What is the Sharee'ah ruling on praising the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam? Some people— while praising the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam— celebrate by chanting that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, removes worry and distress. What is the ruling on holding a festival for the Prophet's birthday?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds.  I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It is permissible to praise the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, through poetry, prose, in speeches and religious lessons, provided that the praise does not involve anything that is prohibited by the Sharee'ah (Islamic law), for example, ascribing a divine quality to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam— as mentioned in the question. That is the reason why the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbade Muslims to praise him in an exaggerated way, like the Christians did when they praised ‘Eesaa (Jesus) saying that he is a god.

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that he [Muhammad] is the slave of Allaah The Almighty. He ordered his Sahaabah (Companions) to call him “Abdullaah wa Rasooluh”, meaning, the Slave and Messenger of Allaah The Almighty. [Al-Bukhari]

Ibn Taymiyyah indicated that anyone who thinks that Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or any prophet shares the divinity and lordship of Allaah The Almighty is closer to the Christians than the Muslims. Ar-Rubayyi‘ bint Mu‘awwith said that when the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, heard some girls saying that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,  knows what will happen in the future, he forbade them from saying so. [Al-Bukhari]

Commenting on this Hadeeth, Ibn Taymiyyah said that it indicates that a person must not believe that anyone— whether a prophet, a Waliyy (close servant to Allaah The Almighty), a leader or a prominent scholar, or a martyr— knows the Unseen. One must not praise— whether in poetry or speeches— the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, by saying that he knows the Unseen. Accordingly, what poets do when they praise the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, prophets, Waliyys (close servants to Allaah The Almighty), or scholars in any exaggerated way, has exceeded the limits set by the Sharee'ah. This is understood from the words of Ibn Taymiyyah .

Consequently, praising the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is permissible, provided that it does not involve anything that has been prohibited by the Sharee'ah. Ar-Ruhaybaani said that poetry is permissible, if it involves wisdom, good manners, advice, proverbs, or praise for the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or for people, provided that this praise does not involve making false statements. It is also permissible to use the Arabic language that is used in poetry to support an interpretation of the Quran and Hadeeths. This is understood from the words of Ar-Ruhaybaani .

Allaah Knows best.