Fatwa by: Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him)
Question:
What is the ruling on celebrating the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi)?
Answer:
There is no basis for celebrating the Prophet's birthday in the purified Shariah; rather, it is purely an innovation (bid'ah). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever introduces something new into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it, it will be rejected."
[Agreed upon (Muttafaq Alayh)]
He also said:
"Whoever performs an action that is not in accordance with our affair (Shariah), it will be rejected."
[Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan Ibn Majah, and Musnad Ahmad 146/2]
It is well-established that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) neither celebrated his birthday during his blessed life nor commanded others to do so. Similarly, the Rightly Guided Caliphs and all the Companions (Sahabah) did not observe this occasion, even though they were the most knowledgeable of the Sunnah, the most loving of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the most diligent in following Islamic law.
This clearly indicates that celebrating the Prophet's birthday has no connection with the Shariah of Muhammad (peace be upon him). We declare before Allah Almighty and all Muslims that had the Prophet (peace be upon him) practiced it, commanded it, or had even his Companions observed it, we would have been the first to perform it and would have invited others to do so. This is because, by the grace of Allah, we are more eager than anyone else to follow the Sunnah and to uphold the reverence of the commands and prohibitions of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
We pray to Allah, the Lord of Glory, to keep us and all our Muslim brothers steadfast in His religion and to protect us from opposing His pure Shariah.
(Ameen)
Question:
What is the ruling on celebrating the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi)?
Answer:
There is no basis for celebrating the Prophet's birthday in the purified Shariah; rather, it is purely an innovation (bid'ah). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever introduces something new into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it, it will be rejected."
[Agreed upon (Muttafaq Alayh)]
He also said:
"Whoever performs an action that is not in accordance with our affair (Shariah), it will be rejected."
[Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan Ibn Majah, and Musnad Ahmad 146/2]
It is well-established that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) neither celebrated his birthday during his blessed life nor commanded others to do so. Similarly, the Rightly Guided Caliphs and all the Companions (Sahabah) did not observe this occasion, even though they were the most knowledgeable of the Sunnah, the most loving of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the most diligent in following Islamic law.
This clearly indicates that celebrating the Prophet's birthday has no connection with the Shariah of Muhammad (peace be upon him). We declare before Allah Almighty and all Muslims that had the Prophet (peace be upon him) practiced it, commanded it, or had even his Companions observed it, we would have been the first to perform it and would have invited others to do so. This is because, by the grace of Allah, we are more eager than anyone else to follow the Sunnah and to uphold the reverence of the commands and prohibitions of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
We pray to Allah, the Lord of Glory, to keep us and all our Muslim brothers steadfast in His religion and to protect us from opposing His pure Shariah.
(Ameen)