Milad-un-Nabi Since more than 1400 years, every Muslim on this face of earth believes that the Sahaba

(r.a) were those who were rightly guided directly by the Holy Prophet (saws). In case they did something good, they received appreciation from the Holy Prophet (saws), and if they committed any mistake, they were corrected right away. The correction came either directly from the Holy Prophet (saws) or from other Sahaba (r.a), who in turn had learnt the correct way from the Holy Prophet (saws). Even after the Holy Prophet (saws) passed away, the Sahaba (r.a) corrected each others mistakes by referring to the Holy Prophet (saws). After the demise of Sahaba (r.a), the later generation of Muslims depended primary upon the two main foundations of Islam 1. 2. The Holy Quran - The Word of Allah (swt). The Authentic Hadith - The narrations and actions of the Holy Prophet (saws) and the practices of the Sahaba (r.a).

Apart from the Holy Prophet (saws) and the Sahaba (r.a), every other Muslim throughout the ages of Islam, are all bound by a certain set of rules. These are the rules that every Muslim need to follow for his success in this Life and the Hereafter. Rule# 1: Every Muslim should follow all that Allah (swt) and the Holy Prophet (saws) commanded. The Holy Quran 24:52 : Only those who obey Allah and His Messenger, have fear of Allah and do good deeds, are the ones who will be the winners. Rule# 2: Every Muslim should avoid all those actions and practices that were forbidden by Allah swt and the Holy Prophet saws. Sahih Bukhari - 9.391: Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (saws) said, "Leave me as I leave you, for the people who were before you were ruined because of their questions and their differences over their prophets. So, if I forbid you to do something, then keep away from it. And if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can." Rule# 3: Every Muslim can choose to practice something that Allah (swt) or the Holy Prophet (saws) did not command directly, but was done by a Sahaba (r.a.) and that action was not forbidden by the Holy Prophet saws. Rule# 4: Every Muslims should do the opposite of what the Jews and Christian do. Sahih Bukhari 7.786 Narrated Abu Huraira : The Prophet (saws) said, "Jews and Christians do not dye their hair so you should do the opposite of what they do. Rule# 5: Every Muslim should follow the Holy Prophet (saws) first, even if the action or practice is similar to an action or practice done by Jews or Christians. In such cases Muslim should follow no less and no more than what is commanded by the Holy Prophet saws.

Sahih Muslim - Bk 6, Number 2528: Ibn 'Abbas reported that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) fasted on the day of 'Ashura and commanded that it should he observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said to him: Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th But the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) died before the advent of the next year. Rule# 6: Muslims are not allowed to add or subtract anything in the Principles of Islam. Sahih Bukhari - 3.861: Narrated Aisha: Allah's Apostle said, "If somebody innovates something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected." For eg: Leading the Salaah on a loud speaker system was not practiced by neither the Holy Prophet saws, nor the Sahaba r.a, but doing so does not alter the principles of religion. Travelling by plane for Haj or Umrah was not practiced by neither the Holy Prophet saws, nor the Sahaba r.a, but doing so does not alter the principles of religion. Rule# 7: For any new practice, Muslims should abide by the Ijmaa. Ijmaa is the consensus of ALL the scholars of Islam and NOT consensus of few scholars of Islam. For E.g. Reciting the Intention of Haj/Umrah in an aero plane passing over Miqaat, confirms with the Ijmaa. All scholars of the world agree to this practice.

