Question:

Is it permissible to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad ? If yes, I would like to have some evidence.

Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad is an innovation in Islam. There is no evidence for it in the Islamic Shar'iah. The Faatimis (the Fatimides) were the first to begin this innovation. This, in fact, does not give evidence of the love of the Prophet Muhammad . Instead of this, a person should follow what the Prophet Muhammad commands, believe in what he reports, avoid forbidden activities and should worship Allah as He and His Prophet Muhammad have prescribed. These acts constitute genuine pieces of evidences of one's love to the Prophet Muhammad . In this regard, Allah Says (what means): “Say (O Muhammad to mankind), If you (really) love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Quran 3:31]

On the other hand, celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad or the occasion of a new Hijri year or celebrations other than the two Eeds of al-Fitr and al-Adhha (Eeds of breaking fast and sacrifice) is among the invented celebrations and feasts. It is proven from the Prophet Muhammad that he said: "Whoever introduces tries to introduce into this faith of ours (Islam) something which is not a part of it, it is rejected and that person is condemned."

Moreover, celebrating the birthday of the Prophet is an innovation. The evidence proving it to be forbidden is that there is no evidence which proves that it is permissible; the principle in acts of worship is that they are forbidden. It is the one who says that something is permitted who is required to provide evidence. Had the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and those who followed them exactly in faith differed about this issue, it would undoubtedly have been reported to us in details.

Finally, a Muslim should know that the evidence is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet and not the statement of any person. The scholars who held the view that it is permissible to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet applied Ijtihaad (a juristic opinion on matters which are not specified in the Quran or the Sunnah) and they will be rewarded for it even if they were wrong. Therefore, we do not say that whoever said so is an innovator, but we should not follow him in things on which he was wrong.

There is no doubt that the scholars who held the view that it is permissible to celebrate his birthday, did not mean to celebrate it in a manner that is celebrated today, which may include many evil things, like the existence of drums, Duff and other musical instruments and poetry which involves associating partners to Allah, like seeking the help of the Prophet . In addition to this, you will find that there is forbidden mixing between the two sexes, and other evil acts which are known to everyone.

Allah knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb