This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri's book Aamad Mustafa ﷺ.
The Shariah Status of Eid Milad
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 Shias in Egypt.
Reference: (Al-Khitat by Al-Maqrizi: 490/1)
The innovation of celebrating the birth of the Prophet was initially started by the Christians and then came into practice among Muslims as well. The prevalent Eid Milad-un-Nabi resembles 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 Sahib narrates:
لم يفعله أحد من القرون الثلاثة، إنما حدث بعد .
“No one celebrated the Milad Sharif in the three early centuries; rather, it was invented later.”
Reference: (Jaa al-Haqq: 236/1)
◈ Janab Ghulam Rasool Saeedi Sahib writes:
“The pious predecessors, i.e., the Companions and the Followers, did not hold Milad gatherings, and rightly so.”
Reference: (Sharh Sahih Muslim: 179/3)
◈ Janab Abdul Sami Rampuri Sahib writes:
“This occasion of joy and happiness, specifically in the month of Rabi' al-Awwal and particularly fixing the twelfth day as the Milad Sharif, was established later, i.e., at the end of the sixth century.”
Reference: (Anwar Saati'ah: 159)
◈ Allama Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) (d. 795 AH) 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 certain act, then it is not permissible to perform it; they knew that it was not appropriate to act upon, so they abandoned it.”
Reference: (Fadl Ilm al-Salaf p. 31)
According to Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him), a sign of innovation is that arguments resembling proofs are brought to justify it. The words of the Sheikh (may Allah have mercy on him) seem like the words of a living person.
Please observe:
Objection Number 1
Allah Almighty says:
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوْا
"Say! Rejoice in the bounty and mercy of Allah."
Reference: (Surah Yunus: 58)
One translation of this is also:
Rejoice in the bounty and mercy of Allah.
However, the Arabic lexicon does not support this translation. The detail is:
The meaning of فَرِحَ is to be happy or to feel happiness, not to celebrate happiness, as Allah Almighty says:
فَرِحَ الْمُخَلَّفُوْنَ "The hypocrites who stayed behind from the Battle of Tabuk were happy."
Reference: Surah At-Tawbah: 81
Can anyone say that they celebrated?
In Sahih Bukhari
Reference: (1915)
, it is mentioned that when the verse of Surah Al-Baqarah
Reference: (187)
was revealed:ففرحوا 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, i.e., had a festival on the occasion of the revelation of the verse?
There are only two Eids in Islam:
◈ Our Master Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) 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 (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Medina. The people of Medina had two days set aside during which they used to play and have fun. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: What are these two days? They said: We have been playing and having fun on these two days since the time of ignorance. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, Allah has given you better days than these in the form of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr."
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 1134, Sunan an-Nasa'i: 1556 with authentic chain)
Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (294/1)
declared this hadith "authentic" according to the condition of Imam Muslim (may Allah have mercy on him). Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) agreed with this, and Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said its chain is "authentic."
Reference: (Bulugh al-Maram min Adillat al-Ahkam: 497)
In Musnad Ahmad
Reference: (250/3)
, Humaid al-Tawil clarified it as a hearing (sama').In Islam, there are only two festivals; there is no concept of a third Eid.
Eid al-Ghadir Khumm:
Shia Muslims celebrate Eid al-Ghadir Khumm, the day when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that whoever I am the master of, Ali is also his master. This is the honor of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه.
Here the question arises that Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه belongs to everyone, not just 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 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 رضي الله عنه, or is their reasoning itself flawed?
Eid Milad of Jesus عليه السلام
Christians believe in the birth of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), celebrate the joy of his coming into the world, and consider it a festival. 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 him; 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, except for Satan, everyone in the world is celebrating happiness. 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, and you are disrespectful to the Prophet Jesus of Allah?
Eid al-Ma'ida or Eid al-Isha:
◈ Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi Sahib writes:
"Jesus, peace be upon him, prayed: رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِّنكَ ۖ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ It is understood that the day of the arrival of Al-Ma'idah was made the day of Eid by Hazrat Masih, peace be upon him."
Reference: (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 114, Jaa al-Haq: 231/1)
Eids belong to every Shariah individually; 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 justification is there for falling behind in this good deed?
Eid al-Am:
The people of Europe celebrate Mother's Day, saying that there should be a day dedicated to the priceless blessing of a mother. However, the sanctity and respect that a mother holds in our society is not even a fraction of what it is among the people of Europe. 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? Finally, I suggest that you take some time to present a list of things that you consider blessings from God and also provide the schedule of their festivals so that your claim that it is permissible to celebrate a day of religious success as a day of happiness can be verified. Also, it is permissible to celebrate the day on which Allah's special mercy descends. May this be implemented!
Excuse the boldness, but the question is why is the mention of Eid Milad not found in Hanafi jurisprudence?
◈ Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 728 AH), says:
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 يستحبها السلف ولم يفعلوها، والله سبحانه وتعالى أعلم .
"Other than 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 innovations because the pious predecessors, may Allah have mercy on them, neither celebrated them nor considered them recommended." والله اعلم
Reference: (Al-Fatawa al-Kubra: 414/4, Majmu' al-Fatawa: 298/25)
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 upon us the favor of your presence. 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 swear 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."