With the above mentioned set of rules engraved upon our hearts and minds, let us now see how the Holy Prophet (saws) celebrated the Eid. Sahih Bukhari 2.77: Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar r.a: Allah's Apostle used to offer the prayer of `IdulAdha and `IdulFitr and then deliver the Khutba after the prayer. Ahmad & Abu Dawood: When the Prophet (saws) came to Madinah, he found that people used to celebrate two days during the time of ignorance period (Jahiliyya). He (saws) said: "I came to you and you have two days you celebrated during (Jahiliyya) and Allah has substituted for you better days: the Day of Sacrifice (IdulAdha) and the Day of breaking Fast (IdulFitr)." The above hadith is enough to prove that Allah (swt) had approved only two days of Eid for the Muslims. Thus Milad un Nabi certainly does not confirm to any command of Allah (swt), nor to any practice of the Holy Prophet (saws). There are some who claim that they can prove that the Holy Prophet saws himself mentioned the excellence of the day of his birth. They also claim that the Holy Prophet saws himself commanded Muslims to celebrate out on the roads and streets. To prove their point, they seem to provide some authentic set of hadiths, not in completeness, but in partial, so as to validate the practice of celebrating Eid Milad un Nabi.

Read the complete hadith and you should be easily able to conclude the message that the Holy Prophet saws intended to give to the ummah. Sahih Muslim - Bk 6, Number 2606: Abu Qatada Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) was asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It is (the day) when I was born and revelation was sent down to me. Now what do you understand from this hadith? Did the Holy Prophet saws intend to convey us to celebrate his birthday? Or was it something else? The fact is, the Holy Prophet saws intended to convey us the virtues of the day of Monday. It is very clear from the above hadith that the day of Monday, holds a special status. It was on Monday when the Holy Prophet saws was born. It was on Monday when the revelation was sent down on the Holy Prophet saws. It was on Monday when the Holy Prophet saws preferred to fast. And, It was on Monday when the Holy Prophet saws depart from this world.

Based on this special status of the day of Monday, even the rightly guide Caliph of Islam, Hazrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) too desired to die on the day of Monday. Sahih Bukhari - 2.469 : Narrated Hisham's father: Aisha said, "I went to Abu Bakr (during his fatal illness) and he asked me, 'In how many garments was the Prophet shrouded?' She replied, 'In three Suhuliya pieces of white cloth of cotton, and there was neither a shirt nor a turban among them.' Abu Bakr further asked her, 'On which day did the Prophet die?' She replied, 'He died on Monday.' He asked, 'What is today?' She replied, 'Today is Monday.' He added, 'I hope I shall die sometime between this morning and tonight.' Then he looked at a garment that he was wearing during his illness and it had some stains of saffron. Then he said, 'Wash this garment of mine and add two more garments and shroud me in them.' I said, 'This is worn out.' He said, 'A living person has more right to wear new clothes than a dead one; the shroud is only for the body's pus.' He did not die till it was the night of Tuesday and was buried before the morning." The message conveyed from the above hadith is crystal clear, its about the day of Monday being auspicious, and not the birthday. Also it should be noted that in the above hadith, when the Holy Prophet saws mentioned us about his birth, He (saws) mentioned the day of the week and not the date of the year. I ask those who celebrate Milaad Un Nabi, would you now jump to a new practice that Milaad-unNabi should be celebrated every Monday? You might say "It is written in the Quran and Hadith to celebrate going out on roads and streets, and that the angels envelop those who celebrate..." My dear friend, I agree that such a hadith does exist, but the context of hadith is altogether different. Refer the below hadith. Sahih Bukhari - 8.417: Narrated Abu Huraira r.a: Allah 's Apostle saws said, "Allah has some angels who look for those who celebrate the Praises of Allah on the roads and paths. And when they find some people celebrating the Praises of Allah, they call each other, saying, "Come to the object of your pursuit." He added, "Then the angels encircle them with their wings up to the sky of the world." He added. "(after those people celebrated the Praises of Allah, and the angels go back), their Lord, asks them (those angels) though He knows better than them 'What do My slaves say?' The angels reply, 'They say: SubhanAllah, AllahuAkbar, and Alhamdulillah, Allah then says 'Did they see Me?' The angels reply, 'No! By Allah, they didn't see You.' Allah says, How it would have been if they saw Me?' The angels

