Origin of Milad an-Nabi (’alayhis salam)
(For those that say the current traditions Mawlid was invented centuries after the passing away from this world of the Holy Prophet (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam), should look at this piece, especially the dates)
The beginning of the celebration of the Meelad Shareef in its present form lies with the ruler of Irbil, Sultan Muzaffar whose full name is Abu Said Kukabri Ibn Zain al-Din Ali Ibn Baktagin, who is counted among the great Sultans and generous leaders. He was responsible for many other noble works as well. Among the many monuments set up by him was the Jami Muzaffari, which he had constructed near Mount Tasiyun.
Ibn Kathir (radi Allahu anhu) writes about Sultan Muzaffar as follows: “Sultan Muzaffar used to arrange the celebration of the Meelad Shareef with due honour, glory, dignity and grandeur. In this connection, he used to organise a magnificent festival. He was a pure-hearted, brave and wise Alim and a just ruler. May Allah shower His Mercy on him and grant him an exalted status. Sheikh Abu al-Khattab Ibn Dhiyah also wrote a book for him on the Meelad Shareef entitled ‘al-Tanwir fi Mawlid al-Bashir al-Nadhir’ (Enlightenment on the Birthday of the Bearer of Good News, the Warner). For this book Sultan Muzaffar awarded him a gift of one thousand dinars. Sultan Muzaffar remained the ruler until his death, which occurred in 630 A.H. in the city of ‘Akka when he had the Europeans under siege. In short he was a man of piety and noble disposition”.
Sibt Ibn al-Jauzi (radi Allahu anhu) wrote in “Mir’at al-Zaman” that one participant in the Meelad Shareef organised by Sultan Muzaffar states that on the royal table-spread were laid out five hundred prepared goats, ten thousand chickens, one hundred thousand earthen tumblers and thirty thousand baskets of sweet fruits. He further writes that eminent pious Ulama and illustrious Sufis used to attend the Meelad Shareef ceremony held by the Sultan, who used to honour them with robes of distinction and royal favour. For the Sufis there used to be a Mahfil-e-Sama from Zuhr until Fajr, in which the Sultan himself used to participate and derive ecstasy there-from together with the Sufis. Every year his expenditure on the Meelad Shareef amounted to three hundred thousand dinars. For those coming from outside (the city) he had a special guest house commissioned, where people from all walks of life used to come from different places and without any discrimination of status. The expenditure of that guest house used to be one hundred thousand dinars annually.
Similarly, he used to spend two hundred thousand dinars annually to ransom Muslim prisoners-of-war from the Europeans. Also for the maintenance of the two Harams and for providing water along the routes in Hijaz (for pilgrims), he used to spend three thousand dinars annually. These are in addition to the Sadaqat and charity that used to be given secretly. His wife, Rabi’ah Khatoon Bint Ayyub, the sister of Sultan Nasir Salahuddin narrates that her husband used to wear a garment (Qamis) of coarse cotton costing no more than five dirhams. She says that she once rebuked him for this, upon which he replied that his wearing a five-dirham garment and spending the rest of the money in charity is far better than wearing a costly garment and giving a poor or indigent person mere good wishes.
The first book on Milad Sharif was written by Ibn Khallikan. He wrote in the biographical sketch of Hafiz Abu al-Khattab Ibn Dihyah: “He was one of the pious Ulema and famous scholars. He travelled from Morocco to Syria and Iraq. In the year 654 A.H. he passed through the area of Irbil, where he saw that its ruler, the eminent Sultan Muzaffar al-Din Ibn Zainal-Din arranged for celebrating the Birthday of the Prophet. So he wrote the book ‘Kitab al-Tanwir fi Mawlid al-Bashir al-Nadhir’ for the Sultan and himself read it out to him. I myself heard the book read out in six sittings at the Sultan’s place in 625 A.H.”
amal said,
December 9, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
I have no doubt that people who celebrate the ‘mawlid’ have nothing but good intentions , i was once told that a khaleef invented the mawlid , so we would have a special day of the year to remember the phrophet swa , why did you say as?
Sher-e-Ghousia said,
December 9, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
Assalamu alaikum,
People see it as a time to read the Qur’an, and remember the life, teachings, and example of the Prophet Muhammad. Actually, the birth of the Holy Prophet (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam) should be remembered/celebrated every day, every minute.
Didn’t the Holy Prophet (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam) also remember his blessed birth by fasting on the day he was born? So if the Prophet (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam) himself remembered and honoured his own birth, doesn’t this become a Sunnah? Therefore we should follow it because it’s a tradition of the Holy Prophet (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam).
Sa`d Ibn Abi Waqqaas said that they were keen on telling their children the stories of the Prophet’s (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam) battles just as they were keen on teaching them the Qur’an. Therefore, they used to remind their children of what happened during the Prophet’s (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam) lifetime so they did not need to hold such celebrations. However, the following generations began to forget such a glorious history and its significance.
