The origin of Eid Milad-un-Nabi is not found in the Book and Sunnah; it began in the fourth century and was first celebrated by the Fatimid Shi’as in Egypt.
The innovation of celebrating the birth of one’s prophet initially started among Christians and then came into practice among Muslims as well. The prevalent Eid Milad-un-Nabi is similar to the Eid Milad of Jesus (peace be upon him) and is a reprehensible innovation, while imitation of disbelievers and following their customs is prohibited. It was not present during the time of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), nor in the three best generations; it is a later invention.
❀ Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi Barelvi narrates:
لم يفعله أحد من القرون الثلاثة، إنما حدث بعد
No one celebrated the noble birth in the first three centuries; rather, it was invented later.
❀ Allama Ghulam Rasool Saeedi Barelvi writes:
The pious predecessors, i.e., the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and the Tabi‘in, did not hold Milad gatherings, indeed.
❀ Allama Abdul Sami Rampuri writes:
This festivity and joy, especially associating it with the specific month of Rabi’ al-Awwal and particularly fixing the twelfth day as the date of the noble birth, happened later, i.e., at the end of the sixth century.
❀ Allama Ibn Rajab
states:
أما ما اتفق السلف على تركه، فلا يجوز العمل به، لأنهم ما تركوه إلا على علم أنه لا يعمل به
If the Salaf unanimously agreed to abandon a practice, it is not permissible to do it; they knew it was not feasible, so they abandoned it.
According to Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, the sign of an innovation is that arguments resembling proofs are brought to justify it. The talk of Sheikh Palan sounds like the talk of a non-living person.
See:
Doubt Number 1:
Allah Almighty says:
﴿قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا﴾
Say! Rejoice in the grace and mercy of Allah.
One translation of this is also:
Rejoice in the grace and mercy of Allah Almighty.
However, Arabic lexicon does not support this translation. The detail is:
The meaning of فرح is to be happy or to feel happiness, not to celebrate happiness, as Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَرِحَ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ﴾
(The hypocrites) who stayed behind (from the Battle of Tabuk) were happy.
Can anyone say that they celebrated a festival?
In Sahih Bukhari
, it is mentioned that when the verse of Surah Al-Baqarah
was revealed:
فرحوا بها فرحا شديدا
The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were very happy.
Can it be interpreted that the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, celebrated a festival, i.e., the Eid of the revelation of the verse?
There are only two Eids in Islam:
❀ Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrates:
قدم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم المدينة ولهم يومان يلعبون فيهما، فقال: ما هذان اليومان؟ قالوا: كنا نلعب فيهما فى الجاهلية، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن الله قد أبدلكم بهما خيرا منهما يوم الأضحى، ويوم الفطر
The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came to Madinah, and the people of Madinah had two days set aside during which they used to play and have fun. He صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم asked: What are these two days? They replied: We have been playing and having fun on these two days since the time of ignorance. The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: Indeed, Allah has given you better days than these in the form of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.
Imam Hakim
declared this hadith authentic according to Imam Muslim’s criteria, and Hafiz Dhahabi agreed with this. Hafiz Ibn Hajar also said its chain is authentic.
In Islam, there are only two festivals as celebrations; there is no concept of a third Eid.
Eid al-Ghadir Khumm:
Shia Muslims celebrate Eid al-Ghadir Khumm. On this day, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that whoever I am the master of, Ali is also his master. This is an honor for Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
Here the question arises that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) belongs to everyone, not only to the Shia. So we should also arrange a grand Eid on this day because celebrating Eid on occasions of happiness is a Quranic command.
But those friends who use the verse about happiness as evidence for Eid Milad, call Eid al-Ghadir Khumm, which is proven by the same verse of happiness, an innovation. Are they not happy with this honor of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) or is their reasoning flawed?
Eid Milad of Jesus (peace be upon him):
Christians believe in the birth of Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him. They celebrate and consider it a festival in joy of his coming into the world. However, Muslims claim that our joy for the coming of Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, is greater than that of the Christians, and even today they are awaiting his return. This is an essential part of their faith. So, on this basis, should his birthday be celebrated as a festival? Should one actively participate in it? Is it an expression of happiness, and should we also celebrate Eid Milad Isa to express happiness?
Also, apart from Iblis, everyone in the world is celebrating, should this slogan be raised here as well?
Should people be told that you do not have joy for the coming of Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, so you do not celebrate his birthday, you are disrespectful to the Prophet of Allah, Jesus?
