- The Auspicious Birth of the Beloved Messenger [Mawlid]

WHEN THE BELOVED WAS BORN

- Images of Celebrating Youm-ul-Watani by the opponents of Milad

Saudi Arabia does celebrate Youm-ul-Watani (National Day of Saudi Arabia). Television stations telecast special programs and newspapers print special editions and private companies give their employees a day off. I have never seen any Saudi scholar’s fatwa against the celebration of Saudi National Day. But they are very quick in giving Fatwa against Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi. Did Prophet (Peace be upon him) OR his companions (May Allah be pleased with them) ever celebrated the establishment of the Islamic state of Madinah? Saudi scholars, who oppose the celebration of Prophet's birthday, gave Fatwa for justifying US troops in Saudi Arabia but they can not issue a Fatwa against the Bid’a that is committed by their own government and by them. That is a real distortion of Islam.

- Images of Meelad Celebrations from all over the world

Meaning of Milad according to literature and Shariah

The word Milad has been derived from "viladut" which means birth.

Therefore, according to Arabic language, Milad is word which signifies the place and time of birth.

Evidence of celebrating Milad from the Holy Quran

The Qur’anic verses proves that to celebrate Milad is not only a proper deed but it is also a praiseworthy.

1) Allah Almighty says in Quran:

"The peace is on Him the day when he was born and the day when he will die and the day when he will be raised alive." (Kanzul Iman the translation of Holy Quran, Sura Al-Maryam, Verse 15)

Evidence of celebrating Milad from Hadith sharif

There are many narrations, which proves the Milad Sharif but I write a few.

1) The Prophet of Allah (Allah’s Grace and Peace be upon him) himself stated his own birth from very beginning He says: "I had been transferred, continuously, from purified offspring to purified wombs. I had been given birth by a lawful marriage not by adultery. When Allah Almighty sent Adam Alaihis Salam on earth so He put me in his spine and then transferred in Nuh Alaihis salam in his boat, and then in Ibrahim Alaihis salam Allah Almighty transferred me continuously from noble offspring to the purified wombs up to that He brought me in my parents who never committed adultery."

(Tafseer Ruhul Bayan, Vol. 3, Page 54)

As I have written in the beginning that Milad means the time of birth or place of birth. So the Holy Prophet (Allah's Grace and Peace be upon him) himself celebrated his own Milad.

In the same way Ahle Sunnat following the Holy Prophet (Allah's Grace and Peace be upon him)narrate the events of the birth of the Holy Prophet (Allah's Grace and Peace be upon him) .

This hadith is the clear proof Milad un Nabi (Allah’s Grace and Peace be upon him) and as well as tell us that to celebrate Milad un Nabi (Allah's Grace and Peace be upon him) is not innovation (bidat) but it is a sunnah (tradition) of Prophet (Allah’s Grace and Peace be upon him).

There are many other narrations which narrate that the Prophet of Allah (Allah's Grace and Peace be upon him) celebrate his own Milad several times, some of those narrations have been written in Mishkat Sharif.

2) "The one who rejoices on the birth day of the Holy Prophet would not be severely punished and it is hopped that a Muslim who celebrate the Milad un Nabi (Allah's Grace and Peace be upon him), will not be punished in hell.

Imam Bukhari Rahmatullah Alaih narrates that Abu Lahab would be punished lightly in the hell on Monday. Because he rejoiced and freed his handmaid indicating by his finger, when the Prophet of Allah Almighty (Allah's Grace and Peace be upon him) took birth. So as a reward of happiness on Milad un Nabi (Allah's Grace and Peace be upon him) he would be given water by his finger. (Saheehul Bukhari Vol. 2, Page 764)

Evidence of celebrating milad from Muslim ummah and scholars

1) Imam Al-Hafiz Al-Suyuti in his famous book "Al-Hawii Lil-Fatawii" allocated a special chapter on that topic and named it "The Excellence of Objective in Celebrating the Mawlid" where he said: The question under consideration is what the verdict of the Shari'ah on celebrating the Holy Birthday of the Noble Prophet (Allah's Grace & Peace be upon Him) during the month of Rabbi-ul-Awwal. From the point of view of Shari'ah is this a praiseworthy action or a blameworthy one? And do those who arrange such celebration Receive blessings or not? He said:

"The reply to this question is that in my view the Milad Shareef (Celebration of the Birthday of the Noble Prophet Allah's Grace & Peace be upon Him) is in fact such an occasion of happiness on which people assemble and recite the Holy Qu'ran to the extent that is easy. Then they relate the prophecies concerning the appearance of the Noble Prophet (Allah's Grace & Peace be upon Him) that have been transmitted in Ahadith and Author, and the miraculous events and signs that took place on his birth. Then food is set before them and according to their desire they partake thereof to satisfaction. This festival of celebrating the birthday of the Noble Prophet (Allah's Grace & Peace be upon Him) is a Bid'ah Hasanah (good Innovation) and those arranging it will get blessing, since in such a celebration is found the expression of joy and happiness at the greatness and eminence of the Noble Prophet (Allah's Grace & Peace be upon Him) and his birth".

Even Ibn Tay'miah said in his book "Necessity of the Right Path", p. 266, 5th line from the bottom of that page, published by Dar Al-Hadith, the following:

"As far as what people do during the Milad, either as a rival celebration to that which the Christian do during the time of Christ's birthday or as an expression of their love and admiration and a sign of praise for the Noble Prophet (Allah's Grace & Peace be upon Him), Allah Almighty will surely reward them for such Ijtihad". He then said: "Although Milad was not practiced by (Salaf), they should have done so since there was no objection against it from the Shari'ah point of view".

And we certainly only celebrate Milad out of love and admiration to the Prophet of all Mankind.

2. Imam Al-Hafiz Al-Qastalani, who gave commentary on Sahih Bukhari, said: "May Allah Almighty shower his Mercy upon a person who takes the days of the month of Rabbi-ul-Awwal, in which the Noble Prophet (Allah's Grace & Peace be upon Him) was born, as days of feast and celebration for doing so is the best cure for the heart of an ailing person."

The Bid’a (distortion) Committed by the opponents of Milad

Bid’a Number 1: The scholars, Ulema and students of Dar-ul-Aloom Deoband (one of the oldest Islamic universities in India) celebrated the 100th anniversaries of the Dar Al Aloom Deoband. The 100th birthday of Dar-ul Aloom Deoband was celebrated under the leadership of a Hindu Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. Did Prophet or his companions ever celebrate the anniversary of Masjid Al Quba, Masjid Al Nabawi, etc.? Talk about inviting a "Mushrikah" (pagan) to preside over the gathering of Ulema-e-Islam. Wasn't that a Bid'a?  It is obvious that the haters of Eid Milad un Nabi have more love and respect for their Dar Al Aloom and pagans than the birthday of Prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him).

The Biggest Deception

One of the biggest misconceptions of our time is that the Muslims look at the Imams and the clergy of Makkah and Madinah as the true and correct scholars of Islam.  They believe whatever the Imams of Masjid Al Haraam and Masjid Al Nabawi Sharif say, “can not be wrong”.  They are the Imams of the Holiest Mosques in the entire world.  Since these Imams do call Eid Milad un Nabi (Peace be upon him) a Bid’a; therefore, it must be a Bid’a. The Mufti of Saudi Arabia must be the most knowledgeable scholar.  His Fatwa should be the most authentic.