Do you wish to explore the Islamic perspective on celebrating the Prophet's birthday (Maulid)? This article delves into the opinions of renowned scholars, such as al-Hafizh Ibnu Hajar al-'Asqalani, al-Hafizh Syamsuddin bin al-Jazari, al-Hafizh Syamsuddin bin Nashiruddin ad-Dimasyqi, and Sheikh Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradhawi, shedding light on the wisdom and lessons one can derive from the history and message of the Prophet Muhammad. Read on to discover their insights!
The celebration of the Prophet's birthday is a significant event observed by Muslims worldwide. Yet, there are differing views on whether it constitutes bid'ah, an innovation with no basis in the Prophet's Sunnah or the practices of his companions. So, what is the actual stance of scholars regarding the celebration of the Prophet's birthday?
Al-Hafizh Ibnu Hajar al-'Asqalani: Maulid Nabi as Bid'ah Hasanah
One of the scholars who provided insight into the celebration of the Prophet's birthday is al-Hafizh Ibnu Hajar al-'Asqalani, renowned for his work "Fathul Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari." When asked about the ruling on celebrating the Prophet's birthday, he acknowledged that it is originally an innovation because there is no evidence of the Salaf (the righteous predecessors of the first three Islamic centuries) practicing it.
However, he also asserted that the celebration of the Prophet's birthday contains both virtues and drawbacks, depending on one's intentions and manner of observance. If one seeks good and avoids harm in the celebration, it can be considered bid'ah hasanah, a praiseworthy innovation. Otherwise, it should not be considered as such. Al-Hafizh Ibnu Hajar al-'Asqalani further reinforced his view with a strong foundation, citing hadiths from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that indicate the Prophet fasting on the day of 'Ashura due to its historical significance.
Al-Hafizh Syamsuddin bin al-Jazari: Maulid Nabi as an Expression of Love for the Prophet
In addition to al-Hafizh Ibnu Hajar al-'Asqalani, another scholar, al-Hafizh Syamsuddin bin al-Jazari, an expert in Qur'anic recitation (Qira'at), provided insights into the celebration of the Prophet's birthday in his book 'Urf at-Ta'rif bi al-Maulid asy-Syarif. He highlighted an interesting account concerning Abu Lahab, who, despite being a disbeliever and explicitly condemned in the Qur'an, experienced a reduction in his torment in hell every Monday. Abu Lahab attributed this relief to his joy upon hearing about the birth of the Prophet Muhammad and his act of freeing a slave (Tsuwaibah) at that time.
This account serves as a powerful testament to the significance of celebrating the Prophet's birth, even for someone like Abu Lahab. It raises the question of how a Muslim, a believer in the Prophet's message, should react to this blessed occasion. For one's happiness with the birth of Ahmad and their unwavering belief, the reward from the Generous God is nothing less than admission to the Gardens of Bliss.
Al-Hafizh Syamsuddin bin Nashiruddin ad-Dimasyqi: Maulid Nabi as a Means of Drawing Closer to Allah
Another scholar, al-Hafizh Shamsuddin bin Nasiruddin ad-Dimashqi, who was well-versed in hadith and jurisprudence, shared a similar perspective to al-Hafizh Shamsuddin bin al-Jazari. In his book, Mawrid ash-Shadi fi Maulid al-Hadi, he reinforced the story of Abu Lahab and Tsuwaibah mentioned earlier. He added more verses to emphasize that the celebration of the Prophet's birthday is a means to draw closer to Allah and seek His mercy.
If a disbeliever, like Abu Lahab, found relief in hell for celebrating the Prophet's birth, how should a Muslim respond? For a lifetime of happiness with the arrival of Ahmad and dying in a state of monotheism, the reward is none other than being admitted into the Gardens of Eternal Bliss.
Sheikh Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradhawi: Maulid Nabi as a Way to Revive the History and Message of the Prophet
Among the scholars offering insights into the celebration of the Prophet's birthday is Sheikh Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradhawi, a contemporary scholar and the head of the World Union of Muslim Scholars. He was asked about the Islamic ruling and obligations concerning the maulid.
Sheikh Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradhawi explained that celebrating the Prophet's birthday was not a practice of the companions because they lived alongside the Prophet Muhammad and directly witnessed the historical events. They constantly remembered and shared the stories of the Prophet with their children, just as they memorized the verses of the Qur'an.
However, as time passed and people began to forget the history and message of the Prophet, there arose a need to revive the meanings that had faded away and to remind people of the forgotten legacy. One way to achieve this was through the celebration of the Prophet's birthday, commemorating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad as the beginning of Islam.
Sheikh Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradhawi emphasized that the purpose of celebrating the maulid is to reconnect Muslims with Islam, the history, and the message of the Prophet Muhammad, making him a role model in their lives. Thus, they can learn valuable lessons from the historical events in the life of the Prophet, such as the migration, jihad, trust in God, patience, gratitude, and more.
Sheikh Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradhawi acknowledged that there are some innovations associated with maulid celebrations, such as excessiveness, deviating from the sharia, or mixing unrelated elements. He rejected such practices and did not consider them part of the true maulid. He recognized only those maulid observances that align with Islamic teachings and benefit the community.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these scholars offer diverse perspectives on the celebration of the Prophet's birthday, emphasizing the importance of intentions, adherence to Islamic principles, and the revival of the Prophet's message and history as key factors in assessing its validity and benefits for Muslims.
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