Every nation remembers birth or death of their guide/leader and arranges public meetings / gatherings so that successive generations of their people become aware of their leader and benefit from his life, personal traits and achievements. Such gatherings and celebrations help people in many ways, particularly in doing good deeds and remain united.People also celebrate and remember important events of their history and show happiness and pride for their past achievements. The annual pilgrimage of Hajj is also a remembrance and celebration for all Muslims of the world who gather at Makka al-Mukarrama, Muna, Arafat and Madina al-Munawwara and show their unity and solidarity towards Islam. Quran and Ahadith are full of the remembrance of the births of Prophets like Adam ( علیھ السلا م ), Moses ( علیھ السلا م ), Jesus ( علیھ السلا م ), Yahiya ( علیھ السلا م ), etc.
(i) It is in Quran - اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنبِيَاءَ (Remember and express with gratitude the gracefulness of Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) that He sent Prophets among you. (Al-Ma'ida - 20).In the above Quranic verse Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) has commanded people to celebrate the births of Prophets who were sent for the guidance of their nations. (ii) It is in Quran - وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ (And abundantly proclaim the favors of your Lord.) (Ad-Duha - 11)
(iii) It is in Quran - يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ - قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَ*ٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ [O'mankind! Surely, there has come to you an admonition from your Lord, and a cure for all those (diseases) which are (hidden) in the breasts. And it is guidance and mercy (too) for those who are blessed with faith. Say O'Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم): (all this) is due to the bounty and mercy of Allah(سبحانہ و تعا لی) (bestowed upon the people by the advent of Prophet Mohammad - صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم ). So they (the people) should rejoice over it. This is far better than (all that affluence and wealth) that they amass.] (Younus - 57-58)
(iv) It is in Quran - وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ [We have not sent you (O'Prophet - صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) except for the mercy on all the worlds] (Al-Anbiya - 107).
(v) It is in Quran - هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَكَفَى بِاللهِ شَهِيدًا ( It is He Who has sent His Apostle -صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم with the guidance and the true religion, in order to make it prevail over all other religions; and Allah is sufficient as a Witness. (Al-Fatha - 28)Thus, celebration of the birth of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), is mandatory on all of us as a show gratitude and happiness towards Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی), for His favor on humanity by sending His Apostle Mohammad(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) as mercy for all the worlds.
In the following verse, Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) has mentioned the complete Milad of Prophet Yahya ( علیھ السلا م ).
(vi) It is in Quran - وَسَلَامٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيًّا(And Salaam is on him the day when he was born and the day when he will die and the day when he will be raised alive.) (Al-Maryam - 15).
Important events of Allah's (سبحانہ و تعا لی) merciful bounties upon the people should be remembered and celebrated. The following Quranic verse establishes the fact that the day when food was sent from skies to the people of Jesus (Isa - علیھ السلا م ) it became the day of celebration (Eid) for them.
(vii) It is in Quran - قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيداً لأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِّنكَ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ (Eisa, Ibn Maryam - علیھ السلا م, said, O'our Lord! Send down to us a table spread from heaven, so that it may become a day of celebration for us for our former and latter people and a sign from You; and give us sustenance and You are the Best Provider Of Sustenance.) (Al-Maidah - 114)
The following Hadith establishes the fact that keeping fast was the way Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) used to celebrate the birth days of Prophets.
(viii) It is in Hadith, narrated by Hazrat Ibn Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) that when Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)heard from Jews that the day of Aashoora (the tenth day of Moharram) is the day of 'deliverance of Moses (علیھ السلا م )' (Najat-e-Moosa - علیھ السلا م from Fir'awn), he said "Nahnu ahaqqu bi-Moosa minkum" (Meaning - In comparison with Jews, we Muslims deserve Moses (علیھ السلا م) more. Then the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) kept fast on that day and asked others to follow'. (Bukhari, Muslim)
Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) celebrated his own Birth Day by keeping fast every Monday - the day of his birth.
(ix) It is in Hadith - Abi Qatada Ansari (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) reported that Allah's Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) was asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It is (the day) when I was born and revelation was sent down to me.
References : (1) Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Vol. 7, Page 323, Hadith 2807. (2) Musannaf Abd ar-Razzaq, Vol. 4, Page 296, Hadith # 7865. (3) Sunan Abu Dawood, Vol. 7, Page 255, Hadith # 2428. (4) Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 49, Page 195, Hadith # 23200. (5) Sunan al-Kubra lil Bayhaqi, Vol. 4, Page 286. (6) Usd ul-Gaabba fi Maarfat as-Sahaba, Vol. 1, Page 21-22, published in Pakistan 1987. (7) Mishkat - Page 179.
