The Opinion of Imam Ibn Taymiyyah Regarding the Celebration of the Prophet's Birthday
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q: The brother A. M. M. from Kuwait says in his question: One of the scholars mentioned that Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) approves of celebrating the Prophet's birthday. Is this correct, O Shaykh?
A: Celebrating the Prophet's birthday, upon him be the best of prayers and purest of salutations, is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that is not permissible according to the most correct opinion of the scholars. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it, nor did his righteous successors, nor all of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) , nor did the scholars and rulers in the three best centuries. It only occurred after that due to the Shi'ah and those who imitated them. Therefore, it is not permissible to do it, nor to imitate those who do it.
Shaykh Taqi al-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) is among those who deny this and consider it a religious innovation (bid'ah). However, in his book *Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim Mukhalafat Ahl al-Jahim* (Following the Straight Path in Opposition to the People of the Hellfire), he mentioned that one who does it out of ignorance is excused. No one should be deceived by those among the people who do it, or who praise doing it, or who call to it, such as Muhammad 'Alawi al-Maliki and others. This is because the proof is not in the sayings of men, but rather in what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said, or what His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, or what the Salaf of the Ummah agreed upon. As Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: : [Al-Nisa: 59], and He said: [Al-Shura: 10], and He said: [Al-Ahzab: 21].
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do this, and he conveyed the clear message through his words and deeds (peace and blessings be upon him). His Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not do it either. If it had been good, they would have preceded us to it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1718a, and it is agreed upon as authentic. He (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: Sahih Muslim 1718b, and Muslim narrated it in his *Sahih*. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say in his sermons: Sahih Muslim 867a, and Muslim narrated it in his *Sahih*.
There are many hadiths in this meaning. I have written a lengthy treatise on this, as well as on other innovations (bid'ah) such as the celebration of the Night of the Ascension (Al-Isra' wal-Mi'raj) and the middle of Sha'ban. All of this has been printed in a booklet titled *Al-Tahdhir min al-Bid'ah* (Warning Against Innovations), which is distributed by the Department of Ifta and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. It is also found in my book titled *Majmu' Fatawa wa Maqalat* (Collection of Fatwas and Articles), in Volume 1, page 227. So whoever wishes to review it, let him do so. We ask Allah to guide us and all Muslims to know the truth and follow it, and to protect us all from innovations (bid'ah) and what is wrong, whether apparent or hidden. He is the One who is capable of that and has power over it. May Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
A: Celebrating the Prophet's birthday, upon him be the best of prayers and purest of salutations, is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that is not permissible according to the most correct opinion of the scholars. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it, nor did his righteous successors, nor all of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) , nor did the scholars and rulers in the three best centuries. It only occurred after that due to the Shi'ah and those who imitated them. Therefore, it is not permissible to do it, nor to imitate those who do it.
Shaykh Taqi al-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) is among those who deny this and consider it a religious innovation (bid'ah). However, in his book *Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim Mukhalafat Ahl al-Jahim* (Following the Straight Path in Opposition to the People of the Hellfire), he mentioned that one who does it out of ignorance is excused. No one should be deceived by those among the people who do it, or who praise doing it, or who call to it, such as Muhammad 'Alawi al-Maliki and others. This is because the proof is not in the sayings of men, but rather in what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said, or what His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, or what the Salaf of the Ummah agreed upon. As Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًاAnd in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah.
وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِThere has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًاAnd he (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do this, and he conveyed the clear message through his words and deeds (peace and blessings be upon him). His Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not do it either. If it had been good, they would have preceded us to it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردThe best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of the guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error.
أما بعد؛ فإن خير الحديث كتاب الله، وخير الهدي هدي محمد ﷺ، وشر الأمور محدثاتها، وكل بدعة ضلالةThere are many hadiths in this meaning. I have written a lengthy treatise on this, as well as on other innovations (bid'ah) such as the celebration of the Night of the Ascension (Al-Isra' wal-Mi'raj) and the middle of Sha'ban. All of this has been printed in a booklet titled *Al-Tahdhir min al-Bid'ah* (Warning Against Innovations), which is distributed by the Department of Ifta and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. It is also found in my book titled *Majmu' Fatawa wa Maqalat* (Collection of Fatwas and Articles), in Volume 1, page 227. So whoever wishes to review it, let him do so. We ask Allah to guide us and all Muslims to know the truth and follow it, and to protect us all from innovations (bid'ah) and what is wrong, whether apparent or hidden. He is the One who is capable of that and has power over it. May Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.