Eid al-Ma’idah or Eid al-Isha:
❀ Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi Barelvi writes:
﴿رَبَّنَا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا﴾
It is understood that the day when the table spread down was made an Eid day by Hazrat Masih (Jesus) عليه السلام.
Every Shariah has its own Eids. We have been given Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Otherwise, why do you not celebrate the day when Sayyiduna Isa عليه السلام celebrated Eid? Are you not sharing in the happiness of Sayyiduna Isa عليه السلام? If you are sharing, and certainly you are, then what is the justification for staying behind in this good deed?
Eid al-Am:
The people of Europe celebrate Mother’s Day. They say that there should be a day dedicated to the priceless blessing of a mother. Although in our society, the sanctity and respect given to a mother is incomparable, the people of Europe do not even come close to that. So why don’t we make a festival in the name of the mother? Is it that we do not love the mother? Or do we not consider the mother a blessing from Allah?
In conclusion, I suggest that you take some time one day and present a list of things that you consider blessings from God and also bring forward their festival schedules so that your claim—that it is permissible to celebrate the day of any religious success as a day of happiness—can be implemented. Also, the day on which Allah’s special mercy descends should be celebrated as a festival, so that this claim can be put into practice!
Excuse the boldness, but the question is: why is the celebration of Eid Milad not mentioned in Hanafi jurisprudence?
❀ Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
states:
أما اتخاذ موسم غير المواسم الشرعية كبعض ليالي شهر ربيع الأول التى يقال: إنها ليلة المولد، أو بعض ليالي رجب، أو ثامن عشر ذي الحجة، أو أول جمعة من رجب، أو ثامن شوال الذى يسميه الجهال: عيد الأبرار، فإنها من البدع التى لم يستحيها السلف ولم يفعلوها، والله سبحانه وتعالى أعلم
Apart from the Eid days prescribed by the Shariah, other Eids, such as Eid Milad in Rabi’ al-Awwal, certain nights of Rajab, the eighteenth of Dhu al-Hijjah, the first Friday of Rajab, or the Eid of the eighth of Shawwal, which ignorant people call Eid al-Abrar, are all innovations because the Salaf neither celebrated them nor considered them recommended. And Allah knows best.
Doubt Number 2 :
❀ Sayyiduna Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan رضي الله عنه narrates:
إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم خرج على حلقة يعني من أصحابه فقال: ما أجلسكم؟ قالوا: جلسنا ندعو الله ونحمده على ما هدانا لدينه، ومن علينا بك، قال: الله ما أجلسكم إلا ذلك؟ قالوا: الله ما أجلسنا إلا ذلك، قال: أما إني لم أستحلفكم تهمة لكم، وإنما أتاني جبريل عليه السلام فأخبرني أن الله عز وجل يباهي بكم الملائكة
The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came to a gathering of the companions رضي الله عنہم and said: How are you sitting? The companions رضي الله عنہم replied: We are praying to Allah and praising Him for having guided us and for having bestowed favor upon us through you صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: By Allah! Are you sitting only for this purpose? They replied: By Allah! Only for this purpose. He said: I did not take this oath out of suspicion, but (the reason is) that Gabriel عليه السلام just came to me and informed me that Allah Almighty takes pride in you before the angels.
It is not correct to use this hadith as evidence for the permissibility of the customary celebration of Eid Milad. No trustworthy Imam has established this issue from this hadith. This hadith only proves that the circle of companions رضي الله عنہم was praising Allah for His favors and praying, not that they were celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Furthermore, many scholars have declared this celebration an objectionable innovation (bid’ah). This means that Eid Milad an-Nabi صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was not observed among the companions رضي الله عنہم.
Doubt Number 3:
❀ Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi writes:
﴿رَبَّنَا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا﴾
It is understood that the day the table spread down was made by Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) as an Eid day.
Eids belong to every Shariah. We have been given Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Otherwise, why do you not celebrate the day on which Sayyiduna Isa (peace be upon him) celebrated Eid? Are you not sharing in the happiness of Sayyiduna Isa (peace be upon him)? If you are sharing, and certainly you are, then what is the justification for staying behind in this good deed?
Doubt Number 4:
❀ قال عروة: وتويبة مولاة لأبي لهب، كان أبو لهب أعتقها، فأرضعت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، فلما مات أبو لهب أريه بعض أهله بشر حيبة، قال له: ماذا لقيت؟ قال أبو لهب: لم ألق بعدكم غير أني سقيت فى هذه بعتاقتي تويبة
Urwah bin Zubair, may Allah have mercy on him, a Tabi’i, narrates that Thuwaibah was Abu Lahab’s slave girl. Abu Lahab freed her. She nursed the Holy Prophet ﷺ. After her death, none of her family saw her in a good state in a dream. She asked Abu Lahab: What did you find? Abu Lahab said that after you, I found no comfort except that because I freed Thuwaibah, I am given to drink from this (the hollow between the thumb and index finger).
