22/09/2024
A Clarification on the Short Viral Video Clip of M***i Menk on the Issue of the Celebration of Mawlid al-Nabi
As Salaam Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh
I am very much careful to speak about individuals especially in matters of refutation, due to the limitation of my knowledge. As these matters are better address by senior scholars. Having said that, the Prophet (ﷺ) commanded us to convey from him that which we know with certainty. He (ﷺ) said:
《 بَلِّغُوا عَنِّي وَلَوْ آيَةً 》
《 Convey from me, even a single verse. 》
[Sahih Bukhari, Hadith # 3461]
Also, the Prophet (ﷺ) said the religion is sincere advice, Commanding good and Forbidding evil.
Tamim al-Dari (رضي الله عنه) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
《 الدِّينُ النَّصِيحَةُ قُلْنَا لِمَنْ قَالَ لِلَّهِ وَلِكِتَابِهِ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِأَئِمَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَعَامَّتِهِمْ 》
《 “This religion is behaving sincerely.” We said, “To whom should we be sincere in our behaviour, O Messenger (ﷺ)?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “ You should be sincere to Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger (ﷺ), to the leaders of the Muslims, and to the regular people.” 》
[Sahih Muslim, Hadith # 55]
Clarifying and conveying the truth is a covenant Allāh took from the people of the Scripture (also, the people of knowledge). Allāh (جَلَّ جَلَالَهُ) said:
﴿ وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُۥ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُۥ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًاۖ فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ ﴾
《 And [mention, O Muhammad (ﷺ)], when Allāh took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear [i.e., explain it] to the people and not conceal it." But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased. 》
[Surah Aal-e-Imran, 3:187]
Also, Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
《 مَنْ سُئِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ عَلِمَهُ ثُمَّ كَتَمَهُ أُلْجِمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَارٍ 》
《 Whoever was asked about knowledge that he knew but did not disclose it, will be tied with a bridle made of fire on the Day of Resurrection. 》
[Jami' At-Tirmidhi, Hadith # 2649]
Based on this, I will clarify the statement of *_M***i Menk_* on the issue of Mawlid al-Nabi (celebration of Prophet's Birthday (ﷺ)) in a summarized manner.
Firstly,
I want you to carefully note the following principles regarding Bid'ah.
١– الْأَصْلُ فِي الْعِبَادَاتِ الْمَنْعِ، وَفِي الْعَادَاتِ الْإِبَاحَة
1. The basic principle in acts of worship is prohibition, and in actions that are customs, norms and habits (customary behaviour) is permissibility.
٢– لَيْسَ فِي الشَّرْعِ بِدْعَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ، بَلْ كُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ.
2. There is no such thing in our Sharī'ah as a good Bid'ah, rather every single Bid'ah is misguidance (blameworthy).
٣– الْبِدْعَةُ كُلُّهَا مُحَرَّمَة، وَلَيْسَ فِيهَا مَا هُوَ مَكْرُوه.
3. All Bid'ah is forbidden (Haram), there is no Bid'ah which is Makrūh (Disliked).
٤– الْإِخْتِلَافُ فِي فِعْلِ مَا هَلْ هُوَ بِدْعَةٌ أَمْ لَا، لَايَسُوغُ الْعَمَلُ بِهِ بِسَبَبِ ذَلِكَ الْإِخْتِلَافِ
4. If there is a difference of opinion on whether an action is Bid'ah or not, it does not justify acting or doing this action just because there is I'khtilāf (difference of opinion) in it.
٥– شُيُوعُ عِبَادَةٍ مَا وَانْتِشَارُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ لَا يَدُلُّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى مَشْرُوعِيَّتِهَا إِلَّا بِدَلِيلٍ
5. The prevalence of an action and its spread among people does not indicate its validity or legitimacy except with a Daleel (Shar'i evidence).
Secondly,
You must carefully note that:
أَدِلَةُالْعُلَمَاءِ يُحْتَجُّ لَهَا لَا يُحْتَجُّ بِهَا
The statements of the scholars require Daleel (evidence), they are not dalil (Shari' evidence) in of themselves.
Ibn Taymiyyah stated this in Majmoo Al Fatawa, volume 26, page 202.
So, if someone tells you that so-and-so scholar said such and such, we tell the person that the statements of the scholars require Sharī' evidence because it is not evidence by itself. And Daleel (evidence) in Shari'a is:
قَالَ اللَّهُ – (الْقُرْآنُ)،
وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (ﷺ) –(السُّنَّةُ)،
وَمَا أَجْمَعَ عَلَيْهِ الْأُمَّةُ – (الْإِجْمَاعُ).
