bismillaah
salamu alaykum wa rahmatullaah
12 Rabee' al-Awwal 1428 = Saturday 31 March 2007
http://www.fatwa- online.com/ innovations/ celebrations/ cel001/index. htm
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Ruling regarding celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam)
Question: Is gathering (the people) on the 12th day of Rabee' al-Awwal in remembrance of the birth of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) permissible?
Response: Celebrating the birthday of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) is an innovation; this is because he (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) did not do this himself and nor did he order this to be done, and nor did any of his companions (radhi-yallaahu 'anhum) do this, and they were the most adherent of people in honouring the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and following his Sunnah. And all good is in following his guidance, and he (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:
((Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours (i.e. Islaam) that which is not from it, will have it rejected)), [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree/ 2697 and Saheeh Muslim/1718] .
And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.
The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. - Volume 3, Page 30, Question 13, Fatwa No. 5005
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How can one actualise one's love for the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam)
Question: How can one actualise (their) love for the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam)?
Response: Love of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and love of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) is actualised by following the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), and everyone who follows the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) is more eligible for the love of Allaah and the love of His Messenger. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:
{Say: "If you (really) love Allaah then follow me (Muhammad), Allaah will love you}, [Soorah Aal-'Imraan, Aayah 31].
And the sign of the love of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) is that a person inquires about his sunnah and then follows it and does not add nor take anything away from that. Based upon this, then those who innovate in anything related to the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and state that this is from their love and honouring of him (the Prophet) then in reality they do not love him and nor honour him. And that is because true love and honouring of him is to follow his sayings and not to add to his Sharee'ah and nor to take away from it.
And indeed whoever desires to innovate in the Sharee'ah of Allaah that which is not from it, then his love of Allaah and His Messenger is limited without doubt, because completeness of manners and honouring is not to extend oneself before Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:
{O you who believe! Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allaah and His Messenger, and fear Allaah. Verily! Allaah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds may be rendered fruitless while you perceive not}, [Soorah al-Hujuraat, Aayahs 1 and 2].
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa Noorun 'alad-Darb - Volume 2, Page 522, Question 414
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Dealing with someone (an innovator) who insists on celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam)
Question: We have a man with us at work who approves of the celebration of the birthday (i.e. the Prophet's (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) birthday), and advocates and insists upon this. Should I abandon him for the Sake of Allaah or not? What should I do? …and may Allaah reward you with good.
Response: Celebrating the Prophet's birthday is an innovation, and whoever pursues this (path) is an innovator (mubtadi') if he insists on doing so and does not accept the (sincere) advice, (rather, choosing to) continue in calling to (celebrating) the birthday and arousing interest in it. (In this case), then, it is obligatory to abandon him since he is an innovator, and it is not permissible to maintain companionship with an innovator.
Shaykh Ibn Fowzaan
Fataawa tata'allaaq bil-Mawlid an-Nabawee – Page 49, Question 11
Al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa al-Fowzaan – Volume 1, Page 184
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