The Ruling on Celebrating Birthdays and the Distinction Between Religious Innovation and Loudspeakers

Question:
Some Sufis have appeared in our area. When we rebuke them for holding celebrations for the Prophet’s birthday and inform them that it is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that must be abandoned, they argue that there are good innovations in the religion, such as loudspeakers in mosques, separating women from men with a barrier in the mosque, and the like.

Answer:
These loudspeakers are not acts of worship. These are tools. We use tools, just as one drives a car or speaks through a microphone or a radio. These are tools that Allah has made permissible for us. They are not acts of worship in themselves, but means to assist in worship. They are means to assist in worship. Therefore, the one who speaks with words does not understand, or he is deceiving people. Loudspeakers, cars, clothing, the oil that has appeared, and inventions—these are all permissible things and benefits that Allah has made permissible for us. They are not acts of worship.
As for the Mawlid, this is an act of worship and an imitation of others. Even if it were not an act of worship, it is still an imitation of the non-Arabs, an imitation of the polytheists in reviving these occasions. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . This includes imitating them in these festivals. The Prophet’s birthday is not a custom; it is an act of worship, because they do not do it except to draw near to Allah through their love for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). They perform it as an act of worship. Therefore, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah). It is a religious innovation (bid'ah) and an imitation of the Christians in the birthday of Jesus, which they have made an imitation and an innovation in, because they believe they seek reward from Allah by it. They say it is an expression of love for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). My brother, if you want to express your love for the Messenger, follow him. But if you innovate and say this is an expression, that is wrong. That is contrary to the love of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). If you do what he forbade you, you hate him and do not love him.
The sign of love is following. How strange it is that you disobey the Divine while you claim to love Him. And this, by my life, is a wonderful analogy. If your love were sincere, you would have obeyed him. The lover is obedient to the one he loves. But you contradict him. He forbids you from religious innovation (bid'ah), yet you contradict him and commit a religious innovation (bid'ah) and say, "I love the Messenger." This is an indication of hatred for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), hatred for his Sunnah, and hatred for the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.