Some people claim that they love the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), so they brought in the Mawlid and celebrated it, and they brought in the praises. What is the ruling on celebrating the Mawlid?
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The questioner : As you mentioned, O honorable Shaykh (may Allah preserve you), these people claim that they love the Messenger, so they brought in the Mawlid, celebrated the Mawlid, and brought in the praises. What is the ruling on celebrating the Mawlid, given that they claim it is out of love for the Messenger?
The Shaykh : According to the principle I mentioned to you.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Whoever loves the Messenger, let him follow his Sunnah. Whoever loves the Messenger, let him not innovate in his religion what is not part of it. We have writings and statements on this subject, both for ourselves and for others, and we ask Allah the Exalted to guide our brothers to the straight path. And, O Glorious is Allah! Where is Abu Bakr? Where is 'Umar? Where is 'Uthman? Where is 'Ali? Where are the Companions? Where are the Imams regarding this? Did they not know it, or did they neglect it? The matter must be one of two things: either they were ignorant of the right of the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him) that they should not hold a celebration for his birth, or they were negligent, and the three centuries passed without knowing of this religious innovation. And we say: Is it prescribed? Is it beloved to Allah and His Messenger? Is it beneficial to those who perform it? This is impossible.
Furthermore, great evils and excessive veneration of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) occur in these Mawlid celebrations, so we ask Allah the Exalted to grant us all the ability to follow [the Sunnah].
The questioner : O Allah, amen.
The Shaykh : We ask Allah the Exalted for faith with no disbelief in it, and certainty with no doubt in it.
The questioner : Amen.
The Shaykh : And sincerity with no shirk (associating partners with Allah) in it, and following [the Sunnah] with no religious innovation in it.
The questioner : Amen. May Allah preserve you and bless you and your knowledge.
The Shaykh : According to the principle I mentioned to you.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Whoever loves the Messenger, let him follow his Sunnah. Whoever loves the Messenger, let him not innovate in his religion what is not part of it. We have writings and statements on this subject, both for ourselves and for others, and we ask Allah the Exalted to guide our brothers to the straight path. And, O Glorious is Allah! Where is Abu Bakr? Where is 'Umar? Where is 'Uthman? Where is 'Ali? Where are the Companions? Where are the Imams regarding this? Did they not know it, or did they neglect it? The matter must be one of two things: either they were ignorant of the right of the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him) that they should not hold a celebration for his birth, or they were negligent, and the three centuries passed without knowing of this religious innovation. And we say: Is it prescribed? Is it beloved to Allah and His Messenger? Is it beneficial to those who perform it? This is impossible.
Furthermore, great evils and excessive veneration of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) occur in these Mawlid celebrations, so we ask Allah the Exalted to grant us all the ability to follow [the Sunnah].
The questioner : O Allah, amen.
The Shaykh : We ask Allah the Exalted for faith with no disbelief in it, and certainty with no doubt in it.
The questioner : Amen.
The Shaykh : And sincerity with no shirk (associating partners with Allah) in it, and following [the Sunnah] with no religious innovation in it.
The questioner : Amen. May Allah preserve you and bless you and your knowledge.