- The Auspicious Birth of the Beloved Messenger [Mawlid]

WHEN THE BELOVED WAS BORN

Truly blessed was this pregnancy; the Beloved Messenger’s mother, Sayyida Aminah, felt no pain or discomfort. Eventually the blessed child entered into the world from her enlightened womb. When she delivered him, his small precious body emerged prostrated in the Sajda position, already circumcised ¹, with his tiny fists clenched tightly.

Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Abbas also reports that Sayyida Amina said, “When I gave birth to the Prophet, with him came out a light that lit the space between the east and west. He then fell on the ground, and leaning on his hands, took a handful of soil, grasped it, then raised his head towards the Heavens.” ²

Imam Tabarani narrates that when he fell to the ground, he had his fingers drawn together, with the index finger pointing, testifying to the oneness of Allah. ³

Sayyida Shifa reports, “I was there when the Messenger of Allah was born. I quickly rushed there to help. I heard a voice saying, ‘may Allah’s mercy be upon him.’ The distance between the south and the north was filled with divine light. I saw palaces of Byzantine in that light. I took the Messenger of Allah in my arms and started to suckle him, then I began to tremble to the extent I almost fainted. The baby disappeared in front of my eyes. A voice asked, ‘Where has he gone?’ Another one replied, ‘They took him to the east.’ I never forgot those words. Therefore, as soon as the Messenger of Allah declared his Prophethood, I went to him and accepted his faith together with the first Muslims.” ⁴

The newborn child glowed with incredible beauty, his soft little face radiant with a most resplendent light. He was born on a Monday, 12th Rabi’ul Awwal, in the Year of the Elephant, 570 CE. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him!

The Prophet’s uncle, Sayyidina Abbas said, “O Messenger of Allah, what made me enter into your religion was my witnessing a sign of your Prophethood. I saw you in your cradle talking tenderly to the moon and pointing at it with your finger. It moved across the sky to wherever you pointed.” The Beloved Messenger replied, “I was talking to it, and it talked to me, which distracted me from crying. I could hear the sound of its prostration under the Throne.” ⁵

It is also narrated that the Beloved Messenger spoke when he was first born. ⁶

That night of the blessed birth, stars fell down from the sky like the leaves in autumn, indicating that the devil and the jinns would no longer be able to steal information from the Heavens. ⁷

And, somewhere in the distant land of Madinah, a young boy of roughly eight years named Hassan bin Thabit told how that night, he was awoken by the shouts of a Jew from the rooftop of a fortress announcing that ‘Ahmad’, the awaited Messenger of God, had been born.⁸ Some fifty-three years later that same Hassan bin Thabit, may Allah be pleased with him, embraced Islam at the hands of this beloved Messenger and became his beloved poet and Companion.

¹ Imam Abu Nu’aym narrates that the Beloved Messenger said, “One of the miracles bestowed upon me by Allah was that I was born circumcised, and noone saw my private parts.” [Dala’il al-Nubuwwah]

The same Hadith was reported by Imam Tabarani in his al-Awsat. Imam al-Hakim said, “Numerous Ahadith speak of the Prophet being born circumcised.” [al-Mustadrak 2/602]

This fact is also mentioned by Imam ibn Hibban [as-Seeratun Nabawiyyah, pg. 58]

²Imam al-Qastalani’s Mawahibul-Laduniyya

³Imam al-Qastalani, Mawahibul-Laduniyya

⁴ Imam al-Qastalani, Mawahibul-Laduniyya, 1/122

⁵Imam al-Qastalani, Mawahibul-Laduniyya

⁶Imam al-Qastalani, Mawahibul-Laduniyya related from Imam ibn Hajr’s Fathul Bari

⁷Tabari, 2/131; Qadi Iyad’s al-Shifa, 1/726-733

⁸ Sayyidina Hassan bin Thabit reports, “I was about eight years old. One morning a Jewish man was running, crying out, ‘O Jews!’ Jews gathered around the man saying ‘What is it? Why are you shouting?’ The man was crying out, ‘Let me give you this news; Ahmad’s star was born tonight. Ahmad was born tonight.”[Imam al-Qastalani, Mawahibul-Laduniyya, 1/122]

HE IS ‘THE MOST PRAISED’

Sayyidina Abdul Muttalib was sitting near the Ka’bah with some friends and when he heard of his grandson’s safe birth, he ecstatically remarked, “This child of mine will most certainly achieve greatness.”

