Is it permissible for Muslims to celebrate the Prophet's birthday?
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Q: Is it permissible for Muslims to celebrate in the mosque to remember the noble Prophetic biography on the night of 12 Rabi' al-Awwal on the occasion of the noble Prophet's birthday, without making the day a holiday like a festival? We differed on this; some said it is a good innovation, and others said it is not a good innovation.
A: It is not permissible for Muslims to hold a celebration for the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the night of 12 Rabi' al-Awwal or on any other day, just as it is not permissible for them to hold any celebration for the birthday of anyone else (peace and blessings be upon him); because celebrating birthdays is among the innovations introduced into the religion. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate his own birthday during his lifetime (peace and blessings be upon him), and he is the one who conveyed the religion and legislated the laws from his Lord (Glorified and Exalted is He), and he did not order it. His righteous successors did not do it, nor did all his Companions, nor did those who followed them with excellence in the blessed centuries. Thus, it is known to be an innovation. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1718a It is agreed upon as authentic. In a narration by Muslim, which al-Bukhari suspended with certainty: Sahih Muslim 1718b.
Celebrating birthdays is not in accordance with the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); rather, it is something the people introduced into his religion in the later centuries, so it is rejected. He (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say in his Friday sermon:Sahih Muslim 867a Muslim narrated it in his Sahih, and al-Nasa'i narrated it with a good chain and added: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1578Sahih (Darussalam).
Teaching the reports related to the birthday within the lessons concerning his biography (peace and blessings be upon him), and the history of his life in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance and in Islam, in schools, mosques, and elsewhere, is sufficient in place of celebrating his birthday, without the need to introduce a celebration that Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not legislate, and for which there is no legal evidence. May Allah be sought for help, and we ask Allah for all Muslims to be guided and successful in being content with the Sunnah and cautious of religious innovation.
A: It is not permissible for Muslims to hold a celebration for the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the night of 12 Rabi' al-Awwal or on any other day, just as it is not permissible for them to hold any celebration for the birthday of anyone else (peace and blessings be upon him); because celebrating birthdays is among the innovations introduced into the religion. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate his own birthday during his lifetime (peace and blessings be upon him), and he is the one who conveyed the religion and legislated the laws from his Lord (Glorified and Exalted is He), and he did not order it. His righteous successors did not do it, nor did all his Companions, nor did those who followed them with excellence in the blessed centuries. Thus, it is known to be an innovation. And he (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 عليهه أمرنا فهو ردCelebrating birthdays is not in accordance with the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); rather, it is something the people introduced into his religion in the later centuries, so it is rejected. He (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say in his Friday sermon:
The 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 ضلالةand every going astray is in the Fire
وكل ضلالة في النارTeaching the reports related to the birthday within the lessons concerning his biography (peace and blessings be upon him), and the history of his life in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance and in Islam, in schools, mosques, and elsewhere, is sufficient in place of celebrating his birthday, without the need to introduce a celebration that Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not legislate, and for which there is no legal evidence. May Allah be sought for help, and we ask Allah for all Muslims to be guided and successful in being content with the Sunnah and cautious of religious innovation.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.