The Doubts of Those Who Claim the Sunnah Status of Mawlid Celebrations

Question:
Your Eminence the Shaykh, what are the doubts raised by those who claim that celebrating the mawlid (birthdays) is a Sunnah, particularly the mawlid of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?

Answer:
I have heard their doubt. Their doubt is that we are imitating the enemies of Allah, imitating the Jews and the Christians. Or, they say, why do we not honor those who are honored in the same way as they are, through mawlid celebrations? The religion is honored, praise be to Allah, by what our Lord legislated for us through the hands of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So we honor it by praying upon him, following his Sunnah, testifying to his message (peace and blessings be upon him), calling to his religion, and forbidding what contradicts him (peace and blessings be upon him). It is necessary to call out against the innovation of mawlid celebrations. Yes.