By Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Q.) I was brought up in a Barelwi tradition.
Since I have begun seeking knowledge from the wider Muslim (i.e. not just
Barelwis, but excluding Shia’s and similar groups, though including
Wahhabis and Salafis) community, I can say that I have gained much. I now
understand more and more of what the common ground is between groups and
focus less on the disagreements. I think this kind of tolerance comes with
knowledge. Just as your article, "Humility in Knowledge and Arrogance in
Ignorance" would say.
I can say that I have changed certain beliefs that I had before my "quest
for knowledge." I have benefited enormously from Deoband educated imams
here - as a very famous Middle Eastern Sheikh said "Deobandis know their
fiqh."
There is one issue though that remains an anomaly and that really leaves
me wondering. That is concerning the Maulid (or as they would say in the
Indian subcontinent, Milad). Granted, there are some things that Barelwis
may do which are curious, but from all that I have seen around the world
the Maulid seems to be an accepted practice among Sunni Muslims. Scholars
like Jalaluddin Suyuti, Ibn Hajar Asqalani and even Ibn Taimiya described
it as a praiseworthy innovation.
From the Ottoman Turks, to the pre-Salafi Arabs, the Malay Archipelago,
the Persian and Indo-Pak region, the Maulid was not controversial or
questionable in any way. The Sudanese uprising against the colonial forces
was fueled by the emotion of the Maulid (verhandelingen). This is why the
colonial forces tried to quell the celebration of Maulid in order to
subdue the masses.
Today the Turks (Hanafi) still celebrate it with fervor, the Malay (Shafi’i),
the Bosnians (Hanafi), some (non-Salafi) Arabs, the Barelwis, the
Sudanese. In fact, the only people who don’t celebrate it seem to be the
Salafis, Deobandis and the Tabligh Jamaat (the Shariah base of which is of
course the books and texts of the Deobandi school).
This is curious. If imams like as-Suyuti have permitted it (if it is free
of blameworthiness), was he in error? Was Asqalani in error? The
establishment of a day to celebrate the Maulid is completely regarded as
bid'ah by Mufti Usmani, praiseworthy or blameworthy acts aside.
A.) As I
explained in my article on celebration of Eid-e-Milaad-un-Nabi, holding a
meeting to discuss different aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet is a
very meritorious act for which the Muslims should strive to the best of
their ability. But confining this discussion to the events of the birth of
the Holy Prophet and restricting it to a particular date and holding
attendance at such meetings as necessary or obligatory for every Muslim
renders this practice as bid'ah or innovation. Mostly the meetings of
Maulid today are of this type. Therefore, contemporary Ulema of Deoband
have declared it a bid'ah.
If the life of the Holy Prophet is made subject of a meeting, and the
meeting is free of the above mentioned defects, nobody can call it a
bid'ah. It is in this context that some scholars of the past have allowed
the practice.
Answer by: Justice Mufti Taqi Usmani
A Discussion of Milad and Bid'ah
[Note: Although the question does not address the issue of Milad from a
fiqh point of view, but only from a historical point of view, yet it is
also important to examine the issue in that context. For the most
important question for a Muslim has to be whether or not a particular act
is permissible according to the Shariah, which is derived from Qur'an,
Sunnah, and the practice of the Sahabah, as they understood the Sunnah.
The following provides that perspective.]
The establishment of ceremonial gatherings under the banner of "Eid-Milad-un-Nabee"
and attaching religious significance to them is purely bid'ah and an
innovation in Deen, because neither did Rasulullah himself indulge in it,
nor did the illustrious Khulafaa-e-Raashideen, Radi-Allahu anhum, organize
such functions. Similarly, neither did any of the other Sahaaba-e-Kiraam,
Radi-Allahu anhum, participate in such gatherings, nor is there any
incident on record during the blessed era of the taabi’een or tab’e
taabi’een (Rahmat-u-Allahi alayhim) that can, in any way, substantiate
this innovation. These people were best acquainted with the Sunnah of
Rasulullah and had total love for him. They were staunch followers of the
Shariah.
