A Reply To The Claim That Ibn Taymiyyah Supported The Mawlid
Ibn Taymiyyah says, "because the Eeds are legislated laws from amongst the laws, so it is necessary to follow them, and not to innovate them, and the Prophet had many lectures, treaties, and great events that happened on a number of (documented) days such as the Day of Badr, Hunain, al-Khandaq, the Conquest of Mecca, the occurrence of his hijrah, his entry to Madeenah and none of this necessitated that these days be taken as days of Eed. Rather this sort of thing was done by the Christians who took the days in which great events happened to Jesus as Eeds, or by the Jews. Indeed the Eed is a legislated law, so what Allaah legislates is followed, otherwise do not innovate in this religion that which is not part of it. And like this is what some of the people have innovated, either in opposition to the Christian celebration of the birthday of Jesus, or out of love for the Prophet and in honour of him. And Allaah will reward them for this love and ijtihaad, but NOT FOR THE BID'AH of taking the day of the birth of the Prophet as an Eed - this along with the difference of the people as to when he was born. For indeed this (celebration) was not done by the salaf, despite the existence of factors that would necessitate it and the lack of any factors that would prevent them from doing so if it were indeed good. And if this was genuinely good or preferable then the salaf, may Allaah be pleased with them, would have more right to doing so then us, for they had more severe love and honour of the Prophet in following him, obeying him, and following his command, and reviving his sunnah inwardly and outwardly, and spreading that which he was sent with, and performing jihaad for this in the heart, with the hand and upon the tongue. So indeed this was the way of the Saabiqeen al-Awwaleen from the Muhajiroon and the Ansaar, and those that followed them in good.
And you will find the majority of these (who celebrate the birthday) in ardent desire of these sort of innovations - along with what they have of good intention and ijtihaad for which reward is hoped for - but you would find them feeble in following the command of the Messenger, that which they have been commanded to be eager and vigorous in, indeed they are of the position of one who adorns the Mushaf but does not read what is in it or reads what is in it but does not follow it. Or the position of one who decorates the mosques but does not pray in them, or prays in them rarely...
And know that from the actions are those that have some good in them, due to their including types of good actions and including evil actions such as innovation etc. So this action would be good with respect to what it includes of good and evil with respect to what it contains of turning away from the religion in it's totality, as is the state of the hypocrites and faasiqeen. This has what has afflicted the majority of the ummah in the later times. So upon you is two manners (of rectification):
�That your desire be to follow the sunnah inwardly and outwardly, with respect to yourself specifically and those that follow you, and you enjoin the good and forbid the evil.
�That you call the people to the sunnah in accordance to ability, so if you were to see someone doing this (celebration) and he were to not leave it except for an evil greater than it, then do not call him to leaving the evil so that he may perform something more evil than this [a page omitted in which he explains this well established principle of Shariah]
So honouring the mawlid, and taking it as a festive season (mawsam) which some of the people have done, there is a great reward in it due to the good intention and the honouring of the Messenger because of what I have previously stated to you - that it is possible that something be good for some of the people and be denounced/considered to be ugly by the strict believer. This is why it was said to Imaam Ahmad about some of the leaders, that he spent 1000 dirhams upon the mushaf or similar to this. So he replied, "leave them, for this is better than them spending it on gold (jewelry)." This despite the fact that the madhhab of Imaam Ahmad was that it is abhorrent to decorate the mushafs, and some of the companions (of Ahmad) interpreted this to mean that the money was spent in renewing the pages and writing. But this is not the intent of Ahmad here, his intention here was that this action had a benefit in it, and it also contained corruption due to which it became abhorrent. But these people, if they did not do this, would have substituted this for a corruption that contained no good whatsoever, for example spending upon one of the books of evil" [Iqtidaa Siraat al-Mustaqeem 2/618+ with the tahqeeq of Shaykh Naasir al-Aql]
He says in another place of the same book, "there is no doubt that the one who practices these - i.e. the innovated festive seasons - either the mujtahid or muqallid will have the reward for his good intention and the what the action contains of legislated actions, and will be forgiven for what it contains of innovation if his ijtihaad or taqleed contains one of the excuses (that would lift this sin from him)."
He continues:" But this does not prevent one from detesting and prohibiting it and to replace it with a legislated action containing no bid'ah.... Just as the Jews and Christians may find benefit in their worship because it is possible that their worship includes an aspect of what is legislated but this does not necessitate that you perform their actions of worship or you report their words because all of the innovations contain evil that outweighs their good, this due to the fact that if their good outweighed the evil then why would the Sharee'ah have disregarded it? So we depend upon the fact that it's sin is greater than it's benefit and this necessitates forbiddance."