So such celebrations were held as a means of reviving great events and the values that we can learn from them.
Try this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/miladunnabi.shtml
Actually, celebrating the Prophet’s (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam) birthday means celebrating the birth of Islam. Such an occasion is meant to remind people of how the Prophet (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam) lived. Allah Almighty says: “Verily in the Messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the last Day, and remembereth Allah much.” (Al-Ahzab: 21).
Finally, my questions to you.
Do you think that if there were no such gatherings, would the non-practicing Muslims know as much about the Holy Prophet (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam)?
And, have you ever seen a Masjid (in a non-Muslim country) that has a capacity of 4,000, be completely full during Fjar Salah at 6 am, that small side rooms and store rooms had to be used to fit everyone in? And this happens regularly. What’s wrong with remembering/celebrateting the Prophet (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam), as long as it’s within Shariah (i.e. men and women are separate, etiquettes of the Masjid are respect, etc)?
Rizan said,
March 24, 2008 @ 9:12 am
According to my knowledge of Hadeeths.
There are three things:
1) Hallal with crystal clearity
2) Haraam with crystal clearity
3) In between with no clearity.
I am afraid of 2nd and 3rd.
I stick with the 1st one.. in which no debates among scholars.
Since Different Ulamahs have different openion about the mawlid based on thier knowledge.. I place it in the 3rd level.
May Allah Direct all of us in correc path. and Forgive us for our acts incase if they are belonging to the 3rd Level.
I wish every one of us be stick with the 1) st one be in crystal clearity that we are not doing anything wrong.
Muhammed Rizan, from Sri Lanka.
Sher-e-Ghousia said,
March 24, 2008 @ 3:11 pm
As’salamu ‘alaykum,
May Allah reward you for your input.
Firstly, the basis of Haram and Hallal that you have put down are not what the Scholars use. They use the method, “if something is not prohibited/proved Haram from the authentic sources, then it is acceptable.”
So my question to you is, where does it say that celebrating the birth of the Beloved Nabi (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam) is NOT allowed?
Secondly, there are many evidences for Mawlid and the majority of Scholars and Muslim states mark the birth of the Beloved Nabi (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam). If the majority accept Mawlid, then why are you unsure?
If Abu Lahab (a non Muslim) is rewarded for marking the birth of the Beloved Nabi (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam), then what would be the reward of a Muslim who celebrates the birth of the Beloved Nabi (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam) with the right intention?
Milad/Mawlid Mubarak to you!
asif nizam khan lucknow said,
March 27, 2008 @ 7:25 am
i always celebrate malid of SAW TILL Qayamat even i celebrate mawlid in Hashr inshallahh may ALLAH GIVE MIND TO WAHABIS ,DEOBANDISAND KHARAJIS.IN MY OPINION WHO DON’T CELEBRATE MAWLID IS NAJDIOR MUNAFIQ
Milad/Mawlid Mubarak to you!
Sher-e-Ghousia said,
March 27, 2008 @ 11:39 am
As’salamu ‘alaykum,
May Allah Ta’ala reward you.
May we all have the ability to increase our love for the Beloved Nabi (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam). Ameen.
Khayr Mubarak!
Farooq said,
March 28, 2008 @ 5:22 am
AOA
Apart from Milad’s legitimaty, please be sure that shatan is very happy to provide Muslim a useless topic to waste their time. Milad is one of the best day for special prayer ( sorry, but for more then 70% Muslims) after Shabe Qadr, Shabe Mairage and Muharram where we Muslim think to proof ourself as a true Muslim. Brothers, I urge everyone to destroy shatan’s plan to involve Muslims in other things. As per my calculation, you need 3 hours to complete Farz and Sunnah each day. Each Muslim need 5 complete prayers and Tahajjud, reading one Quran chapter, 17 different surrah with various countings, many short ayah counting before qualifying for practicing any Bidah.
Wassalam
Sher-e-Ghousia said,
March 28, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
Walaykum assalam,
Brother you are mistaken.
The birth of the Beloved Nabi (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam) is not a “useless topic”. He (Sall’Allahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wa’alihi Wa’sallam) is the greatest gift to the Universe by Allah Ta’ala. So how can you call such a gift by Allah Ta’ala “a usless topic” and “waste of time”?
imran attari said,
June 8, 2008 @ 5:12 am
ASSALAM O ALAIKUM:
brothers “sher-e-ghosia” you are doing good job.I also argue with your thinking.
you know? “THE BIGGEST MILAD CERMONY IS AT KARACHI (PK) IN FAIZAN-E-MADINAH”.would you like to watch please download from the following link”" http://dawateislami.net/XP/Services/Speeches/Detail.aspx?languageId=ur&speechId=691&speechType=1 ”
for peoples who asks questions or give comments to you please also refer to them the site “www.dawateislami.net” this will be a certain type of dawat of neiki & also i think this will also be helpful to them.
shukria.
AALAH HAFIZ