Our local Imam, went to great extent to explain how the Salaf showed their love for Muhammad (Peace Be upon him). However he did not take a definite stance towards the celebration that results on his birthday. So I want to share the Link that vehemently exhorts us not to introduce innovations in Islam.
The main point from this article is:
With regard to celebrating the day on which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was born, it should be noted that he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not tell us to celebrate this day, and he himself (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not celebrate it, nor did his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them). They loved the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) far more than we do, yet despite that they did not celebrate this day. Hence we do not celebrate this day, in obedience to the command of Allaah Who has commanded us to follow the commands of His Prophet. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)” [al-Hashr 59:7]
This is the reason why I do not believe that the Naqshbandiya Foundation is correct. In my opinion they have isolated this artificial day of importance as an annual event to talk about/celebrate this sole subject. I would be really glad if they could organize another one of their lectures on some other days.
I also would like to hear opinions of oppposition if anyone has any.
35 comments:
Tons of masjids back home celebrate milad-un-nabi. Its not christmas for mohammad (phub) or anything. Its a way of showing love for prophet (pbuh).
I am NOT for it or against it. I dont see anything wrong in it, ppl who are inclined towards sufism (or techinically right, tawwsuf) like to celebrate birthdays of important ppl.
I dont work of naqhsbandiya foundation..i just tried to help them publize the event.
Again what is innovation should be clearly defined.. I read somewhere that in Saudi, ppl dont wear seat belts (or women dont wear seat belts ) bcos it is 'bidah'.
Back home lot of ppl actually hate saudi version of islam (also called as wahabbi, wahabbism).
My take on this (im no scholar) is that: I personally wont mind if somebody is celebrating it. but would mind if they are 'praying' to prophet.
just one point - bidah = innovation in Islam as practiced by the prophet (pboh), the salaf and tabiyeen.
Your example/understanding of Bidah does not fit into this.
So please tell what do the masjids do to celebrate the love for the prophet - blast sufi songs or nasheeds on the loudspeakers??!!
"Hence we do not celebrate this day, in obedience to the command of Allaah Who has commanded us to follow the commands of His Prophet"
I would also like to reiterate the above.
A view from the outside. This is not to offend anyone. Just a means to open this forum to more discussion.
I found the sentence in the link extremely revealing about the problems people outside of Islam have in understanding it.
"“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours [i.e., Islam] that is not part of it will have it rejected.’”
Civilizations evolve. I don't know the prevalent religions of the time, but my guess is even Islam has evolved out of the religions that existed at the time. In short, it is an innovation in itself. The teachings in the Holy Book definitely have their basis on the prevalent social conditions. I would not be surprised for instance that the reason addiction is taboo, is that it leads to personal destruction. In those days, it was easier to attach a "decree from God" to it to ensure greater concurrence.
In time, we have evolved. In good ways and bad. But I feel, as a human being, that the least we can do is examine the innovation at hand before rejecting it point blank. That is my main beef with all the religions in the world. They do not tell us what we can do. Just what we cannot.
Once again, I do not mean to offend anyone. I felt this was a great forum to discuss such an important topic
The definition of bid'ah is correct: innovation. But there is a gray area wherein some people brand certain acts as being bid'ah without sound proof. Celebrating the Rasool(SAW)'s birthday isn't one of them- so let me make that clear before I make my next point.
As far as those who are 'inclined towards Sufism/ tassawuf' are concerned, the only main goal that they (assuming they are in accordance with Shar'iah) have is to increase their love for Allah(SWT) and the Rasool(SAW). This is in addition to, and not in exception of, their duties as a Muslim- i.e. salaat, zakat. etc etc.
So then we have the question of celebrating the birthday- do I think it's ok? It depends on what you mean by 'celebration'.
I attended the Naqshbandiya Foundation's event only for the fact that Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad was going to be speaking. And mashaAllah, anyone who was there (Sufi, Salafi, Hanafi, you name it) will probably vouch for the fact that he was a dynamic and
eloquent speaker.
If they only host such events on milad-un-nabi, then yes that's strange and they should reconsider. Because Allah(SWT) knows we could use knowledge any day of the year.
And lastly, for Sandgroper, you say that 'That is my main beef with all the religions in the world. They do not tell us what we can do. Just what we cannot'.
Not true at all. In Islam (and in other religions), there is a whole world of things that are halal (allowed) and a very small number of things which are haraam (forbidden). Let me know if you want examples.
T1: Dude, I did not say masjids back home blast sufi songs..
"Hence we do not celebrate this day, in obedience to the command of Allaah Who has commanded us to follow the commands of His Prophet"
Who is "WE"?
