The Ruling Concerning Celebrating
MILAADUN-NABEE
By the Shaykh –the
noble Scholar – ‘Abdul-‘ bin Baaz[1]
All praise is for Allaah and the blessings of
Allaah and His peace be upon the Messenger, and upon his Family, his Companions
and all those who follow his guidance.
After that:
It is not permissible to celebrate Milaadun-Nabee
(the birthday of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), nor the
birthday of anyone else, since this is from the acts of bid’ah
(innovations) that have been newly-invented into the religion.[2] Neither did Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam, nor the Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs (Successors),
nor the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them all, nor any of their
followers from the first three excellent generations, celebrate this day – and
they were the most knowledgeable of people concerning the Sunnah (the Prophetic
guidance), and had the greatest love for Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam and were the foremost in following his Sharee’ah
(Prescribed Laws).
It has been authentically established from the
Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam that he said:
“Whosoever introduces into this affair of
ours, that which is not part of it, will have it rejected.”[3]
In another authentic narration, he sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Hold fast to my Sunnah (guidance) and the
way of the Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs after me, cling to it tightly. And beware of newly-invented matters, for
every newly-invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is
misguidance.”[4]
So these two narrations contain a strong
warning against innovations in the religion, and acting upon them. This is why Allaah – the One free from all
defects – says in His Clear Book:
“And whatever the Messenger gives
you, take it. Whatever he forbids you
from, then keep away from it.”
[Soorah al-Hadeed 59:7].
Allaah – the Mighty and Majestic – said:
“Let those beware who withstand
the command of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, unless some
trials and afflictions befall them, or unless they are afflicted with a painful
punishment.” [Soorah an-Noor
24:63].
Allaah – the Most Perfect – said:
“Indeed in the Prophet sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam, you have a beautiful example to follow, for whosoever
hopes in Allaah and the Last Day, and remembers Allaah plentifully.” [Soorah al-Ahzaab 33:21].
Allaah – the Most High – said:
“And the first to embrace Islaam
from the Muhaajirs and the Ansaar, and those who followed them in
goodness, beliefs and actions. Allaah
is well-pleased with them, and they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens of Paradise,
beneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever. That is the supreme achievement.” [Soorah at-Tawbah 9:100].
And Allaah – the Most High – said:
“This day have I perfected your
religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam
as your way of life.” [Soorah
al-Maa’idah 5:3].
The verses with this meaning are plenty. So to accept this celebration, or any other
newly-invented act of worship, implies that Allaah – the Most Perfect – did not
complete and perfect the religion for this Ummah, and that the Messenger sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam did not completely convey to his Ummah what was necessary
regarding their duties, until the advent of those who came later and innovated
in the religion of Allaah that for which they had no permission, claiming that
they would draw closer to Allaah by such innovations. And this – without doubt – is a great danger and amounts to
criticizing Allaah – the Most Perfect – and His Messenger sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam. For Allaah – the
One free from all defects – has indeed perfected this religion for His
servants, and has completed His favour upon them. And the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam has
clearly conveyed the Message, not leaving any way that leads to Paradise, nor any
way that distances a person from the Fire, except that he explained it to his
Ummah. This has been established in an
authentic narration, from ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr radiallaahu ‘anhu, in
which Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Allaah did not send any Prophet except that
it was his duty to inform his Ummah of the good that he knew, and to warn them
about the evils that he knew.”[5]
It is known that our Prophet sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam is the best of all the Prophets and the last of them and
the most perfect of them with regards to conveying the Message and advising the
people. So if celebrating his milaad
(birthday) was a part of the religion that Allaah – the Most Perfect – chose,
then the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would have most
certainly explained it to his Ummah, or he would have celebrated it himself, or
his noble Companions radiallaahu ‘anhum would have celebrated it. However, since nothing like this happened,
then we know that the celebration of milaad has nothing to do with
Islaam whatsoever. Rather, it is from
those innovations which the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
warned his Ummah from, as has been shown in the preceding narrations.
There is another authentic narration similar in
meaning to the two preceding ones, and it is his sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam’s saying in his Jumu’ah khutbah (Friday sermon):
“Indeed, the best speech is the Book of
Allaah, and the best guidance and example is that of Muhammad sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam. And the worst
affairs are the newly-invented ones, and every newly-invented matter is an
innovation, and every innovation is misguidance.”[6]
Due to this, a group of the Scholars rejected
the practice of milaad and warned against it, acting upon the
aforementioned proofs, and their like.
