What is the ruling on celebrating the Prophet's birthday and the food prepared for it?

The questioner : Shaykh, regarding the Prophet's birthday, Shaykh, we in Iraq say we hold the mawlid, Shaykh, not as a birthday celebration, but in a way, meaning there are gatherings where they hold lectures and meetings, like an excuse, in this manner. Is this permissible? And the food they prepare for this, is it halal or not?

The Shaykh : However they develop the mawlid in Iraq, or in Oman, or in Syria, it is from the newly invented matters. But without a doubt, as it was said, "Hanani, some evil is less than some," now. To specify a certain time and name it a celebration of the Prophet's birthday, this is without a doubt from the newly invented matters. The deviation may increase in what takes place in this celebration. If, for example, other legal violations occur in it, the deviation increases. But if, for example, lectures are delivered, may Allah be pleased with you, and in these lectures the attendees are directed to know something of the character of the Messenger, of his calling, and of his Sunnah, then this is without a doubt much less and much better than reading the story of the mawlid with its errors and omissions. But even so, it is not permissible to designate a specific month or a specific day for celebrating the mawlid, even if this celebration contains no violation of the Shari'ah.

The questioner : Shaykh, sometimes after the mawlid, about a week or two later, they hold a celebration and prepare food, Shaykh. So is this food not considered food?

The Shaykh : Everything added in this month is from the newly invented matters. What about it regarding students of knowledge? The absolute text. The absolute text in the Shari'ah should be implemented in its absoluteness. It is not permissible to restrict it with a restriction other than the Shari'ah restriction. Likewise, the text restricted by the Shari'ah, it is not permissible to remove the restriction from it, because both of these are legislation from us. If there is an absolute text, and we restrict it, either by time or by manner or something like that, this is legislation, and this is something reprehensible, as you know, . Likewise, if a command comes restricted by time or by a period, it is not permissible for us to remove the restriction and make the command absolute, so it becomes legislation contrary to the Shari'ah, and all of this is not permissible.