Sayyida Aminah reported to him all she had seen or felt during the pregnancy. In one of her dreams, she was told, ‘You have conceived the best of mankind, and a leader of the people. When you give birth to him, name him Ahmad and Muhammad.” ⁹

She would also say she was told in a dream, “When he is born, name him Muhammad, for his name is Ahmad in the Torah and the Gospels. He will be praised by those in the Heavens and those on the earth. In the Qur'an, his name will be Muhammad.” So she named him thus. ¹⁰

On the seventh day, Sayyidina Abdul Muttalib took the baby Messenger to the Ka’bah to thank and praise Allah, named him Muhammad, and then held a celebratory feast.

When asked by the people why he had not given the child a family name, he replied, “Because I want God to praise him in the Heavens, and His creatures to praise him on earth.” ¹¹

As Sayyidina Hassan bin Thabit said:

“He derived for him a name from His own Name

In order to exalt him,

For the One of the Throne is Praised (Mahmud)

And this is the Praised One (Muhammad).”

⁹Imam Abu Nu’aym [Dala’il al-Nubuwwah 1/36-37]

¹⁰Imam Abu Nu'aym, from Imam Bayhaqi [Dala’il al-Nubuwwah 1/111-112]I

¹¹Imam ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, from a narration by Imam Bayhaqi [Fathul Bari 15/3; also see Dala’il al-Nubuwwah 1/161]

COMMEMORATING THE BLESSED BIRTH OR MAWLID

Imam al-Qastalani, commentator of Sahih Bukhari, says, “May Allah have mercy on the one who turns the nights of the month of the Prophet’s birth into festivities in order to decrease the suffering of those whose hearts are filled with disease and sickness.” ¹²

The commemoration and celebration of the blessed birth of the Beloved Messenger, also known as mawlid or milad, is indeed a beneficial and praiseworthy virtue.

Mawlid events held in the auspicious month of Rabiul Awwal are dedicated to remembering he whom Allah praises when He says, “And indeed, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character.” [Qur’an 68:5]

These gatherings often comprise of Naat or Qasida recitals (poems in praise of the Beloved Messenger); Zikr of Allah; speeches about the Deen to strengthen faith and belief; reminders about our beautiful history; feeding the masses; and the priceless opportunity of bringing the community together under the flag of love for the Messenger of Allah, which is undoubtedly the essence of one’s faith.

Indeed, the Beloved Messenger himself said, “None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind.” ¹³ And in another Hadith, he says to Sayyidina Umar bin al-Khattab, “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, (you will not have complete faith) till I am dearer to you than your own self.” ¹⁴

This time of year allows the Muslim Ummah to focus on the appreciation of our greatest blessing: the Beloved Messenger himself. Thus we are able to fulfil the Command of Allah, when He, glory be to Him, says, “In the bounty of Almighty Allah and His Mercy, let them rejoice; that is better than the wealth they accumulate.” [Qur’an 10:58]

Truly, never has there been - and never will there be - a bounty greater than our Beloved Master Muhammad, leader of guidance for all humanity, Mercy unto the worlds, may Allah’s utmost peace and blessings be upon him.

And indeed, to him was addressed the verse, “And we have exalted for you your remembrance.” [Qur’an 94:4]

¹²[Mawahibul-Laduniyya, 1/148]

¹³Bukhari, Book 2, Hadith no. 12

¹⁴Sayyidina Umar said to the Beloved Messenger, “O Allah’s Messenger! You are dearer to me than everything except my own self.” The Beloved Messenger said, “No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, (you will not have complete faith) till I am dearer to you than your own self.” Then Sayyidina Umar said to him, “However, now - by Allah - you are dearer to me than my own self." The Messenger replied, “Now, O Umar (now you are a believer).” [Bukhari, Vol. 8, Book 78, Hadith no. 628]

THE BELOVED’S COMMEMORATION OF HIS OWN BIRTH

Although the present form of commemorating the blessed mawlid is an innovation (i.e. to gather the community and host events/feasts), the origin of remembering the mawlid does indeed trace back to the Beloved Messenger himself.

In Sahih Muslim, a narration from Sayyidina Abu Qatada relates that the Beloved Messenger of Allah would fast on Mondays and explained, “That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I received the Message (i.e., the day on which his Prophethood began).”

This shows clearly the significance in which the Beloved Messenger held his mawlid, that he would commemorate it every week, along with the event of the first revelation. Surely, we as his Ummah and as ones who love him from the depths of our heart, should also respect that day and commemorate it? Surely it is an act of delight that we gather together to thank Allah Most High for His greatest bounty to mankind, the Beloved Master, the Mercy to all the worlds, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him?