Sandgroper:
"In those days, it was easier to attach a "decree from God" to it to ensure greater concurrence. "
We dont believe that anything that ppl thought was bad was given a "decree from God".
But God reveleaved "the decree" clearly stating what is bad and what is not, and there is no human hand interfering what is being written.
Sandgroper - In islam we have a rule - Everything is halaal (allowed) unless told or proven to be haraam.
So an example is that we are allowed everything in food and drink EXcept alcohol and pork. (There are more things that are not edible, but for short I have mentioned two).
BK I agree - the speaker was good no doubt - and thats what i had emailed T2 as well.
Sandgroper - We also believe that the innovation applied to Islam has resulted in destruction and degradation of Islam. For example the classic case of gender equality that was provided in the day but today is lost in a quagmire of feminism and suppression and what not. So rejecting this innovation of 'inequality' today is a desperate needs of the time.
T1- so you agree that the speaker was good, but you didn't attend because you don't agree with milad-un-nabi?
That was me.
you got me right - if that same speaker spoke anywhere else except with NFIE I would have come. Also if the NFIE had organized the same lecture any other time under any different name not in commemoration of something (bidah) I would have agreed to come.
Interesting. But given that, I would assume you would have issues with the Naqshbandiya Foundation itself. And therefore not attend any of their events, ever, given their whole affiliation with things bid'ah :) Wa Allahu alim.
t1: I forgot to mention in the email they had free dinner.
How is life anyways?
The dinner was ok... I could make biryani better than that!
:D
ouch...don't let HC read that comment :P
"hyderabadi Biryani" is the bestest.
who is HC?
Hyderabadi biryani is a little too oily - south indian biryani is a little too dry - bombay biryani is the best
Our biryani is the best :P Indian biryani is just OK.
hahahahahahhahaha....
So that means you guyz never had hyderabadi biyani...
BK: u mean punjabi biryani or sindhi....
t1: i thought u r from pune... bombay biryani can't be compared with hyderabadi biryani...
priya or pasand makes andhara biryani ... it is nowhere close to hyderabadi biryani...
Bottom line: nothing beats Hyderabadi Biryani...
I dunno the difference, I just know our biryani rocks!
But if Hyderabadi biryani is so amazing, aap paka kar mere ghar bhaij dain. I'll send you my address :D
last time i cooked biryani was like 2 years ago.. it took 5-6 hours.. but it was worth it..
Some "pakistani-hyderabadi" here make it.. atleast i know one that makes it. but it is exactly not the same..
if i tell my old roomates (who ate before) that it is beeing made again.. they will come all the way from san jose and atlanta to eat it...
treat to diya nahi ... kabhi biryani hi khila dena....!!!! :)
dude I did not forget the treat... inshaAllah sometime soon.. r u coming to bowling tommorrow..
what do you mean bowling - la hawla .... Who will do the work!??!
SS is trying to make this everyweek event.. bcos he is playing bowling like Irfan khan, knocking pins (or wickets) all the time..
and InshaAllah I will see u there.
i thot it was irfan pathan ... and guess who bailed out....
hahaha... his name is Irfan Khan.. I saw interview wiht his parents.. even they dont know whyu it is irfan pathan..
Maybe cause ppl assume Khan=Pathan, but that isn't always the case.
indian team has three fast bowlers from same place..
irfan 'pathan'
zaheer khan
munaf patel - fastest indian bowler
Other day at Mazen (S. haroon's hubby) bachelor party.. couple of oldies were talking about cricket.. and their favo.. and room was full of american born football fans...
I was like the only link between these two groups..
Who now remembers hanif mohammed and Zaheer abbas..?
Who hates Skins and eagles..
Cricket rules. ABCDs are missing out.
usa has a national team now. Its interesting to see their hard-hitters were blown away when the aussies played them. They still have a long way to go. But then they are americans and if america can be such a contender in football (the foot one), then usa can have team-usa cricket team as well.
these americans dont know about national teams. their world ends with their favorite franchise
America has a cricket team???
That's retarded! They can barely play soccer, and now they're trying cricket :P
whoa hold your horses - america is in the top ten teams in soccer. Their phenomenal rise in the last world cup was struck down only by a team like Germany. since then they have progressively risen.
They are good, you should watch them sometime. too bad my favorite is brazil
Brazil rocks....
American cricket team is full of old league players of south asian and west indies descent..
The only reason America is in the top ten is because the world soccer league standard has fallen, not the other way around.
My brother has supported Brazil since he was a child. Hence, I do as well :)
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