① This is a Mursal statement of Urwah bin Zubair, therefore it is weak and not a valid proof. It is surprising that those who do not accept solitary reports as proof in matters of belief are using this “weak” statement of a Tabi’i as evidence!
② The dream of some family members of a disbeliever cannot be trusted.
③ This dream contradicts the clear Quranic text.
✿ The command of Allah Almighty is:
﴿تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ مَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ﴾
Both hands of Abu Lahab perished, and he himself perished. Neither his wealth nor his deeds benefited him.
④ Also, Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَقَدِمْنَا إِلَى مَا عَمِلُوا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَاءً مَنْثُورًا﴾
We will examine their deeds and turn them into scattered dust.
⑤ It is not proven that he freed his slave girl Thuwaibah because she brought the glad tidings of the blessed birth of the Holy Prophet ﷺ to Abu Lahab. Therefore, Na’imi’s statement is incorrect:
“The matter was that Abu Lahab was the brother of Hazrat Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him. His slave girl Thuwaibah came and informed him that today your brother Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, had a son (Muhammad Rasul Allah ﷺ) born in his house. In happiness, he gestured with his finger to the slave girl and said: Go, you are free.”
Doubt Number 5:
Sayyiduna Tariq bin Shahab رضي الله عنه narrates:
عن عمر بن الخطاب، أن رجلا من اليهود قال له: يا أمير المؤمنين، آية فى كتابكم تقرءونها، لو علينا معشر اليهود نزلت، لاتخذنا ذلك اليوم عيدا، قال: أى آية؟ قال:
A Jew said to Sayyiduna Umar bin Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه: Commander of the Faithful! There is a magnificent verse in the Muslims’ book. You recite this verse. If it had been revealed in our religion, we would have declared it a day of Eid. Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه asked: Which verse? He said:
﴿الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلَامَ دِينًا﴾
“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”
Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه said: I know the day and place where this verse was revealed. The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was standing on the day of Jumu’ah at Arafah when this verse was revealed.
When this noble verse was recited by Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما, a Jew was sitting with him. He said: If this verse had been revealed in our religion, we would have made the day of its revelation a day of Eid. Then Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما replied:
إنها نزلت فى يوم عيدين فى يوم جمعة، ويوم عرفة
It was indeed revealed on the day when two Eids (the day of Arafah and the day of Jumu’ah) coincided.
Using this incident to argue for Eid Milad by the Companions of the Prophet رضي الله عنهم and the Imams of the Sunnah is objectionable. The Jew only meant that we would have rejoiced on that day, and the noble Companion رضي الله عنه replied that there is indeed joy, and this verse was revealed on the day when two Eids, i.e., two joys, coincided. Otherwise, why did Umar رضي الله عنه not specifically designate that day as Eid of Completion of Religion? He would have declared every Friday as Eid of Completion of Religion, or named the day of Arafah as Eid of Completion of Religion, or at least whenever Friday and the day of Arafah coincided, he would have named that day Eid of Completion of Religion. Something would have happened. Why did the Companions رضي الله عنهم not do this? It is clear that the Companions رضي الله عنهم did not want to do anything that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم did not do. They did not have such joy that was not included in the teachings of Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Using this incident to argue for Eid Milad is like a question of wheat and chaff.
It is surprising that those who do not even believe in Friday in villages, how can they correctly argue for Eid Milad by calling Friday an Eid? Meaning Friday is an Eid, but only for city dwellers. For villagers, it is just an ordinary day. Will they perform the Zuhr prayer on that day, or does it mean that Friday is not an Eid at all? Even for city dwellers, Friday is only a name for the congregational prayer; otherwise, they would not call it precautionary Zuhr. Moreover, Eid Milad-un-Nabi صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was borrowed from the Shias. Think carefully, is it not possible that the Shia understanding of religion has surpassed the Companions رضي الله عنهم, the Tabi‘in, and the Imams of Hadith?
﴿الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلَامَ دِينًا﴾
قال عمر: قد عرفنا ذلك اليوم، والمكان الذى نزلت فيه على النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، وهو قائم بعرفة يوم جمعة
