Preface – The Shari‘ah Status of Eid Milad al-Nabi ﷺ
This excerpt is taken from the book "Eid Milad al-Nabi ﷺ ki Shari Hukoomat" authored by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amrpuri.
❀ Faith and Following the Messenger ﷺ
The safety of faith lies only in following the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Otherwise, one falls into misguidance and strays from the straight path. The straight path is also called “Sabīl al-Mu’minīn”—the way of the Companions, the Tabi‘in, and the Imams of guidance. Just as they followed the Messenger ﷺ, we too must follow him in the same manner. This alone is the path of salvation, comfort, and safety.
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ...﴾ (النساء: 115)
“Whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows a way other than that of the believers—We shall leave him to what he has chosen and drive him into Hell. What an evil destination!”
Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Sa‘di (رحمه الله, d. 1376H) said:
“This verse indicates that whoever does not oppose the Messenger ﷺ and instead follows the way of the believers, sincerely seeking Allah’s pleasure, adhering to the Sunnah, and remaining with the community of Muslims—then even if sins occur from him due to human weakness, Allah will not abandon him to his soul or to Satan. Rather, He will protect him with His mercy and guard him from evil, just as He said regarding Yusuf (عليه السلام): ﴿كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَالْفَحْشَاءَ إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ﴾ —meaning, due to his sincerity, Allah protected him. Likewise, all sincere ones are protected as this verse indicates.”
(تفسير السعدي، ص 202)
Thus, the one who remains connected with the way of the Salaf and follows the Messenger ﷺ will succeed. The only authentic understanding of Qur’an and Sunnah is that upon which the scholars of Hadith have agreed.
❀ Sayings of the Salaf on Following the Path of Sunnah
✔ Imam al-Awza‘i (رحمه الله, d. 157H) said:
“Adhere to the way of the Salaf, even if people reject you. Beware of the opinions of men, even if beautified in speech, for truth will ultimately be made clear, and you will be upon the straight path.”
(شرف أصحاب الحديث: 6، الشريعة للآجري: 127، وسنده صحيح)
✔ Imam Abu al-Muzaffar al-Sam‘ani (رحمه الله, d. 489H) said:
“The hallmark of Ahl al-Sunnah is their following of the Salaf al-Salih, and their abandonment of every newly introduced innovation.”
(الحجة في بيان المحجة: 395/1)
✔ Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“There will be leaders after me who will not be guided by my guidance nor follow my Sunnah. In them will arise men whose hearts are the hearts of devils in human bodies.”
(صحيح مسلم: 1847)
Thus, protecting oneself from such people and their innovations is only possible through following the understanding of the Salaf. Allah made the faith of the Companions the standard for those who came after them. Whoever drinks from this pure spring will never be deprived.
❀ Love of the Messenger ﷺ
Claiming love for the Messenger ﷺ is not proven by introducing innovations into the religion. True love lies in following the path of the Companions, the Tabi‘in, and the Imams of Islam.
With the methodology of the Salaf in view, the question was raised: Can anyone’s birthday be celebrated as an Eid?
This matter was researched, documented, and clarified in light of the path of the Salaf, under the mercy of Allah.
We praise Allah for granting us the ability to complete this important work. We supplicate that Allah blesses this effort, rescues the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ from the traps of innovation, and guides them to the path of the Salaf. Ameen.
