The innovation of holding feasts for the birthdays of the Prophet or the righteous
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Q5: We are in Tanzania and we set out feasts (food) and gather in a known place in the town, and we say: this visitation was initiated by the head of the Qadiriyyah order (Abd al-Qadir). Is this matter one of the religious innovations or of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and is there any blame in it, meaning: sin? Because we do not maintain the mosques so that we perform this visitation and recite the Mawlid of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that is, a great celebration on that account. Are there any blame in these matters or not?
A5: In the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor among his Companions, nor the righteous predecessors, did they hold feasts or prepare food for any of the righteous who had died, nor did any of the Companions or the righteous predecessors celebrate the birth of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during his lifetime or after his death, nor did they prepare food for him after his death. Therefore, holding a Mawlid for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or for any of the righteous or the notables, and celebrating it, and reciting what has been composed about his birth, and the presence of the attendees when his birth is mentioned, on the claim of
the attendees that they have been present at that time, and preparing food to celebrate the birth of a Prophet or a Caliph or Shaykh Abd al-Qadir or others, is from the denounced religious innovations. Respecting the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and loving him is by following him and proceeding according to his Shari'ah. Allah the Exalted said:[Ali 'Imran 3:31] And respecting the righteous and loving them is by following them in what agrees with the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Sunnah. It is obligatory for the Muslims to adhere to the Sunnah of their Prophet and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs after him, and to follow in their footsteps, and to beware of exaggeration regarding the righteous and praising them excessively. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 3445 It was narrated by al-Bukhari in his Sahih, and he said: Sunan Ibn Majah 3029Sahih (Darussalam) ... And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
A5: In the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor among his Companions, nor the righteous predecessors, did they hold feasts or prepare food for any of the righteous who had died, nor did any of the Companions or the righteous predecessors celebrate the birth of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during his lifetime or after his death, nor did they prepare food for him after his death. Therefore, holding a Mawlid for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or for any of the righteous or the notables, and celebrating it, and reciting what has been composed about his birth, and the presence of the attendees when his birth is mentioned, on the claim of
the attendees that they have been present at that time, and preparing food to celebrate the birth of a Prophet or a Caliph or Shaykh Abd al-Qadir or others, is from the denounced religious innovations. Respecting the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and loving him is by following him and proceeding according to his Shari'ah. Allah the Exalted said:
Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌDo not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle.
لا تطروني كما أطرت النصارى ابن مريم فإنما أنا عبد، فقولوا: عبد الله ورسولهbeware of exaggeration in religious matters for those who came before you were doomed because of exaggeration
إياكم والغلو في الدين، فإنما أهلك من كان قبلكم الغلو
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.