Rasulullah has in no unclear terms, said: "Whoever introduces anything
that is not part of Deen, into this Deen of ours, it shall be rejected." (Bukhari/Muslim)
In another Hadith he says: "Hold fast onto my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the
rightly-guided Khulafa, after me. Hold fast onto it firmly, and beware of
newly-introduced practices, for every new practice is an innovation and
every innovation leads one astray." (Abu Dawood/Tirmizi)
Severe warnings have been sounded in the above-mentioned Ahadith with
regard to introducing and implementing innovations in Deen. The holy
Qur’an enjoins: "And whatsoever the messenger giveth you, take it. And
whatsoever he forbiddeth, abstain (from it). And keep your duty to Allah.
Lo! Allah is stern in reprisal." [Al-Hashr 59:7]
"Verily in the messenger of Allah, ye have a good example for him who
looks unto Allah and the last day, and remembers Allah much." [Al-Ahzab
33:21]
"This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed my favor
unto you, and have chosen for you a religion, al-Islam." [Al-Maidah 5:3]
There are numerous other Ayat and Ahadith that can be quoted. But from no
Ayat or Ahadith can the current form of "Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee " be proved.
Will such innovations grant proximity to Allah Taala? On the contrary,
these innovations should be a cause of great concern and alarm for the
Ummat-e-Muslimah!
It is a known fact that Rasulullah is the most superior of all the Ambiyaa
alaihimus-salaam and also that he is the seal of all the prophets
alayhimus-salaam. He left no stone unturned in conveying Deen to us and
rendering precious advice to us. If the "Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee " was a
divinely inspired act, then surely Rasulullah would have commanded the
Muslims to it, or at least, either he or his beloved Sahabah, Radi-Allahu
anhum, would have practiced it.
That is why, in the light of these unambiguous proofs, the Ulama-e-Haqq
have always refuted and rejected the customary form of "Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee
" and Mahfeel-e-Milad and have also always discouraged people from
participating in such gatherings.
Some Wrongs of the Contemporary Milad Gatherings
The contemporary form of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee apart from being a
manifestation of Bid’ah, also encompasses other evils such as the
intermingling of sexes, usage of musical instruments and many other such
evils. The most abhorring and shocking evils in these functions are the
acts of shirk that take place. With hollow claims of "Hubbe-Rasul " (love
for Rasulullah ) entreaties and supplications are made to beings other
than Allah, namely to Ambiyaa alaihimus-salaam and Auliaa-e-Kiraam
Rahmat-u-Allahi-alaaihim.
The Belief that the Prophet Comes to the Milad
Meeting
Some people also believe that Rasulullah comes to this function and due to
this belief, they stand up in respect and veneration. This is absolutely
untrue. Rasulullah does not arrive at any "Eid-e-Milad-un Nabee "
function. He is in his Rawdha-e-Mubarak (grave) at Madinah Munawwarah and
will emerge from it at the onset of Yawmul-Qiyaamah, or the Day of
Judgement.
The following Ayat and Hadith testify to this fact: The Qur’an, addressing
Rasulullah announces explicitly: - "Lo! Thou wilt die, and Lo! They will
die. Then Lo! On the day of resurrection, before your sustainer, you will
dispute." [Az-Zumar 39:30-31]
At another place, Rasulullah is addressed together with the rest of
mankind: - "Then Lo! After that you surely die, then Lo! On the day of
resurrection you are raised (again)" [Al-Muminun 23:16]
Rasulullah himself has said in a Hadith: - "My grave will be the first to
be opened on the day of Qiyamah and I shall be the first person to
intercede and the first person whose intercession shall be accepted."
These Ayat and Hadith as well (and there are others) prove that all of
mankind will be raised from their graves on the day of Qiyamah, with
Rasulullah being no exception. On this, there is consensus of the entire
Ummah.
The Importance of Durood and Salaam
Instead of squandering our money and time on futile acts of Bid'ah let us
rather utilize our precious time, as much as possible in the recitation of
Durood and salaam upon our beloved Rasulullah which is indeed, a highly
meritorious and virtuous act. The Qur’an enjoins: - "Lo! Allah and his
Angels shower blessings on the Nabee 'O' ye who believe ask for the
descent of blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation." [Al-Ahzab
33:56]
Rasulullah has said: "Whosoever sends one Durood upon me, Allah Taala will
shower ten mercies upon him." (Muslim). Particularly on Jumuah, one should
increase the recitation of Durood and salaam.
[Mufti Ebrahim Desai FATWA DEPT. Jamiat Ulema
Islam. South Africa]
Article taken (with
Thanks) from Albalagh.net
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