Prophet’s birthday celebration ‘sinful’

[al-Hasani]

I'd have to agree with him. We love and respect our prophet, but there are 2 problems with these celebrations:
- they are not, technically part of Islam. The Quran doesn't tell us to do this, the prophet (pbuh) didn't order us to celebrate his birth, and this practice was not found among the Sahaba, the Tabieen/Tabatabieen, but rather an addition that came centuries after;
- celebrations tend to often go overboard.

But I wouldn't really consider it 'sinful', per se..

We don't even know the precise birth date of Prophet Muhammad (saws) other than the Prophet (saws) being born on a Monday.

It's a historical fact that Mawlid is a fairly recent innovation in Islam that occurred 300-400 years after the death of Prophet Muhammad (saws).

As I said I follow the Shafi'i fiqh and in that fiqh it is permissible but I am neither for or against the practice. As long as it does not evolve like @Al Bhatti wrote otherwise you might as well celebrate Christmas.

If it is done to honor the life of Prophet Muhammad (saws), read about his life and Islam etc. then I would say that it is a good thing.

Slowly slowly things changed on how we celebrate it:

- from reading the life of the prophet and to see what a person was lacking in his capacity as a ruler, minister, teacher, government official, professor, doctor, trader, student, parents etc. to on how to implement the way of living and the habits of the Prophet in ourselves

- to chanting naats that exaggerate the prophet beyond what is allowed for any human being

- to spending huge sums of money on this day on lighting and electricity costs

- to cutting cakes

Yes, cakes have begun to be cut in many places in Pakistan. Not so far away in time people will be wearing a birthday cap or something like the christians wear on christans signifying christmas.

And then slowly with passage of time naats will be chanted with a little fast tempo to make it more "pleasing" and interesting and then after few years you will have a DJ for some sound effects to make the religious event even more "pleasing" and interesting, and then after some years special light effects will be visible during the "religious celebration" to make even more "pleasing" and interesting.

On this day every Muslim should look back and see where has the Muslim world in general has reached today and at the same time every Muslim should look back and see where his country, his city, his neighborhood has reached today in terms of Islam. Not only we find out the problems and issues but also should try to solve them to make the country, the city, neighborhood and the world a more better place to live.

Spending all that money on lighting and the costs incurred in electricty bill if that is used on mainting or upgrading the something as low as the sewerage system would be of more higher degree in reward than celebrating this day in such way, as it will help the people in general in their every day lives.

On this day it is a lot better if we learn some sunnah and make sure that we along with our family members start to excessive atleast say 5 sunnah the whole year, carrying on like this imagine how many sunnah a person will be practicing when he is 60 or 70 years old. This is way much better than attending the naats which is of no value compared to making this day the start of practicing atleast one new sunnah every year.

Slowly slowly the way to pass this day or to celebrate this day has changed over times towards more un-islamic and the day is not far when this day will become as symbolic as the Christmas is for christians and the day is not far when this day will be celebrated like in a disco.

I'd have to agree with him. We love and respect our prophet, but there are 2 problems with these celebrations:
- they are not, technically part of Islam. The Quran doesn't tell us to do this, the prophet (pbuh) didn't order us to celebrate his birth, and this practice was not found among the Sahaba, the Tabieen/Tabatabieen, but rather an addition that came centuries after;
- celebrations tend to often go overboard.

But I wouldn't really consider it 'sinful', per se..

He probably meant that it is not encouraged. Otherwise I fully agree.

Well, it is not about celebrating the birthday but how to celebrate the birthday. By celebrating Prophet's (PBUH) birthday, we literally remember him, which is a good thing. However, when we do things like the one you mentioned above, and begin to waste money and resources (israaf), and disturb people (by blowing hooters, playing loud music, loudly reciting naat etc), then of-course it is sinful, in-fact disgusting.

Well said.

 

[rockstar08]

he did make a good point , the best way to express love with Prophet is to follow his footsteps and Sunnah ,I wish those Muslims who are fighting , for once stop for a second and think what are they doing and slaughtering thousands on the name of a person , who forgive those who even kill his close relatives ..

and the way trend of Milad is changing in Pakistan , the time is not far when we have concerts in Prophet's Bday , just because fun and entertainment is a act of give happiness to human mind doesnt mean we apply it everywhere .. anyway thanks for our disco Naat khuan and secular Muslims

 

[Kompromat]

I actually agree with him.

People dancing on bollywood songs, naats in the tune of bollywood songs, excesses in celebrations etc.

I can see 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal being celebrated like Christmas in 15 years.

Please close religious debates right away.