He continues:" And I say: it's sin is removed from some of the people due to the reason of ijtihaad or other than it, as the sin of usury and alcohol (from dates) which has been differed about (by the salaf) is removed from the salaf (who allowed it), then despite this it is necessary to explain it's condition and not to follow those that considered it permissible.... So this is sufficient evidence in explaining that these innovations include corruptions of belief or condition contradicting what the Messenger (sallallaahu �alayhi wa sallam) came with, and that what benefit they contain is marjooh (not to be relied upon) and it not correct to use for objection"
He continues:" As for what they contain - i.e. these innovated festive seasons such as the Mawlid - of benefit then they are opposed by what they contain of the corruption of innovations that outweigh the benefit, alongwith with what has preceded of the corruptions of belief and state - that the hearts become content with it at the expense of a large number of Sunnahs to the extent that you find that the elite and the general masses preserve this in a way that they do not preserve the Taraaweeh's or the five prayers...." mentioning many more cases [al-Qawl al-Fasl (pg. 102) of Shaykh Ismaa�eel al-Ansaaree]
A number of points can be seen here:
1.ibn Taymiyyah regards the mawlid as a bid�ah which the strict believer is not allowed to follow.
2.he allows it only for those who would leave this bid�ah for a greater bid�ah.
3.he states that those practicing this, either out of taqleed or ijtihaad, will get reward for their good intentions, but they will get no reward for their practicing it.
4.that they will not get the burden of the sin of the innovation if their taqleed of ijtihaad contains the excuses that would life this from them.
[al-Qawl al-Fasl (pg. 102) of Shaykh Ismaa'eel al-Ansaaree]
Muhammad Rizwan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Bismillah-er-Rahmaan-er-RaheemAssalaam-o-AlaikumJazakallah for sending the topic about the Meelad Celebration. I am sending you a forwarded message sent to me about meelad celebration. He/She has given many proofs of meelad celebration. I want some Ahle-Elm like you make the answer to this message. What is your opinion? Kindly would you send the answer of this forwarded message to me and him/her so that we all understand the real meaning of Quran and Ahadees. Kindly help me regarding that. It will be Sadqa-Jaria for you.Was-Salaam-o-AlaikumYour BrotherMuhammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
Note: forwarded message attached.__________________________________________________
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http://mail.yahoo.com From: "Suraiya Osman E" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>,
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [IslamCity] Maulid Nabii(S.A.W) CDs
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 12:14:51 +0200
Traditional Scholarship & Modern Misunderstandings
Understanding The Ahle al-Sunnah - By Abu Ammar
Celebrating Milaad un Nabi
When we celebrate Milad, we gather, in order to send salutations (durud) to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), give charity to the poor (sadaqa), and to remember the wilada (birth) and virtues of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). The Ahl as-Sunna does not say that one must celebrate Milad only on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal; in fact it can be celebrated at any time of the year. Generally Milad an-Nabi is celebrated, on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal, by Muslims all over the world. In every Muslim country, there is a public holiday for Milad an-Nabi, except one country, but even in that country the people celebrate the Milad individually.
The birth of the anbiya has been mentioned in the Qur'an; for example, Adam, Musa, 'Isa, and Yahya (peace be upon them). Furthermore, if it is wrong to talk about the birth of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), then why has Allah Most High mentioned it in the Qur'an?
Evidence of Milad an-Nabi from the Qur'an
Allah Most High says in the Holy Qur'an:
"Say: 'In the bounty of Allah,and His Mercy, therein let them rejoice.' That is better then what they amass"
[Sura Yunus, verse 58]
In this verse, Allah Most High tells us that we should be happy when we receive blessings and mercy from Him. Without doubt, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is the greateset mercy and blessing of Allah Most High.
Allah Most High says in the Qur'an:
"And we sent you not but as a mercy for all the worlds"
[Sura al-Anbiya', verse107]
Allah Most High says in the Qur'an:
"Oh Prophet! The communicator of unseen news. We have sent you as a present beholder and bearer of glad tidings and a warner.
And an inviter towards Allah by His command and a brightening sun.
And give glad tidings to the believers that for them is a great bounty."
[Sura al-Ahzab, verses 44-47]
Allah Most High says in the Qur'an:
"...remind them of the Days of Allah..."