Reference: (Musnad Imam Ahmad: 92/4, Sunan an-Nasa'i: 5428, Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 3379 with a Hasan chain)
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 the companions رضي الله عنہم was praising Allah for His favors and praying, not that they were celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Moreover, many scholars have declared this celebration an objectionable innovation (bid'ah). This means that Eid Milad was not observed during the era of the companions.
Reference: (Al-Madkhal: 229/2, 234, Al-Hawi lil-Fatawa: 190/1-191)
Doubt Number 3
◈ Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi Sahib writes:
رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا
Jesus (peace be upon him) prayed: It is understood that the day of the arrival of the Table Spread was made by Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) as an Eid day."
Reference: (Al-Ma'idah: 114, Ja'a al-Haqq: 231/1)
Eids are specific to each Shariah; we have been given Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Otherwise, if the day when Sayyiduna Jesus (peace be upon him) celebrated Eid, why do you not celebrate Eid on that day? Are you not sharing in the happiness of Sayyiduna Jesus (peace be upon him)? If you are sharing, and certainly you are, then what is the justification for falling behind in this good deed?
Doubt Number 4
قال عروة: وثويبة 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 ثويبة .
"Urwah bin Zubair, may Allah have mercy on him, a Tabi'i, narrated that Thuwaibah was Abu Lahab's slave girl. Abu Lahab freed her. She nursed the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. After her death, someone from her family saw her in a dream in a bad state. He asked her, 'What did you find?' Abu Lahab said, 'After you, I found no comfort except that because I freed Thuwaibah, I am being fed from this (the hollow between the thumb and index finger).'"
Reference: (Musannif Abdul Razzaq: 62/9, Hadith: 16350)
Its chain of narration is weak due to the tadlees (concealment) of Imam Abdul Razzaq San'ani, may Allah have mercy on him.
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari Mu'allaqan: 764/2, under Hadith: 5101, Nasb al-Rayah lil-Zaili: 168/3)
This is a mursal statement of Urwah bin Zubair, may Allah have mercy on him, 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 taking evidence from this "weak" statement of a Tabi'i!
The dream of some family members of a disbeliever cannot be trusted.
This dream contradicts the clear Quranic text, where Allah the Exalted says:
تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ 1 مَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ
"May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he. His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained."
Reference: (Surah Al-Masad: 1-2)
Also, Allah Almighty says:
وَقَدِمْنَا إِلَى مَا عَمِلُوا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَاءً مَّنْشُورًا
"We will regard their deeds and make them as scattered dust."
Reference: (Surah Al-Furqan: 23)
It is not established that he freed his slave girl Thuwaibah because she had given the glad tidings of the birth of the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, to Abu Lahab. Therefore, Na'imi Sahib's statement is not correct:
The matter was that Abu Lahab was the brother of Abdullah. His slave girl Thuwaibah came and informed him that today your brother Abdullah's household has been blessed with a child (Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him). In happiness, he signaled with his finger to the slave girl that she was free to go.
Reference: (Ja al-Haqq: 1/235)
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 تقرءونhā، لو علينا معشر اليهود نزلت، لاتخذنا ذلك اليوم عيدا، قال: أى آية؟ قال: الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا قال عمر: قد عرفنا ذلك اليوم، والمكان الذى نزلت فيه على النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، وهو قائم بعرفة يوم جمعة .
"A Jew said to Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه: Commander of the Faithful! There is a magnificent verse in the Muslims' book, you recite this verse, if it were revealed in our religion, we would designate its day as Eid. Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه asked, which verse? He said: الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا 'This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.'
Reference: (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 3)
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.
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 45, Sahih Muslim: 3017)
When this noble verse was recited by Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما, a Jew was sitting with him who said: If this verse were revealed in our religion, we would make the day of its revelation an Eid. 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."
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3044, and its chain is authentic)
Using this incident to argue for Eid Milad is a criticism of the Companions of the Prophet رضي الله عنهم and the Imams of the Sunnah رحمہ اللہ. The Jew only meant that we would be happy on that day, and the noble Companion رضي الله عنه responded that indeed there was happiness and this verse was revealed on the day when two Eids, i.e., two joys, coincided. But why did Umar رضي الله عنه not specifically designate that day as Eid Takmeel ad-Deen (Eid of the Completion of Religion)? He could have declared every Friday as Eid Takmeel ad-Deen, or named the day of Arafah as Eid Takmeel ad-Deen, or at least whenever Friday and the day of Arafah coincided, he could have named that day Eid Takmeel ad-Deen. 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 something that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم did not do; they did not have such a joy that was not included in the teachings of Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Using this incident to argue for Eid Milad is like the question of wheat and the answer of chaff.
Moreover, it is surprising that those who do not even accept Friday in villages, how can they correctly argue for Eid Milad by calling Friday an Eid? Meaning, Friday is Eid, but only for city dwellers; for villagers, it is just an ordinary day. On that day, they will still perform the Zuhr prayer, or could it mean that Friday is not Eid at all, even for city dwellers Friday is just a name for fulfilling an obligation, otherwise they would not call it precautionary Zuhr. Then Eid Milad is borrowed from the Shias; think carefully, is it not that the Shia understanding of religion has surpassed the Companions رضي الله عنهم, the Tabi‘in رحمہ اللہ, and the Imams of Hadith رحمہ اللہ?
كچه نه سمجهے خدا كرے كوئي !
