Celebrating the Birth of the Prophet ﷺ
Praise be to `Allaah, the Creator of the universe, Who exists without being bound to place or time. May `Allaah raise the rank of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the son of ^Abdullaah, the son of ^Abdul-Muttalib, the son of Haashim and the best of mankind.
Gathering people to recite the Qur`aan, perform Islamic chants (naats/madeeh) and convey religious knowledge during the month of Ra-bee-^u-nil-`aw-wal to celebrate the birth of the Prophet ﷺ is in compliance with the Qur`aan and `ahadeeth of the Prophet ﷺ.
`Allaah and His Prophet recommended for us to recite the Qur`aan, teach people religious knowledge and mention the honourable manners of the Prophet ﷺ. Thereafter, when Muslims gather in a mosque or another place to do such things, this does not become impermissible. Likewise if we do these acts on a certain day or days of the year, then all of this is permissible. Furthermore, praising the Prophet ﷺ in the mosque was done by the Companions. In `Ad-Dalaa`il `An-nubuwwah, `Al-Bayhaqiyy narrated from the route of `Ibn ^Umar that he would recite a piece of poetry in the mosque of the Prophet ﷺ: «White-faced, by it one asks `Allaah for rain; he ﷺ was the resort and feeder of orphans and protector of widows». Everyone who heard him recite this poetry said, «This is how the Prophet ﷺ was». In other words none of the Companions objected to this practice.
Celebrating the Mawlid (birth) of the Prophet ﷺ does not imitate the non-Muslims. During the Mawlid celebration, the Muslims thank `Allaah for sending the Prophet ﷺ by doing good deeds such as reciting the Qur`aan, giving religious lessons and feeding the people. These are not matters that are specific to non-Muslims, but rather they are practices that are encouraged in the Qur`aan and the `ahadeeth. Moreover, celebrating the birth of the Prophet is not like the celebrating of birthdays of other people. This is because non-Muslims celebrate birthdays once a year following the Gregorian calendar. However, the Muslims celebrate the birth of the Prophet ﷺ by the performance of good deeds throughout the third month of the Islamic calendar, namely, Ra-bee-^u-nil-aw-wal.
Even though celebrating the birth of the Prophet ﷺ in the above manner was not practised by the Prophet or his Companions, this does not imply that we claim to know better than them. There are many things that the Companions did but which the Prophet did not do, and many things that the followers of the Companions did but which the Companions did not do. For example, the Companion `Aboo Bakr radiyallaahu ^anhu assembled the Qur`aan into a single book and the follower of the Companions Yahyaa `ibn Ya^mar added dots to the letters of the Qur`aan – both of which are religiously considered good.
The rules of the religion were completed during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ and thus it is not permissible to add to the rules of the religion. The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ were knowledgeable of this fact and did not add any new rules to the religion. They did however innovate many good things in compliance with the rules of the religion. These innovations of the Companions and their followers did not mean that they claimed to be more knowledgeable about the religion than the Prophet ﷺ. In `Al-Haawee Lil-Fataawaa (1:189-197), Haafidh `As-Suyootiyy [D. 911 AH] stated: «The essence of celebrating the mawlid is to gather the people, recite the Qur`aan, narrate the story of the birth of the Prophet ﷺ and the wondrous signs accompanying it and offer food for the people to eat and then depart, and I consider it to be a good innovation. It is rewardable for the one who practises it as it involves glorifying the status of the Prophet ﷺ and it reflects one’s delight in the honourable birth (Mawlid `Ash-shareef) of the Prophet ﷺ. The first to initiate the mass celebration of the Mawlid [as a large gathering] in around 604 AH was the King of `Irbil (a city in Northern ^Iraaq close to `Al-Mawsil) `Al-Mu-dhaf-far `ibn Zay-nid-deen ^Aliyy Buk-ti-keen, who was one of the glorious, great and generous kings with many good features. He died in the year 630 AH while defending the Muslims against the crusaders».
