After reading the comments made by Bro. Mukhtar regarding the celebrations of Meelad-un-Nabi (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam), I thought it appropriate that the following points be raised. Firstly, he says that, "...the way the celebrations are held nowadays are not in line with Islamic teachings or Islamic values". A noteworthy point here lies in his words "the way the celebrations are held nowadays". This clearly means that Bro. Mukhtar is not against the actual celebration but just the way it is celebrated nowadays, otherwise, he would not have phrased his comments as mentioned. However, later on in his letter, he classifies the whole notion of celebrating as an innovation, hence, a clear cut contradiction is found in his words.
I have been attending Meelad gatherings for the past 15 years of my life and I can say with hand on heart that I have not seen any single aspect of this gathering that contravenes any Islamic teaching or value. If Bro. Mukhtar believes that recital of the Qur'an, the ahadith, seerah and eulogising the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) are contra to the teachings of Islam, then he may as well label the whole of the Muslim ummah as innovators since the above-mentioned acts have occurred within Muslims from the time of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) to the present day. As for the processions, does not the Qur'an say, "But the Bounty of thy Lord rehearse and proclaim!" (93:11)? If the Qur'an or ahadith have identified `processions' as being an un-Islamic method of rehearsing and proclaiming, then I will be the first person to oppose them but, if they have not, and surely they have not, then when did Allah give authority to the 21st century Muslim to decide what is and what isn't "rehearsing and proclaiming"? Tell me with all honesty, is a procession not a way of rehearsing and proclaiming? Of course it is.
Bro. Mukhtar has continued his assault and has raised the age old, "Did the Prophet ever do this?" question. My answer : Yes he did. Imam Muslim narrates a hadith in his sahih that when our dear Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) was asked by his blessed sahaba why he fasted every Monday, the Glorious Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) replied, "This is the day on which I was born and the day on which revelation began". Bro. Mukhtar has opposed the commemoration of Meelad-un-Nabi that happens once a year in Rabi'-ul-Awwal yet he has chosen to ignore the hadith that shows that our dear Noble Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) commemorated Meelad-un-Nabi 52 times every year. Subhan Allah!
Does the Qur'an show reverance to the days on which Prophet's are born? The very day (13th June) on which my opinions about Meelad-un-Nabi were published in The News, a verse from Surah Maryam (21:33) was also printed side-by-side with my article, Masha Allah, the Qudrat of my Lord! This verse reads, "So Peace is on me the day I was born the day that I die and the Day that I shall be raised up to life (again)". So, yes dear Bro. Mukhtar, the Qur'an does show that days not just when Prophet's are born, but when they die and even when they are raised up again, are especially blessed. Will you still continue to deny that the day on which our Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) was born holds no blessing whilst the days when the Prophet's of Bani Isra'il were born are blessed? Peculiar indeed.
Bro. Mukhtar has asked, "Did the Prophet celebrate birthdays of his wives, his children or his companions?" My answer : To my knowledge, no, he didn't. Bro. Mukhtar is implying that because the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) didn't celebrate birthdays of his loved ones, we shouldn't celebrate the birthday of the Prophet. So, Bro. Mukhtar, this, according to your own criteria, means that any Muslim(ah) who has ever celebrated the birthday of their spouse, their children and their friends is an innovator, hence, the fuel of the hell-fire. Does this not sound absolutely absurd? It does to me and surely it sounds just as foolish to any other Muslim with any common sense. "Since the Prophet didn't celebrate the birthday of his children, Oh Muslims! Neither should you". It's laughable. From the above, I would like to inform you (though you may already have realised) that your definition of what does and what doesn't constitute an innovation in religion is wrong. If the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) has not performed a particular act, this does not automatically make it an innovation as the above example has shown.
Did the companions commemorate the birth of Allah's Darling Messenger? Yes, they did. Shaikh Abul-Khattab Maghribi notes in his book `Kitabut tanweer fi mawlid basheerin nazeer' (page 25) that: "Abdullah ibn Abbas narrates that he was once discussing with other sahaba the events of the Holy Prophet's birth. Listeners were enhanced by what they heard and they thanked Allah and sent salutations upon the Prophet. At this time, the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) witnessed their gathering and said to them, "My intercession for you is accepted"."
Finally, Bro. Mukhtar has said, "Rest assured that as a Muslim my heart is filled with love and respect for the Prophet". As you know, one only clarifies a matter when a doubt is present. If there is no doubt, then clarification is not needed. Why did Bro. Mukhtar find it necessary to highlight this point? My answer : It is because as soon as someone opposes the blessed celebration of Meelad-un-Nabi, then a true Muslim realises that the opponent is devoid in love for the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam). This final point has allowed me to end on a useful note. Those who protect the sanctity of the Meelad are automatically known to be lovers of the Prophet and those who oppose it, they themselves (as Bro. Mukhtar has done) feel the need to announce their love, though love it certainly isn't.
Allah knows best.
Muhammad Aqdas
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