The Ruling on Celebrating the Prophet's Birthday and Reading the Biography

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. An article appeared in one of the newspapers last week by one of the people, in which he responds to those who deny the holding of mawlid celebrations. He says: We do not say we celebrate the Prophet's birthday; rather, we say it is a commemoration of the birthday, and we read the biography and the Qur'an, and we remember him (peace and blessings be upon him). What is your opinion of this statement?

Answer:
This is not strange; every year they publish it, and every year they say and write it, and falsehood has people who promote it, or is this not strange? Reading the biography of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) at a specific time is a bid'ah (religious innovation). As for reading it without specifying a time, there is nothing wrong with it. It is required of us to read the surah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and to take a lesson from it and to follow his example (peace and blessings be upon him). But specifying a time for it is a bid'ah (religious innovation). Yes. And Allah the Exalted knows best, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his Companions.