What Allāh said –(Al-Qur'an),
And what the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) said (As-Sunnah),
And what the Ummah agreed upon (Ijma).
Thirdly,
There is no scholar who is infallible or free of error. What was narrated from As-Suyooti, Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar and others (may Allāh have mercy on them all) on the issue of the permissibility of Mawlid al-Nabi is a mistake they made in their Qiyaas (Analogy), while in some cases it was a clear-cut misinterpretation of their statements. Notwithstanding, none of the scholars is infallible.
Abdullah Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) [D. 68 AH] said:
《 لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ وَيُدَعُ غَيْرَ النَّبِيِّ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ 》
《 There is no one except that some of the things they say, we take them, and others we leave them except for the Prophet (ﷺ) 》
[Mu'jam Al-Kabir by At-Tabaraani, 11/339, Hadith # 11,941]
Imaam Malik Ibn Anas (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ تَعَالَى) [D. 179 AH] used to say:
《 كُلُّ أَحَدٍ يُؤْخَذُ مِنْ قَوْلِه، وَيُتْرَكُ، إِلاَّ صَاحِبَ هَذَا القَبْرِ (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) 》
《 Everyone has things, accepted and rejected from him except the inhabitant of this grave (pointing towards the grave of the Prophet (ﷺ)). 》
[Siyar A'alam Al-Nubala, by Imam Adh-Dhahabi, 8/93]
When the truth becomes apparent, then truth is the lost property of the believer. If proof is established concerning some matter, then we must follow that for which proof has been established from the Book of Allah or the Sunnah of His Messenger (ﷺ) even if it goes against the view of a great imam, and even if it goes against the view of some of the Sahaabah.
Allah (جَلَّ جَلَالَهُ) says:
﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْۖ فَإِن تَنَٰزَعْتُمْ فِى شَىْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا ﴾
《 O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad (ﷺ)), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ), if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. 》
[Surah An-Nisa', 4:59]
He did not say: refer to so-and-so or so-and-so, rather He said “refer it to Allāh and His Messenger (ﷺ), if you believe in Allāh and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.”
Also, Allāh (جل وعلا) says:
﴿ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۚ ... ﴾
《 And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allaah (He is the ruling Judge)... 》
[Surah Ash-Shura, 42:10].
Fourthly,
The difference of opinion which is given consideration in Shari'ah is that for which there exist a Shari'ah text and the text accommodates different conflicting interpretations (i.e. the text is equivocal). In such situations, the scholars said their exist a valid difference of opinion. However, the truth remains one. And one is required is strive with utmost sincerity to seek for the truth and act upon it accordingly. But, in the issue of Mawlid al-Nabi, such a Shar'i text does not exist. Therefore, there is no valid difference of opinion in its celebration. It is a clear-cut Bid'ah (innovation) and there is no justification for it whatsoever.
Fifthly,
Celebrating the Prophet’s birthday (Mawlid) was not known during the golden age of this Ummah (i.e. the first three and best generations). They are the Sahabah, the Taabi'een (students of the Sahabah) and the Atba' Taabi'een (the students of students of the Sahabah). They are the chosen generation (الْقُرُونُ الْمُفَضَّلَةُ – the best generations) about whom Prophet (ﷺ) told us in the hadith of `Imran bin Husain (رضى الله عنهما) that:
《 خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ 》
《 The best people are those living in my generation, then those coming after them, and then those coming after. 》
[Sahih Bukhari, Hadith # 2651; Sahih Muslim, Hadith # 2535; Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith # 4657]
In another version,
The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
《 خَيْرُ الْقُرُونِ قَرْنِي، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ 》
《 The best generation is my generation, then those who followed them and those who followed them. 》
[Jami' al-Ulum wa Hikam: By Ibn Rajab, 2/477]
The first ones to celebrate the Prophet’s birthday (Mawlid) were the ‘Ubaydi Fatimid caliphs in the 4th century (over 400 years after the Prophet (ﷺ)), who were a Shia misguided group that was out of Islam. It was not narrated from any of the early Muslims, the first three and best generation.