The following Hadith proves that when Abu Lahab showed happiness on the birth of the Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), he was rewarded (after his death) by reducing his punishment on that day every week. This establishes the fact that Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) will surely bless Muslims who show happiness and celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).
(x) It is in Hadith -لَمَّا مَاتَ أَبُو لَهَب رَأَيْته فِي مَنَامِي بَعْد حَوْل فِي شَرّ حَال فَقَالَ : مَا لَقِيت بَعْدكُمْ رَاحَة إِلَّا أَنَّ الْعَذَاب يُخَفَّف عَنِّي كُلّ يَوْم اِثْنَيْنِ ، قَالَ : وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ النَّبِيّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وُلِدَ يَوْم الِاثْنَيْنِ ، وَكَانَتْ ثُوَيْبَة بَشَّرَتْ أَبَا لَهَب بِمَوْلِدِهِ فَأَعْتَقَهَا - When Abu Lahab died, someone from his household saw him in a dream, they asked him what happened in the grave he said I am being punished severely, but on Mondays, I get water from my finger with which I freed Thuwayba.
References : (1) Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 153, Hadith # 5101, Kitaabun Nikah, Publisher: Darul Fikr Beirut. (2) Fathul Baari Sharha Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Page 118 by Imam Ibn Hajr Asqalani. (3) Musannaf of Imam Abdur Razzaq San'ani, Vol. 9, Page 9, Hadith # 16661. (4) Umdatul Qari Sharha Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 14, Page 44, Hadith # 5101 by Badruddin Ayni.
(a) Ibn Jawzi stated: Abu Lahab was a kafir who has been specially referred to in Quran for his evil behavior. If such a person can be rewarded for showing happiness the Milad of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), then imagine how great the reward would be for a Muslim when he celebrates it!
(b) Ibn Hajr Asqalani wrote : Sohaily said that Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ), the uncle of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) had the above dream. Many other Hadith Scholars have also attributed this dream to Hadhrat Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ).(Fath-ul-baari).
(c) Ibn Hisham stated in his book "Seerah" that Hadhrat Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) had this dream after he embraced Islam. Hadhrat Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) embraced Islam before the battle of Badr and Abu Lahab died after the battle of Badr.
(d) Ibn Abdul Wahhabi, the Imam of Salafis wrote :
Abu Lahab freed (his female slave) Thuwayba when she informed him that a son has been born at his brothers house. After the death of Abu Lahab he was seen in a dream, in which he said I am in severe punishment but this is lessened on Mondays. He showed his forefinger and said that he would suck (water) from it. "This is so because it was with this finger that I freed Thuwayba when she informed the birth of Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)".
Prophet Mohammad's (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) birth marked celebrations in the entire Cosmos. Read following Ahadith.
(xi) It is in Hadith - ورأت أمي حين حملت بى أنه خرج منها نور أضاء له قصور بصرى من أرض الشام - Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said: "When my mother gave birth to me she saw a light proceeding from her which showed her the castles of Syria".
References : (1) Ibn Hisham; Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 4, Page 360. (2) Bayhaqi, Dalail an-Nubuwwah, Vol. 1, Page 110. (3)Haythami, Zawai, Vol. 8, Page 221. (4) Ibn al-Jawzi al-Wafa. (5) Qadi Iyad, al-Shifa. (6) Musnad Ahmad Vol. 4, Page 127.
(xii) It is in Hadith - Abu Nuaym reports from Abdullah bin Abbas ( رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ ) who narrated that the mother of the Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), Sayyidah Amina (رضئ الله تعالى عنها) used to state - لما خرج من بطني فنظرت اليه فاذا انابه ساجد ثم رايت سحابة بيضاء قد اقبلت من السماء حتى غشيته فغيب عن وجھي ، ثم تجلت فاذا انابه مدرج في ثوب صوف ابيض وتحته حريرة خضراء وقد قبض على ثلٰثة مفاتيح من اللؤلوء الرطب واذا قائل يقول قبض محمد على مفاتيح النصرة ومفاتيح الربح ومفاتيح النبوة ثم اقبلت سحابة اخرٰى حتى غشيته فغيب عن عيني ثم تجلت فاذا انابه قد قبض على حريرة خضراء مطوية واذ قائل يقول بخٍ بخٍ قبض محمد على الدنيا کلھا لم يبق خلق من اھلھا الادخل في قبضته (When the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) was born, he fell straight into prostration. Then I saw a white cloud from the sky appearing and covering the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) such that he disappeared from me. When the cloud appeared, I saw that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) was covered in a white woolly shawl and there was a green mat spread on the floor. Within the hands of the Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) there were three keys made of diamonds and there was an unseen voice heard saying, The Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) has grasped the key of giving victory, the key of giving benefit and the key of Prophet-hood. Then I saw another cloud which enclosed the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) such that he disappeared from my view and it became illuminated. I saw that the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) is holding a folded piece of green silk in his blessed hands and an unseen voice was heard was saying, How great! How great! The Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) has grasped the all worlds; all the creation has entered into his grasp, with none left out.
