Fatwa No : 79656
Celebrating Eid Milad-un Nabi

Celebrating Eid Milad-un Nabi

What do the muftis say about the issue of celebrating the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the present era which has `become a practice nowadays? Is this correct? And what was the date of birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaiahi Wa Sallam (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and is it correct to take out processions etc. on his birth?
Please give me an answer in the light of Sharia. Jazak Allah Khaira.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

Firstly, there is a difference of opinion regarding the date of birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Some have quoted it to be the second of Rabi-ul-Awwal while some, the eighth; some, the ninth; and some, the twelfth of Rabi-ul-Awwal. Therefore, it is not rationally correct to consider the twelfth of Rabi-ul-Awwal alone, as the date of birth to celebrate whereas there is no difference of opinions with regard to the date of his passing away from this world as the twelfth of Rabi-ul-Awwal. If celebrating the date of his birth in this way were a good deed, then the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all), their followers, and those who followed them (may Allah have mercy on them), who were extremely zealous in good deeds, would never have lagged behind in this work. Although the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself was alive for twenty-three years after receiving the Prophethood, he did not celebrate this day, nor was it celebrated during the reign of the Rightly Guided Caliphs – Khulafa e Rashidin (may Allah be pleased with them all) nor was it celebrated during the reign of the Tabi'een and those who followed Tabi'een (may Allah have mercy on them). Therefore, considering such an act as a reward for something that was not done in the “best of times”- Khairul Qurun - despite having the opportunity, is undoubtedly an innovation, against which there are strong warnings recorded in the blessed Hadiths. While the aforementioned act, regardless of being an innovation, commits such things that are not permissible according to the Sharia, therefore this act is obligatory to be abandoned.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی المشکٰوة: عن العرباض بن ساریه قال صلی بنا رسول اللہﷺ ذات یوم ثم أقبل علینا بوجهه فوعظنا موعظة بلیغة (الٰی قوله) فعلیکم بسنتی وسنة الخلفاء الراشدین المهدیین تمسکوا بها وعضوا علیها بالنواجذ وایّاکم ومحدثات الأمور کل محدثة بدعة وکل بدعة ضلالة. (ص: ۲۹، ۳۰)-
وفی القول المعتمد فی عمل المولد: کان ملکا مسرفا یأمر علماء زمانه أن یعملوا باستنباطهم واجتهادهم وان لا یتبعوا المذهب غیره حتی مالت الیه جماعة العلماء وطائفة من الفضلاء ویحتفل لمولد النبیﷺ فی الربیع الاوّل وهو اوّل من أحدث من الملوك هذا العمل. (ص: ۱۶۲)-