Explanation of Milad-Un-Nabee
[Note: Although the question does not address the issue of
Milad from a fiqh point of view,
but only from a historical point of view, yet it is also
important to examine the issue in that
context. For the most important question for a Muslim has to be
whether or not a particular
act is permissible according to the Shariah, which is derived
from Qur'an, Sunnah, and the
practice of the Sahabah, as they understood the Sunnah. The
following provides that
perspective.]
The establishment of ceremonial gatherings under the banner of
"Eid-Milad-un-Nabee" and
attaching religious significance to them is purely bid'ah and
an innovation in Deen, because
neither did Rasulullah himself indulge in it, nor did the
illustrious Khulafaa-e-Raashideen,
Radi-Allahu anhum, organize such functions. Similarly, neither
did any of the other
Sahaaba-e-Kiraam, Radi-Allahu anhum, participate in such
gatherings, nor is there any
incident on record during the blessed era of the taabi’een or
tab’e taabi’een
(Rahmat-u-Allahi alayhim) that can, in any way, substantiate
this innovation. These people
were best acquainted with the Sunnah of Rasulullah and had
total love for him. They were
staunch followers of the Shariah.
Rasulullah has in no unclear terms, said: "Whoever introduces
anything that is not part of
Deen, into this Deen of ours, it shall be rejected." (Bukhari/Muslim)
In another Hadith he says: "Hold fast onto my Sunnah and the
Sunnah of the rightly-guided
Khulafa, after me. Hold fast onto it firmly, and beware of
newly-introduced practices, for
every new practice is an innovation and every innovation leads
one astray."
(Abu Dawood/Tirmizi)
Severe warnings have been sounded in the above-mentioned
Ahadith with regard to
introducing and implementing innovations in Deen. The holy
Qur’an enjoins: "And whatsoever
the messenger giveth you, take it. And whatsoever he forbiddeth,
abstain (from it). And keep
your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is stern in reprisal." [Al-Hashr
59:7]
"Verily in the messenger of Allah, ye have a good example for
him who looks unto Allah and
the last day, and remembers Allah much." [Al-Ahzab 33:21]
"This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed
my favor unto you, and have
chosen for you a religion, al-Islam." [Al-Maidah 5:3]
There are numerous other Ayat and Ahadith that can be quoted.
But from no Ayat or Ahadith
can the current form of "Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee " be proved?
Will such innovations grant proximity to Allah Taala? On the
contrary, these innovations
should be a cause of great concern and alarm for the
Ummat-e-Muslimah!
It is a known fact that Rasulullah is the most superior of all
the Ambiyaa alaihimus-salaam
and also that he is the seal of all the prophets alayhimus-salaam.
He left no stone unturned
in conveying Deen to us and rendering precious advice to us. If
the "Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee
" was a divinely inspired act, then surely Rasulullah would
have commanded the Muslims to it,
or at least, either he or his beloved Sahabah, Radi-Allahu
anhum, would have practiced it.
That is why, in the light of these unambiguous proofs, the
Ulama-e-Haqq have always refuted
and rejected the customary form of "Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee " and
Mahfeel-e-Milad and have
also always discouraged people from participating in such
gatherings.
Some Wrongs of the Contemporary Milad Gatherings
The contemporary form of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee apart from being
a manifestation of Bid’ah,
also encompasses other evils such as the intermingling of
sexes, usage of musical instruments
and many other such evils. The most abhorring and shocking
evils in these functions are the
acts of shirk that take place. With hollow claims of "Hubbe-Rasul
" (love for Rasulullah )
entreaties and supplications are made to beings other than
Allah, namely to Ambiyaa
alaihimus-salaam and Auliaa-e-Kiraam Rahmat-u-Allahi-alaaihim.
The Belief that the Prophet Comes to the Milad Meeting
Some people also believe that Rasulullah comes to this
function and due to this belief, they
stand up in respect and veneration. This is absolutely untrue.
Rasulullah does not arrive at
any "Eid-e-Milad-un Nabee " function. He is in his
Rawdha-e-Mubarak (grave) at Madinah
Munawwarah and will emerge from it at the onset of
Yawmul-Qiyaamah, or the Day of
Judgement.
The following Ayat and Hadith testify to this fact: The Qur’an,
addressing Rasulullah
announces explicitly: - "Lo! Thou wilt die, and Lo! They will
die. Then Lo! On the day of
resurrection, before your sustainer, you will dispute." [Az-Zumar
39:30-31]
At another place, Rasulullah is addressed together with the
rest of mankind: - "Then Lo!
After that you surely die, then Lo! On the day of resurrection
you are raised (again)"
[Al-Muminun 23:16]
Rasulullah himself has said in a Hadith: - "My grave will be
the first to be opened on the
day of Qiyamah and I shall be the first person to intercede and
the first person whose
intercession shall be accepted."
These Ayat and Hadith as well (and there are others) prove that
all of mankind will be raised
from their graves on the day of Qiyamah, with Rasulullah being
no exception. On this, there is
consensus of the entire Ummah.
The Importance of Durood and Salaam
Instead of squandering our money and time on futile acts of
Bid'ah let us rather utilize our
precious time, as much as possible in the recitation of Durood
and salaam upon our beloved
Rasulullah which is indeed, a highly meritorious and virtuous
act. The Qur’an enjoins: - "Lo!
Allah and his Angels shower blessings on the Nabee 'O' ye who
believe ask for the descent of
blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation." [Al-Ahzab
33:56]
Rasulullah has said: "Whosoever sends one Durood upon me,
Allah Taala will shower ten
mercies upon him." (Muslim). Particularly on Jumuah, one should
increase the recitation of
Durood and salaam.