However, some of the later Scholars differed, in that they have allowed
such a practice, providing it does not entail any sinful and evil matters; such
as exaggerating in the praise of Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,
or free-mixing between men and women, or the playing of musical instruments and
singing, and other such matters which are rejected by the pure Sharee’ah
(Prescribed Law). They think that such
a practice is a bid’ah hasanah (a good innovation in the religion).[7] However, the Sharee’ah principle is:
whenever any dispute arises amongst the people, then the issue should be
referred back to the Book of Allaah and to the Sunnah of His Messenger,
Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Allaah – the Mighty and Majestic – said:
“O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those
in authority amongst you. If you differ
in anything amongst yourselves, then refer it back for judgement to Allaah and
His Messenger, if you do truly believe in Allaah and the Last Day. That is better and more befitting for final
determination.” [Soorah an-Nisaa
4:59].
Allaah – the Most High – said:
“And in whatever you differ, the
judgement is with Allaah.” [Soorah
ash-Shooraa 42:10].
So if we refer this issue – about the validity
of celebrating milaad – back to the Book of Allaah, we find that the
Book (i.e. the Qur’aan) commands us to follow the Messenger sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam in that which he brought, and it warns us against that
which he prohibited. It also informs us
that Allaah – the Most Perfect – has perfected the religion of Islaam for this
Ummah. Thus, from this angle, there is
nothing in what the Messenger came with concerning this celebration, and
therefore it cannot be part of the religion which Allaah perfected for us and
ordered us to adhere to by following the Messenger.
Then if we turn to the Sunnah of the
Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam we do not find in it that he sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam celebrated his own birthday, nor ordered its celebration,
nor do we find any of the Companions radiallaahu ‘anhum celebrating
it! Therefore, it will be absolutely
clear to anyone who has the slightest insight and is desirous of truth and
justice, that the practice of celebrating the Miladun-Nabee (the
birthday of the Prophet) is not part of the religion, rather it is a bid’ah
(innovation) which we have been warned against and ordered to abandon. It is also a form of blind imitation of the
jews and christians in their festivals.
Therefore, the sensible person should not be deceived by the large
number of people, from various lands, who practice this, since the truth is not
known by mere numbers, but the truth is known by the Sharee’ah
proofs. Allaah – the Most High – said
concerning the jews and the christians:
“And they say: None shall enter Paradise unless he be a jew
or a christian! These are their own
desires. Say to them: Bring your proof if you are indeed truthful.” [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:111].
And Allaah – the Most High – said:
“And if you were to obey most of
those on earth, they would mislead you far away from Allaah’s path.” [Soorah al-An’aam 6:116].
Most of these milaad celebrations – as
well as being an innovation – involve other types of evils as well; such as the
free-mixing between men and women, singing and playing musical instruments, and
the drinking and smoking of intoxicants.
These are in such celebrations, something which is worse than all this,
and it is the greater form of shirk (associating partners in the worship
of Allaah), through exaggerating about Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam, or the dead awliyaa (pious servants of Allaah),
by supplicating to them, seeking their aid and help, or by believing that they
have the knowledge of the ghayb (hidden Unseen), and other such matters
of kufr (disbelief). Whereas it
is authentically related from Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam that he said: “Beware of ghuloo (exaggeration) in the
religion. For indeed those who came
before you were destroyed due to their exaggerating in the religion.”[8] And he ‘alayhis-salaatu was-salaam
also said:
“Do not over-elevate me as the christians
over-elevated Jesus son of Mary, but rather I am just a slave of Allaah. So call me the slave of Allaah and His
Messenger.”[9]
One of the strangest matters is that a great
number of people who actively participate in this innovated celebration, and
who defend it vigorously, do not take care of fulfilling those matters which
Allaah has made obligatory upon them, such as praying the five daily Prayers,
and this does not even bother many of them at all. Indeed many of them do not even think that they are committing a
great sin! There is no doubt that this
is due to their weak eeman (faith) and their short-sightedness and the
fact that their hearts are covered with the filth of sins and
disobedience. We ask Allaah to protect
and forgive us and all of the Muslims.
One of the strangest matters also is that some
of them believe that Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is
actually present at their milaad celebrations, so consequently the
participants stand to greet and welcome him.
