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PROPHET MOHAMMAD (P.B.U.H.): A BLESSING TO THE WORLDS

By: M.S.Tajar, Ph.D.
"We sent You (O' Mohammad!) as a Blessing to the Worlds!" (Holy Qur'an: 21:107)
***
The Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) was born in the Holy City of Makkah, in the year
53 before Hijra (B.H.) or 570 A.D.
Some historians say that he was born on the 12
th
day of the month of Rabi-ul Awwal,
while others believe that it was on the 17
th
day of that month.
But, to Allah (S.W.T.) and the true believers, its not the "day" rather the "man" who
is the center of attention. That's why in some Muslim countries, the celebrations of the birth
of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) goes on for weeks and even months, in different
localitie. (e.g. Pakistan, Egypt, North Africa, etc.)
Is Such a Celebration a Bid-ah?
Some people, especially those who dont know much about Islam think that it is a
Bid-ah (a new thing) and therefore prohibited or Haram, to celebrate the birthday of the
Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) or anybody else for that matter. Their argument is that it
was not celebrated by the Prophet himself or by any one of his companions or Sahabah
(R.A.) after him.
What is Bid-ah?
First, let us see what is a Bid-ah? Well, Bid-ah is an Arabic term which literally means "new"
and when it is used in religion (Fiqah or the Islamic Jurisprudence) it means "adding to the
tenets or laws of Islam or reducing from, or changing them." Otherwise, if anything "new",
just because it is new, were Bid-ah, then the human society could not move on, and
everything would be "frozen" forever. Take note of some of the changes that have taken
place, in relation to the Islamic practices, since the death of the Prophet Mohammad
(P.B.U.H.) and no knowledgable Muslim scholar has considered them to be Haram. For
Example:
1. Compilation of the Holy Qur'an in its present book-form, by the third Khalifah
Othman (R.A.) and destroying (=burning!) several other copies, just to unify the
Muslim Ummah with a standardized copy, which even today is called "Rasm
Othmani" (Othman's version).
This style (i.e. in book bound form) did not exist during the time of the Prophet
Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) and the two Khalifahs before Othman (R.A.) namely Khalifah
Abu Bakr and Khalifah Omar (R.A.). Otherwise, there would be no need for the third
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Khalifah to compile his own version, and to destroy other versions, compiled by the
other Sahabah, e.g. Imam Ali (A.S.), Abdullah Mas-ud (R.A.) etc.
Yet, no knowledgeable Muslim scholar has ever called this "new" development, some 20
years after the death of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) a Bid-ah or bad; rather all Muslims
consider it a noble service to Islam, by the Khalifah Uthman (R.A.).
Even adding those "Arabic Numerals" to the Qur'anic verses, which we do today, or
again putting a "number" over each Surah (=Chapter), coloring the pages, printing the Holy
Qur'an, using loudspeakers in reciting it, or radio, TV, internet, etc. are all "New"
developments, that did not exist during the time of the Holy Prophet, and yet they are not
considered as "Bid-ah in Islam".
2. Many Holy Places, including the Ka-bah itself, has been enlarged many times, (= 13
times since the time of Prophet Adam A.S.)and many corridors with air-cons and
roofs have been added to help reduce the heat and other difficulties of the pilgrims
in performing their Hajj.
(Also architectural designs of the Mosques and their minarets are all different from what
used to exist during the time of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and his Sahabah. Are these all
Bid-ah and Haram?).
During the time of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) those places were smaller and narrower
without shades or air-cons, etc. Yet no knowledgeable Muslim has criticized those "new"
developments; because those things do not add anything to the rituals of Hajj, nor do they
reduce anything from them, but rather they just facilitate their performance.
3. Using loudspeakers in Azan and prayers or utilizing radio and TV to broadcast them
and even tall "Mimbars" in a way that Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) had not used,
nor had he ever seen during his lifetime.
All these and many more examples, show us, very clearly, that for something to be "Halal"
or permitted in Islam, it is not necessary that it should have been practiced by the Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) himself (not the Sahabah, because, the true Sahabah (R.A.,) could never do
anything intentionally against the teachings of the Prophet, or the Holy Qur'an, so their
actions are actually based on the Prophet's deeds or words i.e. Hadith).
What is the Rule?
Then what is the rule? How could we know whether something is Bid-ah or not?
Well, there is not enough time and space for a detailed explanation, but we can briefly say
that: Anything added to the religion or omitted from it, is Bid-ah; but anything which is not
explicitly ordered or prohibited, is just left to the Muslims and their Ulama (religious
authorities) to decide whether they want to practice it or not, as long as they will not
declare it as part of the religion.
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(Note: Khalifah Omar added "As-salat Khayrum minan naum" to Azan, and also "Tarawih
Prayer" and he even called it an "excellent Bid-ah"! So, it means that, according to Khalifah
Omar, some Bid-ah is allowed, and practiced, too!).
As we all know, in Islam there are five possibilities for any act: (1) Wajib (Obligatory);
(2) Haram (Prohibited); (3) Mustahabb or Sunnah (Good to do but not obligatory); (4)
Makrouh (not advisable but not prohibited or sinful either); (5) Mubah (no rule has been
mentioned, and it's up to the individual believer to do or not to do).