The pregnancy of Lady `Aaminah, the mother of the Prophet ﷺ, lasted for nine months. She said, «I did not feel that I had conceived him or the burden of pregnancy that women usually feel. I noticed missing my menstruation and perhaps it used to appear and disappear. Someone came to me while I was half asleep and half awake and said, «Do you feel that you have conceived?» It was as if I answered, « do not know». He told me, «You have indeed conceived the master of this nation and its Prophet». This confirmed to me that I was pregnant – it was a Monday».
The Place of the Mawlid: The Prophet ﷺ was born in the house of his grandfather ^Abdul-Muttalib in the centre of Makkah in an area called Sooq-ul-Layl; this lay on the eastern side of the valley of Prophet `Ibraaheem. ^Aqeel `Ibn `Abee Taalib acquired this house when the Messenger of `Allaah ﷺ migrated to Madeenah. It remained in his care, then in that of his sons and his grandchildren, until they sold it to Muhammad `Ibn Yoosuf `Ath-Thaqafiyy. Later in 171 AH it was purchased by `Al-Khay-zu-raan (Haaroon `Ar-Rasheed’s mother) who made it into a mosque where people would pray. The house in which the Messenger of `Allaah ﷺ was born became known by the name `Al-Mawlid (the birthplace) or Ma-hal-la-tul-Maw-lid (the area of the birthplace).
It was a square house which had a marker within it signifying the birthplace of the Prophet ﷺ. Due to the increased interest in the Prophetic Mawlid and the number of people who celebrate it in the Muslim world, this house has received the special attention of Caliphs and Sultans. It was rebuilt in 576 AH and renovated in 666 AH and 740 AH. During the Mamlook dynasty it was renovated numerous times. It was then rebuilt at the beginning of the Ottoman dynasty in the year 935 AH. In 1009 AH during the time of Sultaan Muhammad III, a dome was built upon it and a minaret was added. It was then further refurbished in 1228 AH. Hence, the house has been continuously maintained until around 1330 AH, the end of the Hashemite Kingdom in `Al-Hijaaz. In the year 1370 AH it was partially demolished and a smaller structure built in its place and it was put to use as a library.
The Time of the Mawlid: The Prophet ﷺ was born on Monday 12th Rabee^ `Al-`Awwal in «The Year of the Elephant», around 53 years before the Hijrah. It was narrated that when `Aaminah gave birth to him, ﷺ, he rested upon his knees. During the birth a light shone from her which illuminated the palaces of `Ash-Shaam and allowed his mother to see the necks of the camels in the city of Busraa (a city in present day Syria).
Other signs which appeared upon the birth of the Prophet ﷺ:
Many signs appeared during the honourable birth of the Prophet ﷺ. Among them is what `Al-Bayhaqiyy, `Ibn ^Asaakir and others reported from Haa-ni` `Al-Makh-zoo-miyy: «During the night of the birth of the Prophet ﷺ, the palace of Kisraa trembled and fourteen of its balconies toppled. The fire of Persia, which had been burning for 1,000 years, was extinguished. And `Iblees screamed aloud, just as he screamed when he was expelled from Paradise». [`Iblees and his supporters do not accept to rejoice at the birth of the Prophet ﷺ].
The names of the Prophet ﷺ: The Prophet ﷺ had many names, but it is not mentioned in any hadeeth that he ﷺ had 99 names. Among these names is Mu-ham-mad, `Ah-mad, `Abul-Qaa-sim, `Al-Maa-hee, `Al-Haa-shir, `Al-^Aa-qib, `Al-Mu-qaf-fiyy, `Al-Khaa-tim, Na-biy-yut-Taw-bah, Na-biy-yur-Rah-mah and Na-biy-yul-Mal-ha-mah, ﷺ.
May `Allaah, by the blessings of `Islaam, enable us to see the Prophet ﷺ in our dreams.