THE BARELWI SECT (PART 2)

THE BARELWI SECT (PART 2)

Rejoicing over Allaah's mercy does not include celebrating Prophet's birth

  Fatwa No : 281791

  Fatwa Date : Jumaadaa Al-Aakhir 20, 1436 / 10-4-2015

Question

One of my friend quoted the following verse of Quran-Chapter Yunus Verse no. 57 and 58 for Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) as Rahmah (mercy) and thereupon rejoice (celebrate) as an evidence from Quran for celebrating the Birthday of Prophet SAWS.

Please clarify as some scholars say Rahmah (mercy) mention in verse refers to Quran/Islam but he says it refers to Prophet Muhammad SAWS, Rejoice means Celebrating the Mercy.

It is not his own opinion but opinion of Muslim Scholars he is connected with basically Sunni Dawate Islami in India and Pakistan.

It is shocking for me how there is a evidence in Quran for Celebrating 12th Rabi ul awwal or Birthday of Prophet. If it is then why are we neglecting it ? Please try to give revelation detail of above verse of Quran and preferbly give answer from Quran itself else Saheeh Hadeeth.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad , is His Slave and Messenger.

First of all, you should know that celebrating the birth of the Prophet , is a religious innovation. We previously discussed some of the misconceptions concerning this in Fataawa 1563 and 92435, so please refer to them.

Scholars held different opinions regarding the interpretation of the verse that reads (what means):

 {Say, "In the bounty of Allaah and in His mercy – in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate."} [Quran 10:58]

The author of Fat-h Al-Qadeer said: "The bounty of Allaah means the grace and endless blessings of Allaah conferred upon His slaves in this world and the Hereafter, and mercy means His mercy upon them.

"It has been reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him said: 'The bounty of Allaah is the Quran and His mercy is Islam.'

"Al-Hasan, Adh-Dhahhaak, Mujaahid, and Qataadah may Allaah have mercy upon them all, said:

 The bounty of Allaah is Eeman (faith) and His mercy is the Quran.

"It is most correct to say that the bounty and mercy of Allaah in the verse should be interpreted in a general sense. The Quran and what it contains are included in this even more so than anything else, and there is no doubt that the Prophet , is a mercy, and so he is included in this general sense, as indicated by the words of Allaah (which mean):

{And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds} [Quran 21:107].

And the words of the Prophet : 'I am nothing other than a gift of mercy.'" [Al-Haakim, At-Tabaraani, and Al-Bayhaqi]

However, where is the evidence here that supports the permissibility of celebrating the birth of the Prophet ? The believer rejoices over his Prophet , and properly loves and honors him; however, this should not cause him to commit an innovation unfounded in the religion.

 Even if we hypothetically assumed that this evidence is actually supportive of the permissibility of celebrating the birth of the Prophet , how could the early Muslims – the Companions and the Successors (Taabi‘een) and their followers – have failed to reach this understanding and conclusion. They never celebrated the birth of the Prophet , although they loved and revered him the most and were keener on performing righteous deeds and gaining rewards.

Therefore, the above consists in confusion and a haphazard conclusion about this innovation, and it is the greatest proof that there is no evidence for celebrating his birth .

Among the greatest causes of deviation is that Muslims believe that a religious innovation is founded in the religion before investigating the evidence supporting it, and when their claim is questioned, they start investigating the relevant evidence (in an attempt to prove their argument correct)! This is a major cause of disagreement within the Ummah because it brings about transgression and enmity.

Allaah The Exalted says (what means):

{And they did not become divided until after knowledge had come to them – out of jealous animosity between themselves.} [Quran 42:14]

The Muslim is enjoined to investigate the religious evidence first, believe in it, and then act upon it instead of hastening to act upon unfounded claims and then try to find justifications for it in the religion.

The best way to avoid blameworthy divergence is to adhere to the guidance of the Prophet , and the correct understanding of Islam by him and his followers.

Al-‘Irbaadh ibn Saariyah may Allaah be pleased with him reported that the Prophet , said:

"Verily he among you who lives long will see great controversy, so keep to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs, those who guide to the right way. Bite down on it with your molar teeth. And beware of newly invented matters, for verily every innovation is misguidance." 

[Ahmad, Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah]

We implore Allaah to protect Muslims' religion and graciously guide them back to the Truth and the straight path.

Allaah Knows best.

Celebrating the Prophet's birthday according to some scholars

 Fatwa No : 92435

  Fatwa Date : Sha'baan 20, 1427 / 14-9-2006

Question

Assalamu alaikum. My friend made the following statement when I said Mawlid is Bidaah.

"Many scholars of the past including the likes of Nawawi / Suyuti / Ibn Kathir etc and others , I am told opined in favour of Mawlid.

It is best not to make categorical statements about things which pious scholars of past has had a difference of Opinion.

I was a staunch opposser of Mawlid and birthdays but now am absolutely neutral having read some of the above opinions. Even Shaikh Ahmed Kutty the salafi scholar on www.islamonline.net gives fatwa favouring it.

 So my suggestion would be to rephrase it saying there is a difference of opinion amongst the scholar or avoid this topic completely as we are not scholars and to say something is bida’ah is to accuse those scholars of that"

Is this true about 3 Scholars (Allah's mercy on them) mentioned above? If they did favour Mawlid was it just speeches on that day or having dinner/distributing sweets etc? kindly give proof as none of Sahabah or later Madhab Imam's(Allah be pleased with them)after death of Prophet(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) celebrated.

(As some say Prophet(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)was present with Sahaba(Allah be pleased with them)that they did not celebrate). Now if the above 3 Scholars(Allah's mercy on them)said Mawlid is Bidah could you give proof as in these days of Fitna so many rumours are spreading confusing our Ummah.Was Salaam.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

The matter is as we mentioned in Fataawa 90783, 89739, 83240 and 81804 that celebrating the birthday of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is an innovation. The evidence proving it to be forbidden is that there is no evidence which proves that it is permissible; the principle in acts of worship is that they are forbidden.

 It is the one who says that something is permitted who is required to provide evidence. Had the companions may Allaah be pleased with them and those who followed them exactly in faith differed about this issue, it would undoubtedly have been reported to us in details.

Moreover, you should know that the evidence are the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and not the statement of any person.

The scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them who held the view that it is permissible to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) applied Ijtihaad (a juristic opinion on matters which are not specified in the Quran or the Sunnah) and they will be rewarded for it even if they were wrong. Therefore, we do not say that whoever said so is an innovator, but we should not follow him in things on which he was wrong.

There is no doubt that the scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them who held the view that it is permissible to celebrate his birthday, did not mean to celebrate it in a manner that is celebrated today, which may include many evil things, like the existence of drums, Duff and other musical instruments and poetry which involves associating partners to Allaah, like seeking the help of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). In addition to this, you will find that there is forbidden mixing between the two sexes, and other evil acts which are known to everyone.

As regards attributing the statement of the permissibility of celebrating the birthday of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) to the scholars which you mentioned in the question, then we have not come across anything which proves this with the exception of the statement of As-Suyooti may Allaah have mercy upon him.

Allaah Knows best.