What is the ruling on holding oratorical festivals and seminars on the occasion of the Prophet's birthday, and does this fall under the innovation of celebrating it?

The questioner : ... O Shaykh, the question is: What is the ruling on holding oratorical festivals and seminars on the occasion of the Prophet's birthday? Does this fall under the prohibition of celebrating what is called the Prophet's birthday?

The Shaykh : For fear that I misunderstand the question, as I did earlier, let me review it in my mind...

The questioner : What is the ruling on holding oratorical festivals and seminars on the occasion of the Prophet's birthday? Does this fall under the prohibition of celebrating what is called the Prophet's birthday?

The Shaykh : Ah, I have understood it well and am certain of it. The phrase "prohibition" is not precise, yes, because there is no prohibition, as people might assume, regarding celebrating the Prophet's birthday. But the validity of the question: Is it an innovation? The answer is yes, there is no difference. It is, as they say on some occasions, changing the form in order to eat! That is, changing the form so that it is not said to be an innovation, when the occasion they are celebrating is the birthday of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And I say that on such an occasion, a very important word in my opinion, and that is from the grace of the Sunnah. The authentic Sunnah is that the majority of those who celebrate the birthday of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), whether the celebration is in the old way of reciting the story of the birthday, a large part of which is lies, falsehood, and slander, and another part is weak and not authentic from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), or whether the celebration is with lectures like soap bubbles, containing no knowledge, only enthusiasm and stirring of the souls, then everything that enters from here exits from here. This and that is all an unlegislated celebration, falling under the generality of his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, "What is the hadith?" or his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: And the hadiths on that are known. What I want to mention is that there is a legislated celebration, if it is correct for me to call it a celebration, but to accommodate them and draw their emotions to the Sunnah. And this celebration, in terms of its importance, is not like their celebration, which, as we said earlier, is like soap bubbles, having no effect on refining the souls, educating them, and connecting them to their Prophet (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) and his guidance and Sunnah. No, this is not like that. And from another aspect, it is not annual, but weekly. And yet, those who celebrate the annual celebration, which is like soap bubbles, do not celebrate this one, even though it is mentioned in Sahih Muslim from the hadith of Abu Qatadah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him), that a man asked him about such and such and such and such. I am not in the position to list all the questions, but he said to him finally, "What do you say?" – so please pay attention – "What do you say, O Messenger of Allah, about fasting on Monday?" He said: What is the meaning of this answer? This is from the wise style of the one (peace and blessings be upon him). He could have said, as he did in some hadiths, "Your deeds are raised on it" or something similar, but he answered with the answer of the wise style, killing two birds with one stone. First, he answered him that fasting on Monday is a legislated and excellent fast. Then he explained to him the reason: "I was born on it." So it is a great blessing, and a very great one. And greater than this blessing, and I am now killing two birds with one stone, is that the revelation and the Qur'an were revealed to him on it. So why do they not celebrate Monday by fasting? And why do they not celebrate Monday with a celebration of the descent of the Qur'an? How much these people resemble the Shi'ah! The Shi'ah strike their faces and beat their chests with iron in grief over the killing of al-Husayn. Well, why do they not grieve over the death of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? His death is a greater calamity than the death of al-Husayn (peace be upon him). That is the clear misguidance. So there is a legislated celebration, and it is that the Muslim fasts every Monday in every week, in remembrance that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) bestowed upon the Muslims the blessing of having their Prophet born on this day and revealing to their Prophet on this day. As for the other celebrations, no matter how they develop or adorn them, they are an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh: Yes.