The Ruling on Celebrating the Mawlid and Loving the Prophet

Question:
Loving the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman. But why do we not honor his memory on his birthday by abstaining from [certain things], reciting the Qur'an, sending blessings upon the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and making supplication for that Prophet who delivered the message, advised the Ummah, and struggled for Allah with the true struggle? Why is it considered an innovation?

Answer:
Loving the Prophet and the prophets is a truth, and it is one of the foundations of faith. Whoever does not love him is a disbeliever. In fact, it is obligatory that his love be greater than the love of oneself, one's family, wealth, and children, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And when 'Umar said to him, "You are not more beloved to me than everything except myself," he said, "No, O 'Umar, yourself." So 'Umar said, "No, you are more beloved to me than everything, even myself." He said: But not all love is an innovation; not all love is exaggeration in his regard, or the creation of innovations. If a person were to say, "I love him, so I call upon him instead of Allah," he would become a disbeliever. Love has limits; it has Shari'ah limits. One loves him with a love that necessitates obedience to him and following his Shari'ah; this is the correct love. As for the love that necessitates exaggeration in his regard and worshipping him instead of Allah, and taking him as a partner alongside Allah, that is shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He). It is not love; it is exaggeration. Likewise, the love that necessitates innovations, such as celebrating an anniversary of his birth every year, is not what he (peace and blessings be upon him) did, nor did his Companions do it, so it is a bid'ah (religious innovation). And because it is a means to shirk, a means to exaggeration in this gathering, a means to exaggeration and shirk, as is the reality of the people of the mawlid (anniversary celebrations) in most cases. When they gather, they call upon the Prophet instead of Allah, seek aid from him, and make vows to him. This happens from them often due to their ignorance. So gathering for the mawlid and celebrating it is among the innovations that are means to shirk, and it is not from love. If you love him, then call to his Shari'ah, and send blessings upon him frequently every day, not once in a lifetime on his mawlid, once a year. No, send blessings upon him constantly, every day, every hour. If you love him, send blessings upon him, follow his Shari'ah, and honor his commands and prohibitions. It is not a condition of that that there be a celebration for him every year.