reply, 'If they saw You, they would worship You more devoutly and celebrate Your Glory more deeply, and declare Your freedom from any resemblance to anything more often.' Allah says (to the angels), 'What do they ask Me for?' The angels reply, 'They ask You for Paradise.' Allah says (to the angels), 'Did they see it?' The angels say, 'No! By Allah, O Lord! They did not see it.' Allah says, How it would have been if they saw it?' The angels say, 'If they saw it, they would have greater covetousness for it and would seek It with greater zeal and would have greater desire for it.' Allah says, 'From what do they seek refuge?' The angels reply, 'They seek refuge from the (Hell) Fire.' Allah says, 'Did they see it?' The angels say, 'No By Allah, O Lord! They did not see it.' Allah says, How it would have been if they saw it?' The angels say, 'If they saw it they would flee from it with the extreme fleeing and would have extreme fear from it.' Then Allah says, 'I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them."' Allah's Apostle added, "One of the angels would say, 'There was so-and-so amongst them, and he was not one of them, but he had just come for some need.' Allah would say, 'These are those people whose companions will not be reduced to misery.' " Isn't this the hadith that you would refer, to justify your celebrating the Milaad-un-Nabi going out on the streets and roads? Firstly, is there any mention in the above hadith to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet saws? Secondly, what meaning can you derive of the word 'Celebrate'? Refer the some more hadith below to understand the true meaning of the term 'Celebrate'. Sahih Bukhari - 1.529: Narrated Qais: Jarir said, "We were with the Prophet and he looked at the moon; full moon; and said, 'Certainly you will see your Lord as you see this moon and you will have no trouble in seeing Him. So if you can avoid missing (through sleep or business, etc.) a prayer before the sunrise (Fajr) and a prayer before sunset (`Asr), you must do so.' He then recited Allah's Statement: And celebrate the praises Of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting." (50.39) Isma`il said, "Offer those prayers and do not miss them." Sahih Bukhari - 4.424: Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas: The Prophet said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the Signs of Allah. They do not eclipse because of someone's death or life. So, if you see them (i.e. eclipse), celebrate the Praises of Allah (i.e. pray). Sahih Bukhari - 4.491: Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "During your sleep, Satan knots three knots at the back of the head of each of you, and he breathes the following words at each knot, 'The night is, long, so keep on sleeping,' If that person wakes up and celebrates the praises of Allah, then one knot is undone, and when he performs ablution the second knot is undone, and when he prays, all the knots are undone, and he gets up in the morning lively and gay, otherwise he gets up dull and gloomy." Sahih Bukhari - 8.416: Narrated Abu Musa: The Prophet said, "The example of the one who celebrates the Praises of his Lord (Allah) in comparison to the one who does not celebrate the Praises of his Lord, is that of a living creature compared to a dead one." In the above mentioned hadiths the Holy Prophet saws commanded us to 'celebrate' when: a) One goes out on roads and paths b) Before the rise and setting of sun c) At the time of Solar and Lunar Eclipse d) Soon after waking up from bed e) One who celebrates praises of Allah is a living creature otherwise he/she is dead. So how do you now conclude from the above mentioned term 'celebrate'? Taking those events as a day of Eid and rejoicing? Or does it means 'to observe the day' or 'to observe the occasion'?