Let's see in which category the celebration of the birth of Prophet Mohammad
(P.B.U.H.) is included. Is it Wajib (Obligatory)? No, because there is no order to celebrate. Is
it Haram (Prohibited)? Again no, because there is no Hadith or Ayah on that. Is it Makruh
(not advisable)? Why should remembering the "Blessings of Allah" (S.W.T.) (Qur'an:21107)
and being thankful and happy about it, be not advisable? Then it can either be Mustahab
(good to do, but not obligatory) or just Mubah (no rule has been mentioned, and it's up to
those who love the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and are happy about his birth, to celebrate it with joy
and happiness).
It May Be Mustahabb.
We believe that it is Mustahabb, for the following reasons:
1) Allah (S.W.T.) has said in the Holy Qur'an: "Truly Allah and His angels continue to
send their blessings on the Prophet. O, you who believe! Send your blessings on him
and greet him with a "special greeting!" (Holy Qur'an: 33:56)
In fact, remembering and blessing the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) and his family
becomes fundamental, if someone is to perform a correct and acceptable daily prayer or
Salat. A Muslim must always pray this way in his/her daily salats:
"Allahum-ma sal-li alaa Mohammad-in wa Aali Mohammad, kama sallaita alaa
Ibrahim wa aali Ibrahim" (O' Allah bless Thee Mohammad and Aali Mohammad (his
household) as Thou Hath blessed Ibrahim and his family. (Every believer in Islam has to
recite this prayer several times daily in his Salat (=Tashah-hud), otherwise, he has not
prayed to Allah (S.W.T.) at all).
2) "Thank me, and your parents!"Says Allah (See the Holy Qur'an 32:14)
Now, if remembering Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) is commanded by Allah
(S.W.T.) in the Holy Quran, and it is made part of the Azan and Salat, several times every
day, why should it be a Bid-ah to celebrate his birth and thank Allah (S.W.T.) for sending
Prophet Mohammad (P.BU.H.) as a blessing to the worlds, and to remember and bless the
Prophet and to congratulate each other for it?
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3) In fact, there are two Qur'anic verses, about the two Holy Prophets in which Allah
(S.W.T.) says: "Salam on them! On the day of their "Birth"!" (See Holy Qur'an,
Chapter 19, verses 14 and 33).
A) First ayah is about the Holy Prophet Yahya (=John the Baptist) where Allah (S.W.T.)
quotes him saying:
"And Salam upon him, on the day of his birth/"Birthday"!
B) The second ayah is about Prophet Isa (=Jesus) where again Allah (S.W.T.) repeats the
same greeting, by saying: "And Salam upon me, on the day of my birth/birthday!"
And the Muslims are ordered to recite the Holy Qur'an as often as they could, which
includes those greetings.
Celebrating of birth is a Sunnah.
Although Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) did not celebrate his own birthday, yet we
can see him celebrating the birthday of his grandsons, Imam Al-Hasan and Imam Al-Hosain
(A.S.). When those two Holy Imams were born to Imam Ali (A.S.) and Fatimah Zahra(A.S.),
the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) held an "Aqiqah" celebration. He invited some
people to the feast; he fed them and he thanked Allah (S.W.T.) for the blessings, and then
he cut some of their hair and he gave equivalent to the weight of their hair in gold or silver
to the poor! (See "Sahih Bukhari" chapter on "Aqiqah")
As you can see, the celebration of the birthday and sharing your joys with others is
not a Bid-ah, but rather a Sunnah!
But some may say: Yes, it is the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) at
the birth of a child, but not every year! The answer is that once it was established that the
celebration of ones birthday is not a Bid-ah, but rather a Sunnah, then repeating a Sunnah
and thanking Allah (S.W.T.) on every occasion, is always good. Only Satan (or his friends)
hates our repeated thanksgiving to Allah (S.W.T.). Furthermore, there is no prohibition of
celebrating birthday every year on that day (so it is Mubah or its up to you). But as far as
the thanksgivings to Allah (S.W.T.) or feeding your Muslim brothers are concerned, the more
you can afford the better! And that is an Ijma or the consent of all Muslims.
How About Modern Birthday Celebrations?
As far as the modern birthday celebrations are concerned, there is nothing in the
Holy Quran or the Hadith to prevent us from doing so; and it is absolutely our own choice
in other words it is just Mubah.
As for the extravagant expenses in some birthday parties or drinking/eating Haram
foods or other anti-Islamic activities, those are bad and prohibited things per se, and have
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nothing to do with the birthday celebration. Even without the celebration of ones birthday,
a Haram Food or a Haram act is prohibited, but not the birthday itself!
To conclude, we can say that: When the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) was born,
Allah (S.W.T.) and His Angels were happy, and they blessed him and still continue blessing
him every minute. (See Holy Quran: 33:56). The believers are also happy, because according
to Allah (S.W.T.) the Holy Prophet is the blessing to the worlds. But Satan and his followers
are unhappy.
Now, those who are happy will show their happiness by thanking Allah (S.W.T.) and
celebrating this great event; as for Satan and his followers, they are unhappy and even
angry, and thus they have nothing to thank for, or to celebrate.
It is now up to us to join Allah (S.W.T.) and His Angels in joy and to bless the Holy
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) or to do otherwise.
May Allah (S.W.T.) help us make the right choice. Inshallah!