentioned in this hadith: 1. The Innovations of Guidance & بدعة ضلالة: وهي المحدَثة المخالفة للقرءان والسنة. 2. The Innovations of Misguidance. وبدعة هدى: وهي المحدَثة الموافقة للقرءان والسنة.

What complies with the Qur’an, the Sunnah, the Ijma^ (scholarly consensus), and the sayings and practices of the Companions is an innovation of guidance – and what contradicts the Qur’an, the Sunnah, the Ijma^, and the sayings and actions of the Companions is an innovation of misguidance.

This definition of the two types of innovations was given by many knowledgeable and trustworthy scholars of Islam; among them Imam ash-Shafi^iyy, Imam an- Nawawiyy, al-Bayhaqiyy, and the Hafidh, Ibn Hajar al- ^Asqalaniyy.

In closing, Muslims all over the world are thankful to Allah for the blessings of Islam and for being among the followers of Muhammad. Therefore, it is only fitting that we all honor him by participating in praising Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wa Salaam)

Because every Muslim who loves the Prophet loves praising him.

As our beloved Prophet once said (which means), “That on the Day of Judgment, one will be along with whom he loves” – And we are proud to declare our love to him in this Milad!!...