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Dear Editor,
I was appalled to read in your esteemed newspaper of Friday 17th May about the comments made by Lord Nazeer Ahmad of Rotherham regarding the processions that occur during the month of Rabi'-ul-Awwal. Prior to this, I thought of Lord Ahmad as being a spokesman for the Muslims of Britain and a role model for their youth. However, since he compared the celebration of Meelad-un-Nabi (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) to Hindu celebrations, I feel nothing but anger.

I'm not 100% sure, but I have never heard of the Hindus holding processions to celebrate the birthday of Prophet's in their religion. Do they? In Hinduism, there is no concept of Prophethood. If they don't have Prophet's, then where did Lord Ahmad derive the similarity? We celebrate our Prophet's birthday via a procession and they celebrate their Gods in their own ways.

Processions to commemorate the birthday of Allah's greatest creation, our dear Prophet (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) have been taking place in Britain for decades. They have, as far as I am aware, never caused any kind of friction between anyone. Infact, as those who attend these processions will know, they attract non-Muslim's to stand and watch as the `peaceful' procession passes by. So why exactly has Lord Ahmad reduced himself to speaking such rubbish?

It was only last night that I watched Question Time on BBC1 where the panel and audience together spent a lot of time emphasising the need for ethnic minorities and in particular, the Muslims, to integrate into society. Does Lord Ahmad see the Meelad-un-Nabi procession as an obstacle to this much-needed integration? If we were to suddenly stop these processions going ahead and stay at home like Lord Ahmad would like, would this not give the white British population another reason to attack the Muslim community? Indeed it would.

As far as imitating other religions goes. If I were to ask Lord Ahmad to stop dressing in a suit with a shirt and tie because this is imitating the Christians, what would be his reply? If I were to say to him that trimming his beard is an imitation of the kuffar, what might his response be? I'm sure he'd be offended or he might even laugh it off thinking that I'm joking. Either way, my plea to Lord Ahmad would not be taken seriously at all (even though it is well known that the necktie symbolises the Christian cross and shortening the beard, according to ahadith, is imitation of the kuffar). So, why then is Lord Ahmad adamant of criticising the age-old practice of Meelad-un-Nabi when he himself has left plenty of room for him to be criticised on the very same grounds?

Tell me Lord Ahmad, which of the scholars have endorsed the trimming of the beard and the wearing of a tie? I can, if you wish, name scores of scholars who have authorised the celebration of Meelad-un-Nabi.

In Islam, actions are dependent upon one's intentions. If Muslims celebrate the birthday of the Glorious Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) in order to copy the Hindus, then they are sinners. If, however, they celebrate this occasion because of their immense love for Allah's Messenger, then there is nothing at all wrong with this.

The Shaikh of his time, Hafiz-e-Hadith, Shaikh-ul-Islam Imam ibn Hajar Asqalani proved the validity of celebrating Meelad-un-Nabi from the sunnah of Allah's darling Messenger (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam). When the Prophet (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) arrived in Madinah, he found that the Jews fasted on the day of Ashura. When asked why, the Jews said that it was on this day (10th Muharram) that Hazrat Musa (`alaihis salaam) and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the Pharaoh was drowned in its waters. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy Prophet (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) said, "We are more closely related to Musa (`alaihis salaam) than you" and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of Ashura. From this hadith of Abu Dawud, Shaikh ibn Hajar deduced that the celebration of Meelad-un-Nabi (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) is indeed permissible. If copying the kuffar is wrong in all instances, then why did the Prophet of Islam (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) order the sahaba to imitate the Jews? The only condition is that the Muslims should not imitate exactly. Hence, the Prophet (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) ordered two days of fasting instead of one, as the Jews only fasted on the 10th. In the very same way, if the Hindus do celebrate, our celebrations are completely different as you already know, but God knows why, you still made it a point of controversy.

Therefore, Lord Ahmad, it is proven that Muslims can perform acts that are similar to the kuffar, providing the intention is right and a distinction can be made between the acts of Muslims and the acts of the kuffar.

Has Lord Ahmad read the Qur'an? Did he ever get time to read chapter 10 verse 59? The Almighty says: Say: "In the Bounty of Allah and in His Mercy in that let them rejoice". Does Lord Ahmad not see signs of rejoicing at the processions of Meelad-un-Nabi? I certainly do. If Allah has specified what is and what isn't under the heading of `rejoice', then I would be grateful if Lord Ahmad would enlighten me, because for me, rejoicing can be done in many different ways, one of which is organising a procession. So if Lord Ahmad can point out any divine criteria that prohibits processions as a method of rejoicing, then I really would like to see it. If he cannot and he certainly cannot, then I urge him to stop and think. If he doesn't want to partake in these joyous processions, then no one is forcing him but, do let others get on with it as they are fulfilling a Qur'anic order.

To conclude, as Lord Ahmad has himself decided that the Meelad-un-Nabi celebrations are not Islamic, then I would assume that he has come across the hadith of the Noble Prophet (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) which Imam Muslim has included in his sahih which reads thus: "He who inaugurates a good practice in Islam earns the reward of it, and of all who perform it after him, without diminishing their own rewards in the least". Therefore, our dear Master, intercessor of the day of Judgment (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) has told the ummah that all new practices in Islam are good unless they are prohibited in the Qur'an and sunnah. I ask again, can Lord Ahmad show me where the Qur'an or ahadith have prohibited holding processions? If he cannot and he definitely cannot, then from which Islamic source has he derived his ruling?

The majority of Muslims who reside in Britain are of the thought that celebrating and commemorating the birthday of the Holiest Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) is a not a permissible act, it is very rewardable. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, hafiz of one million ahadith has stated that the night of the Prophet's birth is better than the night of al-Qadr which is better than a thousand months. Imam Qastalani and Shaikh Abdul Haq Dehlwi have said the same in Mawahibul Ladunya and Masabatu bissunnah respectively. Therefore, I am totally confused as to why Lord Ahmad has put to scraps not just centuries but a whole millennium of scholarly thought and investigation.

I urge Lord Ahmad to retract his comments so that the Muslim community of Britain is saved from another controversy that will divide it even further apart. I think it would be appropriate if I ended by quoting the following hadith: Our dear Prophet, the coolness of our hearts and the source of happiness to our minds (sallallahu `alaihi wasallam) said "None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind."

Allah knows best.

Muhammad Aqdas