And how do you celebrate the above five occasions? The way the Holy Prophet (saws) commanded, or your own new way? You might now try to justify that although Milaad-un-Nabi is a Bidaah, but its a 'good bidah'. Why? Because you commemorate the birth of Holy Prophet (saws) on the day when He saws was born. This way we remember his teachings and try to follow him the rest of the year. But do you really do so? I see people roaming out on streets shouting and rejoicing causing inconvenience to the passers by. I see people out on the streets playing naats and qawwalees on the loud speakers. I see societies and buildings organizing hired Jockeys to play the best of naats and qawwaalees with full volume. Those Naats and Qawwaalees never confirm to the above mentioned hadith of the Holy Prophet saws i.e. to praise Allah swt with SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, AllahuAkbar. Those Naats and Qawaalees never ask Allah swt for Paradise, Nor does it mention about seeking refuge from the Hell fire from Allah swt. All that I can understand from those naats and qawwalees is - Not Praises of Allah swt, but only the praises of Holy Prophet (saws) and the Auliya, which again does not confirm with the principles of Islam. Indeed every Muslim should love and praise the Holy Prophet (saws), but in the way as taught by the Holy Prophet saws and the Sahaba r.a. No Less and No Excess. Indeed every Muslim should send salaams on the Holy Prophet (saws), but in the way as taught by the Holy Prophet saws and the Sahaba r.a. No Less and No Excess. Indeed every Muslim should pray to Allah swt to make the Holy Prophet (saws) our intercessor on the Day of Judgment, but in the way as taught by the Holy Prophet (saws) and the Sahaba (r.a). No Less and No Excess. Indeed every Muslim should respect the true Auliya and the Imams of Islam. But in the way suitable to their status. No Less and No Excess. Before I conclude, below are a few more hadiths of the Holy Prophets (saws) command to the Muslim Ummah. Sahih Bukhari 4.654: Narrated `Umar: I heard the Prophet saying, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle." Sahih Bukhari 9.422: Narrated Abu Sa`id AlKhudri: The Prophet said, "You will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit (i.e., inch by inch) so much so that even if they entered a hole of a mastigure, you would follow them." We said, "O Allah's Apostle! (Do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?" He said, "Whom else?"

Based on the analysis done so far, the occasion of Eid Milaad-un-Nabi need to be validated against the above mentioned Rules. Eid Milaad-un-Nabi DOES NOT confirm to Rule#1 - Every Muslim should follow all that Allah swt and the Holy Prophet saws commanded. Eid Milaad-un-Nabi DOES NOT confirm to Rule#2 - Every Muslim should avoid all those actions and practices that were forbidden by Allah swt and the Holy Prophet saws. You might say, "Where did the Holy Prophet (saws) forbid Eid Milaad-un-Nabi?" Don't you agree that celebrating birthdays is a practice of Christians, and didn't the Holy Prophet (saws) forbade us to follow the Jews and Christians. Eid Milaad-un-Nabi DOES NOT confirm to Rule#3 - Every Muslim can choose to practice something that Allah swt or the Holy Prophet saws did not command directly, but was done by a Sahaba r.a. and that action was not forbidden by the Holy Prophet saws. Eid Milaad-un-Nabi DOES NOT confirm to Rule#4 - Every Muslims should do the opposite of what the Jews and Christian do. Eid Milaad-un-Nabi DOES NOT confirm to Rule#5 - Muslim should follow the Holy Prophet saws first, even if the action or practice is similar to action or practice done by Jews or Christians. In such cases Muslim should follow no less and no more than what is commanded by the Holy Prophet saws. Eid Milaad-un-Nabi DOES NOT confirm to Rule#6 - Muslims are not allowed to add or subtract anything in the Principles of Islam. Eid Milaad-un-Nabi DOES NOT confirm to Rule#7 - For any new practice, Muslims should abide by the Ijmaa. Ijmaa is Consensus of ALL the scholars of Islam and NOT consensus of few scholars of Islam. Lastly, didn't Allah (swt) command us not to differentiate between any of the Prophets (peace be on them all) of Allah (swt). In that case, you are left with two choices Either you choose to celebrate both Christmas and Milaad-un-Nabi. OR You refrain to celebrate both Christmas and Milaad-un-Nabi. Let me conclude with the Seven Oft repeated verses of the Holy Quran. Surah Al Fatihah In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. All praise is for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. The Master of the Day of Judgment. O Allah! You Alone we worship and You Alone we call on for help. O Allah! Guide us to The Right Way. The Way of those whom You have favored; Not of those(Jews) who have earned Your wrath, Nor of those(Christians) who have lost The Way. We ask Allah to protect us from bidah and to bless us by helping us to follow. Allah knows best. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

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