References - (1) Musnad Ahmad, narrated from Ibn Masud( رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ ), (Published Al-Maktab al-Islami, Beirut), Vol. 1, Page 386. (2) Sunan al-Darimi, the chapter on Ma Utiya al-Nabiyyu Min al-Fadl, (Published Dar al-Mahasin li al-Tabaah, Cairo), Vol. 1, Page 30. (3) Al-Khasais al-Kubra, the chapter on Ma Zahara Fi Lailat Moulidi, (Published Markaz Ahl Sunnat, Gujarat), Vol. 1, Page 48.
SAHABA CELEBRATED MILAD-UN-NABI ( صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم )
(xiii) It is in Hadith - Hadhrat Abbas ( رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ)composed poetry praising the birth of Prophet Mohammad(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) in which the following couplets were mentioned. "When you were born, a light rose over the Earth until it illuminated the horizon with its radiance. We are in that illumination and that original light and those paths of guidance and thanks to them we pierce through".
References - (1) Majmua'al-Zawaid, the Hadith book of Ali Ibn Abu Bakr al-Haythami (735-897 AH). (2) Ibn Sayyid al-Nas narrated it with his Isnad through al-Tabarani. (3) Al-Bazaar mentioned it in 'Minah al-Madh, Pages 192-93. (4) Ibn Kathir wrote it in al-Sira al-Nabawiyya (Edition - Mustafa Abd al-Wahid 4:51). (5) Ali Al-Qari wrote it in his 'Sharh al-Shifa' (1:364). (6) Ibn Hajarmentioned it in 'Fath al-Bari'. (7) Ibn al-Qayyim ( Salafi scholar and famous student of Ibn Taymiyya) mentioned it in Zad al-Ma'ad.
(xiv) It is in Hadith - Abu Said al-Khudhri (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ)narrated that Muawiya (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said : Once Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) came out of his Hujra to a gathering (Halaqa) of Sahabah who had gathered in Masjid-e-Nabawi and inquired as to why they were sitting in a Jalsa (ما اجلسكم). The Sahabah said 'the purpose of our gathering is to call upon Allah ( سبحانه و تعا لی) and to praise Him because He has done a great favor upon us by sending you to us and showing his Deen'. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) asked, can you swear by Allah (سبحانه و تعا لی) that you have really gathered for this purpose (to celebrate my Mawlid)? The Sahabah said, we swear to Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) that we are sitting for that purpose only. Then the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said, 'I did not mean that I doubted your statement, but it is for the reason that Jibreel (علیھ السلا م )came to me and informed that Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) expresses His happiness by showing your gathering to His Angels. (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Nasai, Baihaqi).
Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) showed a lot of happiness on the gatherings related to the celebration of his Birth Day. He informed the people who were celebrating his birth day that they will get salvation in Hereafter for their virtuous act.
(xv) It is in Hadith - Umro Bin Wahia Kalbi has narrated this Hadith in his book'At tanweer fi Mauludil basheer an-nazeer'that Hadhrat Abu Darda (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ)narrates that "I went to the house of Aamer Ansari (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) along with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). Hadhrat Abu Aamer (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) was narrating the events of the birth of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) to a gathering of his relatives and children and was repeating; "this was the day and this was the day". The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said, O'Aba Amer (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ), Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) has opened the doors of His mercy for you and the angels are praying for your absolution (Maghfirah). Whoever does this act of yours, he would also get the Salvation like yours". (Jalaluddin Suyuti has narrated this Hadith in his book "Siblul Huda fi Mauludil Mustafa صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم " )
The above Hadith confirms the following.
(a) Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) has declared that whoever celebrates his (Prophet's -صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) birth day will get salvation on the Day of Judgment.(b) Whoever celebrates the birthday of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), the doors of Allah's (سبحانہ و تعا لی) mercy are opened for him.(c) Whoever celebrates the birthday of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), the angels pray for his absolution (Maghfirah).
(xvi) It is in Hadith - Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said that "one day at my home I had gathered people and was describing about the birth of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and the people were feeling over joyous and were invoking the praise of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and Prophet Mohammad(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) himself came to our gathering and said "My intercession for you ( حلّت لكم شفاعة ) has become legitimized.Reference : (i) Suyuti in his book "Siblul Huda", (ii)Ahmad Bin Hujr Al-Makki in his book "Maulud al-Kabeer", and (iii) Abul Qasim Mohammad Ibn Osman in his book "Addurul Munazzam".