However, this is from the greatest of lies and the worst form of
ignorance, because the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam shall
neither come out of his grave before the Day of Judgement, nor will he meet
anyone, nor attend their gatherings.
Rather, he shall remain in his grave until the Day of Judgement, whilst
his noble rooh (soul) resides in the highest of places with his Lord in
the home of the exalted, as Allaah – the Most High – said:
“Then you shall surely die, then
you shall be raised-up again on the Day of Resurrection.” [Soorah al-Mu’minoon 23:15-16].
The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
said:
“I will be the leader of the children of
Aadam on the Day of Resurrection, and I will be the first for whom the earth
will split open, and I will be the first to intercede and the first whose
intercession will be accepted.”[10]
So this noble aayah (verse) and this
noble hadeeth – and those verses and ahaadeeth with a similar meaning – prove
that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and others that have also
died, will only come out of their graves on the Day of Resurrection. And this is a matter about which there is an
agreement amongst the Muslim Scholars, there being no difference between
them. So it is a must upon every
Muslim, to carefully consider these matters and to beware of those innovations
and deviations that have been introduced by the ignorant ones and their like,
for which Allaah has not sent down any authority. It is Allaah’s help that is sought, and He alone is relied upon,
and there is no might, nor any power, except with Allaah.
As for sending the salaah and the
salaam (invoking praises and blessings of peace) upon Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu
’alayhi wa sallam, then this is from one of the best ways of drawing closer
to Allaah and from those actions which are righteous. Allaah – the Most High – said:
“Indeed Allaah sends His salaah
upon the Prophet (i.e. Allaah praises the Prophet to the angels), as do the
angels (by supplicating for forgiveness for him) O you who Believe! Send your salaah upon him and invoke
the best salaam (blessings of peace) for him.” [Soorah al-Ahzaab
33:56].
The Prophet sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Whosoever
sends a single blessing upon me, then Allaah will send upon him ten blessings.”[11] So this is prescribed at all times,
particularly at the end of every Prayer.
Rather, a group from the people of Knowledge actually consider it
obligatory in the final sitting of every Prayer, and consider it highly
recommended at other times, such as after the adhaan (call to Prayer),
and after mentioning the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s name,
and also on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday), as is proven by the various
authentic narrations.
May Allaah help us and all
the Muslims to attain a sound understanding of the religion, and that He
favours us all by causing us to cling to the Sunnah and causing us to
beware of bid’ah (innovations in the religion). Indeed He is the Most Generous, the Most
Kind. And may the salaah and salaam
(Allaah’s praises and blessings of peace) be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon
his Family, his Companions and his followers.
[1] At-Tahdheer minal-Bid’ah (pp.3-6) of Shaykh Ibn Baaz.
[2] Ash-Shaatibee said in al-‘Itisaam (1/39), about
the technical definition of the word bid’ah (innovations): “A newly invented way in the Religion, in
imitation of, or corresponding to the Sharee’ah, through which nearness
to Allaah is sought. Such action is not
supported by any authentic proof – neither the action itself, nor the way in
which it is performed.”
[3] Related by al-Bukharee (2/166) and Muslim (5/133),
from ‘Aaishah radiallaahu ‘anhaa.
[4] Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (4/126) and
Abu Daawood (no.4607), for al-‘Irbaad ibn Saariyah radiallaahu ‘anhu. It was declared authentic by al-Haafidh Ibn
Hajr in Takhreej Ahaadeeth Mukhtasar Ibnul-Haajib (1/137).
[5] Related by Muslim in his Saheeh (no.1844).
[6] Related by Muslim (6/153), from Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah radiallaahu
‘anhu.
[7] Refer to the following article in refutation of this
concept: {“Every Innovation is
Misguidance: EVEN IF PEOPLE THINK
IT IS GOOD”}.
[8] Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (1/215) and
Ibn Maajah (no.3064), from Ibn ‘Abbaas radiallaahu ‘anhu. It was authenticated by al-Haafidh Ibn
Taymiyyah in Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (3/383).
[9] Related by al-Bukharee (no.3445) and Muslim (no.1691),
from ‘Umar radiallaahu ‘anhu.
[10] Related by Muslim (7/59), from Abu Hurayrah radiallaahu
‘anhu.
[11] Related by Muslim (no.408), from Abu Hurayrah radiallaahu
‘anhu.