DISPELLING MYTHS ABOUT MAWLID
DISPELLING MYTHS ABOUT MAWLID
Examples of permissible innovations are handshaking after morning and afternoon prayers, the consumption of various foods and drinks, dressing up in the best clothes, building large houses and the wearing of satin or wide-sleeved clothes. There are some differences in the ulama’s opinions on these points. Some of the ulama consider part of them hateful innovations. But others find them desirable innovations which were not, however, performed in the times of and immediately after Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) - like saying “Bismillyahi Rahmani Rahim” or “A’uzu billahi mina shaytani rajeem” in salah”. (See “Takhdibu al-Asma’”, p. 995)
Al-Bayhaki (referring to a chain of narrators) mentions that Manaqibu al-Shafii states: “Imam al-Shafii mentioned two categories of innovations. Innovations contradicting the Quran, Sunna, Asar and Ijma are the first category. They are called al-Bid’ah al-Zalzala, which means innovation leading to delusion”.
In the second category are all the good and beneficial innovations and about which there are no contradicting opinions of the ulama. In this case the innovations are not hateful. For the pious caliph Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said regarding the matter of people gathering in mosques for collective Tarawih-prayers: “This is a nice innovation!” It means this was an innovation that had not been practiced before.
These statements about good innovations do not contradict the sayings of Prophet (PBUH): “Beware of introducing something new, truly every innovation is a delusion”, and “He who does an act which our matter is not (in agreement) with, will have it rejected” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah). These statements have an overarching character.
In the book “Al-Fatawa al-Hadisiya” (p. 265) Ibn Hajar al-Haytami wrote: “Mawlids and adhkars performed nowadays generally do good. Among these are giving alms, remembrance of Allah (dhikr), blessing and praising (reciting salawat) Allah’s Messenger (PBUH).” Here is another quote from this book: “Someone asked Ibn Hajar if it was allowed for people to gather together to perform a permissible innovation. And he answered: “Yes, it is allowed.”
The hadith “Every innovation is a misguidance and every misguidance goes to hellfire” refers to forbidden innovations.
But if anything forbidden is performed at a place where people have gathered for remembrance of Allah (dhikr) or collective Tarawih-prayer, etc., everyone should warn people against doing this. And others should stay away (from where the haram takes place). Otherwise they become accomplices.” (“al-Fatawa al-Hadisiya”, p. 265-268)
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami said: “The main point is that there is no debating by the ulama regarding good innovations. Ala’ Bid’ah al-Hasana (good innovations) are something that people should urge each other to do”. And celebrating Mawlid and gathering people for this purpose are actions considered good innovations.
Someone asked imam as-Suyuti what is the Sharia decision on celebrating Mawlid of the Prophet (PBUH) in the month of Rabi ul-Awwal, is it a praiseworthy or hateful action and what response would one get who performs it. Imam as-Suyuti answered this in the book “al-Havi fil-Fatawa” (vol. 1, p. 181-182): “I like people celebrating Mawlid, when they gather together to read Quran, tell early prophecy stories and retell the miracles related to the birth of the Prophet (PBUH). It is so nice thereafter to set the table. So this is a good innovation, namely, bid’ah al-hasana. The one who arranges this meeting is rewarded, because in this way he glorifies and shows respect to the Prophet (PBUH) and confesses great joy at his birth. The sovereign of Irbil, al-Muzafar Abu Said Kavkabary, was the first person to perform Mawlid this way. And he was one of the noble and generous rulers.”
Ibn Kathir wrote in the book “Al-Bidayat wa an-Nihayat”, that the Irbil sovereign celebrated Mawlid in the month of Rabi ul-Awwal year by year. He gathered a huge amount of people. He was an alim, a very strong, fair, clever and brave ruler. He gave alms everywhere and people worshipped the Almighty and in both al-Haram mosques as well.
Every year he ransomed prisoners who had been captured by the French. Some say the total amount of the prisoners he ransomed was about 60.000. His wife was Rabiatu Hatun, Ayub’s daugther. She said: “His clothes were not worth five silver coins (dirhams)”. Once someone asked him why and his answer was “It is better to wear five dirham clothing and give the rest [money] away as sadaqa (alms), than to wear expensive clothing and leave the poor in need”. He spent 300,000 dinars (gold coins) on each Mawlid celebration, and 100,000 dinars on payment for a night's lodging of guests and travellers. On each of the al-Haram mosques and for water provision of the Hijaz (the pilgrims’ road to Mecca) he spent 30,000 dinars. And all these contributions do not include the donations he made secretly (see vol. 13, p. 158).
The book “Fiqh al-Ibada” states that the madhab of imam Malik disapproves of observing an extra fast on the birthday of the Prophet (PBUH), because this day is considered a festive day. Similar statements can be found also in “Fiqh al-Islam wa Adilatuhu” (vol. 3, p. 21) and “Fiqh ala Madhabi al-Arbaati” (vol. 1, p. 889).
Sheikh al-Islam al-Hafiz Ahmad Ibn Hajar al-Askalani, who is the author of multi-volume commentary of Sahih al-Bukhari named Fatkhu al-Bari, was also asked a question about Mawlid. And his answer was the following: “The basis of Mawlid is an innovation (bid’ah) that did not yet exist in the first three centuries. And there are both good and bad sides to it. If people try to do the permitted and stay away from the forbidden while celebrating Mawlid, then it can be considered a good innovation (al-bid’ah al-hasana) but if people do not stay away from the forbidden, then it is not.”
And then he said, “Trul,y I have found the reasons for Mawlid to be permissible in reliable sources such as Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim.”
Just remember what happened when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) arrived in Medina. He found Jews fasting on the day of Ashura and wondered what the reason was. They answered that this was the day when Allah drowned the Pharaoh and saved the Prophet Moses (PBUH). So fasting on this day was a way to thank and praise Allah. This hadith proves that any person may praise the Almighty the day Allah granted mercy to him or saved him from a trouble. And he is allowed to do this on the same day year by year. Different types of divine services (ibadah), like prostrating (sujud), fasting, almsgiving (sadaqa) and reading the Quran are ways to praise Allah.
Is there any greater joy on this day (the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) than the birth of the Prophet of Mercy (PBUH)? Thus it is essential to work hard on celebrating the birth of the Prophet (PBUH) on this very day. Then it will fit the situation with the Prophet Moses (PBUH) and the fasting of the Jews on the day of Ashura as a way to thank Allah for saving the Prophet Moses (PBUH) and his people from the pharaoh. One who does not celebrate on this very day may celebrate Mawlid on any other day of the year. All of the above proves that the Mawlid celebration is permitted.
To be continued…
Muhammad Magomedov
