How do we respond to the Sufis who argue that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) singled out Monday for fasting to honor Monday, as it is the day he was born, so celebrating his birth (peace and blessings be upon him) is even more appropriate?

The questioner : If the leaders of the Sufis and their like claim that the virtue of Monday is that the Prophet commanded fasting on it and explained its virtue, and that celebrating his memory annually is even more appropriate, what do we say to them?

The Shaykh : I say that if they want to celebrate Monday, it is obligatory to do so weekly.

The questioner : Every year, I mean.

The Shaykh : Why single it out?

The questioner : The virtue of Monday is that he was born on it.

The Shaykh : Do you mean the Mawlid?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Do they state it explicitly?

The questioner : No, they mean...

The Shaykh : They say that the saying of the Messenger: indicates honoring the day he was born, not Monday itself, because the Messenger is not always on a Monday; it is always on the twelfth of Rabi' al-Awwal, as they believe. But we say: if we assume that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) honored the day he was born, how did he honor it? By fasting. Did he honor it with this reprehensible celebration? This is an argument against them, not for them. We say: if you are sincere in following the Messenger, honor it as he honored it, which is by fasting. Then, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not intend to honor the day he was born, but intended to make clear that Allah the Exalted placed important matters for mankind in this day: that he was born in it, sent as a prophet in it, and revelation was sent down to him in it. And I say to them: then hold a mourning ceremony, because the Messenger died on a Monday. Yes.