Celebrating Mawlid al-Nabi
Transcript of the Friday Sermon delivered by Dr. Munawar Haque on January 9, 2015
This is the month of Rabi al-Awwal. It is the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Both, the birth and the death of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) are reported to have taken place during this month. Let me share some thoughts with you on the issue of celebrating or commemorating the Prophet’s birthday. I also wish to discuss some of his noble attributes that provide a model for us to follow.
There is always a debate in the Muslim community whether to celebrate the Prophet’s birthday or not. People are divided into two groups based on their understanding of bid’ah, i.e., innovation in matters of religion. One group condemns commemorating anything to do with the Prophet (SAW) as a bad innovation. Another group often sanctions all kinds of practices; some of them bordering on shirk, under the pretext of expression of love of the Prophet SAW).
It is best that we keep to the middle path. In the words of Imam Hasan Al-Basari (Rahimahullah), “The Religion of Allah stands midway between extreme rigidity and extreme veneration.” Rigidity implies being obsessed with the letter of the law to such an extent that one neglects the spirit. It is equally wrong to venerate or idolize the Prophet (SAW) in the manner that Christians idolize Jesus (peace be on him). We must shun both extremes.
We have room in Islam for expressing our genuine love and reverence toward the Messenger of Allah (SAW), and may commemorate events of his life as long as we stay clear of excesses. This can be done through writings, speeches, songs, documentaries, and other print and electronic media as long as this is done within the limits of the Shariah. We know from the Sirah that the Companions celebrated the Prophet’s arrival in Madinah with singing. We also know that `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA) commemorated the hijrah by synchronizing it with the starting of the Islamic Calendar. He even considered the option of using the Prophet’s date of birth or the Prophet’s first missionary call to Islam to be linked with the starting of the Islamic Calendar, but turned down these proposals for practical reasons.
Several scholars, both the past and the present have ruled that we cannot consider celebration of Prophet’s birthday as a bad innovation simply on the ground that it was not practiced in the early times. There is no harm in instituting new customs in areas other than the strict prescribed acts of worship, if there are benefits. Obvious benefits associated with celebration of Mawlid al-Nabi include inspiring new generations and educating people. So there is nothing wrong in commemorating the event of the Prophet’s birth to express our love for the Prophet (SAW), and as a sign of our commitment to him and his teachings.
I take this opportunity to remind myself and you about some of the noble attributes of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW)—attributes that we learn from the Qur’an and the Prophet’s Sirah. The uniqueness of Prophet (SAW) is that he was not only a great person in his own time, but he is great for all times, for all people of any race, color, nationality or geographical location. His example was good for the 7th-century Arabs and it is good also for the humanity living now at the beginning of this 21st century. He is an excellent example for rich and poor, for young and old, for rulers and ruled, for the intelligent as well as the common man. Allah sent him as His Prophet for all humanity. Allah says in Surat Saba,
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِلنَّاسِ
“And we have sent you to all people” (Saba, 34:28).
Some 1436 years after his physical departure from the world, the number of those who love him has increased by hundreds of millions. But not many are there to live according to his teachings. During his life time, the Prophet motivated a whole generation of people on the basis of the divine teachings and his noble character. However, against his teachings, the Muslim Ummah is divided on sectarian lines. Every sect wants to own him and claims that it is following his path.
Where is the sense of loyalty to him? What happened to his teachings that reminded people that they were one? If one suffers than the others feel the pain. On the contrary, those who swear by his name take pride in killing each other in his name. Various sects and parties of Muslims continue to kill each other. How do these people celebrate the Prophet when they cannot even overcome their petty sectarianism?
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) taught love, kindness and compassion to his people, and was seen to be the most loving, kind, and compassionate of all of them. The Quran mentions his kind and gentle behavior in these words:
لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ
A Messenger has come to you from among yourselves. Your suffering distresses him: he is deeply concerned for you and full of kindness and mercy towards the believers’ (al-Tawbah, 9:128).
Allah (SWT) called him ‘a mercy to the worlds.”
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ
“And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds” (al-Anbiya, 21:107).
He was merciful to his family, followers, friends, and even enemies. He was merciful to young and old, to humans and to animals. Those who persecuted him in Makkah and killed his relatives and his followers were forgiven by him. With the example of his personal life, the Prophet (SAW) encouraged a peaceful family life where love and compassion would dominate the mutual relationship between the spouses. Yet there are many Muslim women today who suffer from some kind of domestic violence. As the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), we must take stock of our actions and make sure that we work to build a model character within ourselves and our families.
The Prophet (SAW) stood up for the rights of the neglected and marginalized and showed the utmost respect to those ordinary men and women who used legitimate means to earn their livelihood in a manner sanctioned by the divine guidance. He was commissioned by the All Mighty to instill in humanity respect for character, sincerity, and brotherhood. He worked to establish a culture where human resources would not be exploited by the powerful to serve their tribal and political interests. To identify with the concept of oneness of humanity, he visualized a world where people would rise above their sectarian and racial differences.
He wanted the bloodshed in the name of religion and tribalism to come to an end. He wanted people to accept the differences they inherited. He promoted the idea of free will and free inquiry in determining one’s own course of life. He advocated pluralism and co-existence. His plea was simple. Every human being has the capacity to discover his humanity to create a better environment for each and every human being and to live a dignified life.
We should understand that his struggles and his teachings were not only meant to be marveled during public meetings and to be celebrated but to be lived in everyday life. The true respect to the Prophet (SAW) is only possible and meaningful when the principles that he stood for are lived by his followers. Otherwise, whatever we say and do will be nothing more than a ritual. The fact that the Prophet (SAW) was chosen by the Divine to communicate His message for the last time to humanity should remind us of our responsibility to humanity. Let us remember the Prophet (SAW) and celebrate his birthday by striving within ourselves to build a character based on his model, for Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an,
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الآَخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا
“The Messenger of God is an excellent model for those of you who put your hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Him often.” (Al-Ahzab, 33:21)
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was the beloved of God and an example among humans. May Allah (SWT) give us the tawfiq to follow his example; Allahumma Ameen.
أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ المُسْلِمينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين.
The Prophet (SAW) practiced what he preached. He followed and lived the Qur’an at every moment; in every detail of his life. His life was the reflection of Allah’s Words. In fact, when the Prophet’s wife ‘A’ishah (RA) was asked about his conduct, she replied, Kaana khuluquhul Qur’an “His character was the Qur’an.” Addressing His beloved Prophet, Allah says in Surat al-Qalam:
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
“And you are surely on an exalted standard of character” (al-Qalam, 68:4).
When we claim to love someone, we need to learn more about that person, and this is especially true about Prophet Muhammad (SAW). What does it mean? It means that you are willing to give up your desires to follow the example; to follow the way of the Prophet (SAW), which means preferring him over everyone and everything else. In fact, ayah 31 of Surat Aal Imran makes following the Prophet (SAW) a condition for loving Allah (SWT).
قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
Say, If you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; Allah is most forgiving, most merciful (Aal ‘Imran 3:31).
Let us invoke blessings upon the noblest and the greatest of all souls, ever to be born till the end of times, for Allah (SWT) says,
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
Indeed, Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe, invoke blessings on him and invoke peace upon him in a worthy manner” (al-Ahzab, 33:56).
اللهمّ صَلِّ على محمدٍ وعلى آلِ محمدٍ كما صلَّيْتَ على إبراهيمَ وعلى آل إبراهيمَ إِنّك حميدٌ مجيد.
الهمّ بارِكْ على محمد وعلى آلِ محمدٍ كما باركتَ على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيمَ إِنّك حميدٌ مجيد.
