What is the ruling on distributing food and exchanging congratulations on the day of the Mawlid?
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Question:
From Libya, the listener (S. F. K.) sent a message containing several questions. In one of his questions, he says: We have a custom, which is that on the twelfth day of Rabi' al-Awwal, we prepare a breakfast meal from early morning and distribute it to the neighbors. We also congratulate the neighbors and relatives on the occasion of the joy of the Prophet's birth (peace and blessings be upon him). Is it permissible for us to continue preparing these foods, eating from them, and holding these celebrations? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
This practice is not prescribed; rather, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah), even if many people do it. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions did not do it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate his own birth during his lifetime, nor did he order it. He is the most sincere of people (peace and blessings be upon him), the most knowledgeable of people, and the most eager of people for good (peace and blessings be upon him). If this practice had been prescribed and good, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would have done it or guided us to it.
Likewise, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, who are the best of people after the prophets, did not do it, nor did they order it. Likewise, the Companions, the rest of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), did not do it, nor did they order it. Likewise, the Salaf of the Ummah in the blessed centuries did not do it, and they are the best of people after the prophets, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 3651.
Therefore, it is obligatory for you to abandon this religious innovation (bid'ah) and to strive to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in his words and deeds. This is what is obligatory for Muslims to follow, to submit to his Shari'ah, to revere his command and prohibition, and to proceed according to his Sunnah and his methodology, (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for religious innovations (bid'ah), there is no good in them; they are evil. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1718b meaning: it is rejected. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1718a, agreed upon for its authenticity. And in Sahih Muslim, from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) , it was said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say in the sermon—the Friday sermon—Sahih Muslim 867a.
So this practice you do, of giving food, or celebrating in other ways, on the twelfth day of Rabi' al-Awwal with food, or with prayers, or with visiting, is all a religious innovation (bid'ah) with no basis. The Lord (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: [Al Imran: 31]. So following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is the reality of love, and it is the proof of sincere love. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1401.
So we advise you, and our other Muslim brothers, to abandon this religious innovation (bid'ah), which is the celebrations of the Prophet's birth (peace and blessings be upon him), or other births with other Mawlids. They are all not prescribed.
But we advise you to always follow the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), to gain knowledge of the religion, to teach people the Sunnah, and to strive to obey Allah and His Messenger in everything. This is what is obligatory for all those who are accountable to be sincere to Allah in worship, to revere Him, to submit to His Shari'ah, and to proceed according to the methodology of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in word and deed, in all circumstances. He, the Exalted, said in His great Book: [Al Hashr: 7].
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic hadith:Sahih Muslim 1835c. So it is obligatory to obey him and follow his guidance (peace and blessings be upon him), and to beware of what contradicts his guidance (peace and blessings be upon him) in everything. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
From Libya, the listener (S. F. K.) sent a message containing several questions. In one of his questions, he says: We have a custom, which is that on the twelfth day of Rabi' al-Awwal, we prepare a breakfast meal from early morning and distribute it to the neighbors. We also congratulate the neighbors and relatives on the occasion of the joy of the Prophet's birth (peace and blessings be upon him). Is it permissible for us to continue preparing these foods, eating from them, and holding these celebrations? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
This practice is not prescribed; rather, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah), even if many people do it. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions did not do it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate his own birth during his lifetime, nor did he order it. He is the most sincere of people (peace and blessings be upon him), the most knowledgeable of people, and the most eager of people for good (peace and blessings be upon him). If this practice had been prescribed and good, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would have done it or guided us to it.
Likewise, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, who are the best of people after the prophets, did not do it, nor did they order it. Likewise, the Companions, the rest of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), did not do it, nor did they order it. Likewise, the Salaf of the Ummah in the blessed centuries did not do it, and they are the best of people after the prophets, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The best people are those living in my generation, and then those who will follow them, and then those who will follow the latter
خير الناس قرني، ثم الذين يلونهم، ثم الذين يلونهمTherefore, it is obligatory for you to abandon this religious innovation (bid'ah) and to strive to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in his words and deeds. This is what is obligatory for Muslims to follow, to submit to his Shari'ah, to revere his command and prohibition, and to proceed according to his Sunnah and his methodology, (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for religious innovations (bid'ah), there is no good in them; they are evil. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملًا ليس عليه أمرنا؛ فهو رد'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 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 ضلالةSo this practice you do, of giving food, or celebrating in other ways, on the twelfth day of Rabi' al-Awwal with food, or with prayers, or with visiting, is all a religious innovation (bid'ah) with no basis. The Lord (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:
Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins
قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْAnd he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with Me
من رغب عن سنتي فليس منيSo we advise you, and our other Muslim brothers, to abandon this religious innovation (bid'ah), which is the celebrations of the Prophet's birth (peace and blessings be upon him), or other births with other Mawlids. They are all not prescribed.
But we advise you to always follow the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), to gain knowledge of the religion, to teach people the Sunnah, and to strive to obey Allah and His Messenger in everything. This is what is obligatory for all those who are accountable to be sincere to Allah in worship, to revere Him, to submit to His Shari'ah, and to proceed according to the methodology of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in word and deed, in all circumstances. He, the Exalted, said in His great Book:
And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُواAnd he (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic hadith:
Whoso obeys me obeys God; and whose disobeys me disobeys God.
من أطاعني؛ فقد أطاع الله، ومن عصاني؛ فقد عصى اللهThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.