[Ibrahim, verse 5]
Hafiz Ibn Kathir and Qadi Shawkani write that:
" 'the Days of Allah' refers to the day on which Allah Almighty has done a favour on mankind. For example, the freedom of Banu Isra'il from the slavery of Fir'awn"
[Ibn Kathir,Tafsir Ibn Kathir; Qadi Shawkani, Fath al-Qadir]
Allah's greatest favour on mankind was the birth of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). This means that the Milad of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is one of the "Days of Allah", therefore we should remember it.
Hafiz Ibn Rajab writes that:
"It is recommended to fast on those days on which Allah Most High has sent blessings on us. The greatest favour which Allah Almighty has bestowed us with, is the sending down of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Allah Most High says in the Qur'an:'I have favoured you among nations and sent to you a Prophet from among you'
[Ibn Rajab, ltaa'if-ul-ma'rif, page 111]
Some Other Evidences of Milad
Our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) celebrated the birth of his son Ibrahim by freeing a slave.[Ta'rikh Ibn Kathir, 'Birth of Ibrahim']
Imam Muslim writes that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was asked about the fast on Mondays that he kept. The Prophet replied, 'This is the day of my birth'
[Muslim, 'Kitab as-Sawm']
This proves that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) kept fast on Mondays to show gratitude for his birth.
Imam al-Bukhari writes that:
" When Abu Lahab died, someone from his household saw him in a dream and asked him what happened in the grave. He said, 'I am being punished severely, but on Mondays I get water from the finger with which I am freed Thuwayba [Abu Lahab's slave] '",
[Bukhari, 'Kitab an-Nikah']
Friday is a special day for Muslims because this is the day that Allah created Adam (peace be upon him).
[Muslim, 'Book of Jumu'a'; also Ta'rikh Ibn Kathir, vol.1, 'Story of Adam']
Hafiz Ibn Kathir writes that Abu Lahab freed Thuwayba on the day that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was born.
[Ibn Kathir, Sirat an-Nabi, 'Birth of the Prophet']
This proves that a kafir, Abu Lahab, was happy on the day of the birth of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and was rewarded by having his punishment reduced. If this is true, then indeed Allah will bless a Muslim who rejoices the birth of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). This hadith has been used by many 'ulema to justify the celebration of Milad.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani writes:
"Sohaily said that 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), who was the uncle of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), had the above dream. Apart from this, other muhaddithin have also attributed this dream to 'Abbas"
[Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, Fath al-Bari, chapter on 'Nikah']
A person may ask, 'When did 'Abbas have this dream? Was it before or after he embraced Islam?'The answer to this is that he had this dream after coming into the fold of Islam [Sira Ibn Hisham]. Abu Lahab died after the Battle of Badr, before which 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) embraced Islam.
Fatwa of Scholars for Milad
Hafiz Ibn Taymiyya writes:
"Those people who celebrate Milad through the love and respect of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), will be rewarded by Allah"
[Iqtida as-Sirat al-Mustaqim, page 294]
He also writes that:
"If someone celebrates Milad with the love and respect of Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), he will have a 'big reward'... In Muslim communities, Milad an-Nabi gatherings are only done with the respect and love for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)"
[Iqtida as-Sirat al-Mustaqim, page 297]
Suraiya Osman Essa
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P.O.Box 25, Polokwane(Pietersburg), 0700.South-Africa
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YA SHAYKH ABDUL KADIR JEELANI SHAIN UN LILLAH----- Original Message -----From: Muhammad RizwanSent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 7:31 AMSubject: Re: [IslamCity] Maulid Nabii(S.A.W) CDsIn The Name Of Allah The Great Gracious The Most MercifulAssalaam-o-AlaikumPraise to Allah and Durood on Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)I dont know about the CD's, I want to mention that melaad celebration is not part of Islam. It is Bid'at. because neither our Prophet(PBUH) nor His companions(RA) and Muslim scholars of "KHAIR-UL-QROON" take any HUJJAT from it. It is invitation of the modern day at which Islam is unknown to msot of the muslims. We should beware of all these thiinngs at which there is even a little Darkness. Being muslims we should concern only to Allah and Rasool what they say i.e. what they ordered and what they forbade. Any thing whaich is not mentioned from Quran and Hadees(SAHEEH) then we should not run towards this.Was-Salaam-o-AlaikumMuhammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
kibwana <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:Aslm Alkm,Recently I had come across an email which advertised about the release of 8 CD on maulid can you please send me the contact in the UK where I can purchase them.Mrs Khadija Kibwana.
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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