The Ruling on Celebrating the Prophet's Birthday

Question:
May Allah reward you, O honorable scholar. He says: I read in the book *Research and Contemporary Fiqh Fatwas* by Ahmad al-Hajji al-Kurdi this phrase: "The Islamic world celebrates the birth of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and we celebrate with them in this noble month." The question is: What is your comment on this sentence, given that this book is licensed and sold in bookstores?

Answer:
Answer: This is wrong speech and misguidance. His statement that "the Islamic world celebrates" is a lie against the Islamic world. It is not the case that the whole of it celebrates; rather, it is the innovators who celebrate. As for the people of the Sunnah, they do not celebrate this, because it is a religious innovation. So his saying "the Islamic world" is a lie on his part, a generalization that is not permissible. This is because celebrating the Prophet's birthday is a religious innovation that the Messenger of Allah did not do, nor did he order it, nor did his Companions do it, nor did the blessed generations. Rather, it was done by the innovators after the departure of the blessed generations. And the people of the Sunnah and the people of knowledge have continued to warn against this religious innovation, praise be to Allah. The Islamic world has not agreed upon doing this religious innovation; rather, only the innovators do it. If he had said, "Some people celebrate," or "Some Muslims celebrate," it would have had a valid aspect, that it is correct. Some of those who claim to be Muslims celebrate. But his generalization, his saying "the Islamic world celebrates," is a lie, a lie and invalid.