Sixthly,
The issue of celebrating Mawlid al-Nabi being Bid'ah is widely unknown to an average Muslim. The scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamā’ah stated that unequivocally very many times. Anyone who has a clear understanding of the matter must warn people against this Bid'ah and must clarify the statement of any individual, regardless of this status among people, who seeks to state otherwise. You must never shy away from clarifying the truth which is clear to you, even if the propagator who is propagating this misconception, misleading the common Muslims thereby appeared to have more knowledge and status than you. You must always clarify, support and make the truth manifest anytime it made clear to you. Allāh (ﷻ) warn people who conceal the truth after it has been made clear to them. Allāh (جل وعلا) says:
﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِۙ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّٰعِنُونَ ﴾
《 Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidence and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers. 》
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:159]
Seventhly,
Unity for unity sake is not something that Islām came with. Rather, Islām calls for unity based on the Qur’ān, Sunnah and what the early generations were upon.
Unity is not something that is desired at all costs. For example, if a group of people are not following the Qur’ān, Sunnah and the path of the early generation, then they should be called back to it. For unity only comes from holding on to the Qur’ān, Sunnah and the path of the early generations. Unity is not achieved if people unite for a worldly or a political goal.
No one should compel or forcing anyone to adhere to the Sunnah, however we boycott and abandon people are bend on innovating in the Deen. We don't compromise with our religion. If innovation is not frowned upon and it is condoned and entertained, then we will just be like the Jews and Christians who destroyed their religion with innovations.
Allāh (جل وعلا) says:
﴿ وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا۟ وَٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتُۚ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴾
《 And do not be like the ones who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And those will have a great punishment. 》
[Surah Aal-e-Imran, 3:105]
The great Imam of Tafsir Muḥammad Ibn Jarīr Ibn Yazīd Ibn Kathīr Ibn- Ghālib at-Ṭabarī (رحمه لله تعالى) [D. 310 A.H] said:
يَعْنِى بِذَلِكَ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ: وَلَا تَكُونُوا يَا مَعْشَرَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ﴿كَاَلَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا﴾ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ،
Do not be, O group of believers! like those who separated (and became different groups, sects, Firaq) among the people of the Book,
﴿وَاخْتَلَفُوا﴾ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ وَأَمْرِهِ وَنَهْيِهِ،
And they differed when it came to Allāh’s religion, Allāh’s commands and prohibitions.
﴿مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ﴾ مِنْ حُجَجِ اللَّهِ،
After the clear proofs came to them from ‘حُجَجِ اللَّهِ’ - the proofs that Allāh had given to them.
فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ،
In what they disagreed about
وَعَلِمُوا الْحَقَّ فِيهِ،
And they knew the truth about it. (They knew what was true, but they chose what was false)
فَتَعَمَّدُوا خِلَافَهُ،
They deliberately sought to do the opposite,
وَخَالَفُوا أَمْرَ اللَّهِ،
They went against Allāh’s Command,
وَنَقَضُوا عَهْدَهُ وَمِيثَاقَهُ،
And they broke Allāh’s Covenant and Allāh’s Promise,
جَرَاءَةً عَلَى اللَّهِ،
(They sought) arrogance against Allāh.
(They were arrogant enough to believe that they could go against what Allāh sent down and that they could separate from the truth which they knew.)
﴿وَأُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ﴾ يَعْنِى: وَلِهَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ،
“And those” meaning: those who were divided and differed from among the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitāb).
مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمْ ﴿عَذَابٌ﴾ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ﴿عَظِيمٌ﴾.
after (the clear proofs) had come to them, they will have a severe punishment from Allāh
يَقُولُ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ: فَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي دِيِنِكُمْ تَفَرُّقَ هَؤُلَاءِ فِي دِيِنِهِمْ،
Allāh (May His praise be glorified) says: O group of believers! Do not separate in your religion like these people from Ahl al-Kitāb separated in their religion.
وَلَا تَفْعَلُوا فِعْلَهُمْ،
And do not do what they used to do,
وَتَسْتَنُّوا فِي دِينِكُمْ بِسُنَّتِهِمْ،
And do not take their way in their religion as your way in your religion,
فَيَكُونَ لَكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ مِثْلُ الَّذِي لَهُمْ.
Otherwise, you will have the same severe punishment from Allāh that they were threatened by Allāh.
[Tafsir al-Tabari by Ibn Jarir At-Tabari, 5/662]
In conclusion, I ask Allah by His most beautiful names and Sublime attributes to show us the truth as truth and give us the ability to follow it. And show us the falsehood as false and give us the ability to refrain from it.
اللَّهُمَّ أَرِنا الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَوَفِّقْنا لِاتِّبَاعِهِ وَأَرِنا الْبَاطِلَ بَاطِلًا وَوَفِّقْنا لِاجْتِنَابِهِ
And Allaah (جل وعلا) knows best.
By Kairaba Dampha