MERCY FOR REJOICING AT THE BLESSED BIRTH

Imam al-Hakim narrated that the Beloved Messenger was born in Makkah in the house of Muhammad bin Yusuf. He was breastfed by Thuwaiba, the freed female slave of Abu Lahab, who freed her upon her bringing him the good news of the Beloved Messenger’s birth. After his death, Abu Lahab was seen in a dream, when he was asked, “How are you faring?” He answered, “I am in the fire. However, I get a break every Monday, when I am able to suck water from this spot between my fingers,” and he gestured with two of his finger tips. “This miracle is due to my freeing Thuwaiba when she brought me the good news of the birth of the Prophet.”¹⁵

In regards to this, Imam ibn al-Jazari said, “If Abu Lahab, the infidel, who was dispraised in a Qur'anic revelation, was nevertheless rewarded because of his rejoicing at the birth of the Prophet, how about Muslims from among his nation who rejoice in his birth and do the best they can out of love for him? By my life, their reward from Allah, the Generous, will be entry into the Paradises of bliss with Allah’s abundant Bounties.”

The people of Islam always celebrate the month of our Beloved Prophet’s birth by having feasts, giving all kinds of charity, expressing their joy, increasing their good deeds, and carefully reading the story of his birth. In return, Allah fills believers with the abundant blessings of this month.

It has been proven that one of the qualities of the Prophet’s birthday, which is called the Mawlid, is that it brings safety throughout the year and the good news that all wishes and desires will be fulfilled. May Allah shower His Mercy on everyone who turns the nights of this month of the Beloved Messenger’s blessed birth into festivities. ¹⁶

¹⁵ Sayyidina Urwa reports a similar account in Sahih Bukhari: “Thuwaiba was a slave of Abu Lahab. Abu Lahab set her free, and she suckled the Holy Prophet. When Abu Lahab died, someone from his family saw him in a dream, in the worst possible condition. The person asked him, ‘What did you get?’ Abu Lahab said, ‘After I was separated from you, I did not find any peace, except that because I freed Thuwaiba, I am given a drink through this (i.e. the finger).” [Bukhari, Vol 2, page 764]

¹⁶ This entire passage (from “Imam al-Hakim narrated…” to this point) is an extract from Imam al-Qastalani’s Mawahibul-Laduniyya

SOME RIGHTEOUS SCHOLARS’ VIEWS ON MAWLID

• Imam Jalaluddin al-Suyuti writes, “The Shar’iah commands Aqiqa on the birth of a child. This is a way to thank Allah and rejoice - but at the time of death, no such commandment has been given. In fact, mourning and grieving is prohibited. The same principle of Shar’iah demands that happiness and the joy should be expressed in Rabi’ul Awwal on the birth of the Beloved Messenger, and to not grieve for his Wisaal (departure from this world).” [Husnul Maqsad fi Amaalil Mawlid al-Haawi lil Fatawa]

• Hafiz ibn Kathir writes, “Sultan Muzaffar used to arrange the celebration of the mawlid with honour, glory, dignity and grandeur. In this connection, he would organise a magnificent festival.” Then he said in praise of that man, “He was a pure-hearted, brave and wise Aalim (scholar) and a just ruler - may Allah shower His Mercy upon him and grant him an exalted status.” [al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, Vol.13, page 136]

• Shaykh Abdul Haqq Muhaddith Dehlwi writes, “Muslims have always celebrated Milad functions in the month of Rabi’ul Awwal. They always gave charity on the nights of that month and expressed their happiness. This is a common practice of Muslims, that they particularly make mention of those incidents which are related to the birth of the Beloved Messenger, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.” And he further states, “I swear by my life that, Allah Most Merciful’s reward for he who celebrates mawlid will be nothing but that he will be entered into the Garden of Bliss.” [Ma Sabata minas Sunnah]

• Mulla Ali Qari writes, “Firstly, we see that it is permissible to arrange an assembly of milad. It is permissible to participate in that assembly for the purpose of listening to the praises and character of the Beloved Messenger. Inviting people and expressing happiness is permissible. Secondly, we do not say that it is Sunnah to celebrate milad on any fixed night; anyone who believes that it is Sunnah to celebrate milad on any fixed night (and not in any other night) is a bid’ati [wrongful innovator] because the Zikr of the Beloved Messenger is required all the time. Though indeed, the month in which the Beloved Messenger was born has more preference.” [al-Mouridil Raweefil Mawlideena Nabawi]

• Mullah Ali Qari also wrote a book which he entitled ‘The Quenching Spring on the Birthday of the Prophet.'

• Sayyidina Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani used to host gatherings and give gifts in joy of this blessed occasion of mawlid on the 11th of every month, which is now known as Giyarwi Sharif. This practice is still performed to this day.