عربي
Home


Articles

Articles

Ruling on Celebrating the Prophet`s Birthday
Author : Dr Noah Ali Salman
Date Added : 21-12-2015

Ruling on Celebrating the Prophet`s Birthday

 

On the twelfth of Rabi` al-Awal of each Hijri year, the Muslim World celebrates the birthday of Prophet Mohammad(PBUH). The General Iftaa` Department is pleased to congratulate the Muslim and Arab Nations on this happy occasion, and prays that at the same date of next year Allah would have favored them with peace, stability and honor.
We call on all Muslims in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to participate in this celebration to show their love and high regard to our Prophet Mohammad(PBUH), remembering his words: "None of you is a believer till I am dearer to him than his child, his father and the whole of mankind."{Agreed upon}.
On this happy occasion, Muslims gather to recite the Quran, read the biography of the Prophet(PBUH) and chant Madih to honor him as well as to rejoice at his birth(Mawlid). These acts are amongst the good practices referred to by the Prophet(PBUH) where he said," Whoever introduces a good practice that is followed after him, will have a reward for that and the equivalent of their reward, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest"{Muslim}.
The permissibility of celebrating this happy occasion is indicated by many pieces of evidence, some of these are:
First: Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari (RAA) narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah (the 9th of the month of Dhul Hijjah). He replied, "Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for the preceding year and the following year.” He was also asked about fasting on the day of Ashura (the 10th of the month of Muharram). He replied, “Fasting on the day of Ashura is an expiation for the preceding year.” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was also asked about fasting on Monday, and he replied, "This is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was sent (with the Message of Islam) and the day on which I received revelation." Related by Muslim. In this Hadith, the Prophet clarifies that he Fasted on Monday because it is his birthday which distinguishes that day from the rest of the days, and a Muslim should be keen on receiving as many rewards from Allah as possible during this blessed day.
Second: Allah, The Almighty, said, " and teach them to remember the Days of God."{Ibrahim/5}. i.e. teach them to remember the favors that Allah has bestowed upon them, as interpreted by Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and Qotadah, and the Prophet`s birthday is undoubtedly the greatest favor that Allah has bestowed upon the whole World; therefore, celebrating it means complying with the commands of Allah by remembering His favors and blessings.
Third: Allah, The Almighty, said, "Say: "In the bounty of God. And in His Mercy,- in that let them rejoice": that is better than the (wealth) they hoard"{Younis/58}. Ibn Abbas said, "The bounty of Allah is knowledge and His mercy is Prophet Mohammad(PBUH)." Moreover, Allah, The Almighty, said, "
We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures."{Al-Anbiya`/107}. Therefore, celebrating the birthday of the master of all creatures(PBUH) is one aspect of the prescribed rejoice.
Fourth: When the Prophet (PBUH) came to Medina, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of 'Ashura' (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: "This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah." The Prophet (PBUH) said, "I am closer to Moses than they." So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it."{Bukhari}. Therefore, thanking Allah, annually, for bestowing a favor or removing an affliction is permissible, and amongst the greatest blessings and favors on that day is the birth of Prophet Mohammad(PBUH).
We should remind ourselves and our Muslim brothers to follow our role model Prophet Mohammad(PBUH) in terms of his manners, words and deeds. Allah, The Almighty, said, "Verily there is for you a good example in the Messenger of God for whoever hopes for [the encounter with] God and the Last Day, and remembers God often."{Al-Ahzaab/21}.
We beseech Allah, The Almighty, to protect our country, favor it with peace and security along with the rest of the Muslim countries.

 

 

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author




Comments


Captcha


Warning: this window is not dedicated to receive religious questions, but to comment on topics published for the benefit of the site administrators—and not for publication. We are pleased to receive religious questions in the section "Send Your Question". So we apologize to readers for not answering any questions through this window of "Comments" for the sake of work organization. Thank you.




Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible for a praying person to make supplication in each Sajdah (a prostration) of obligatory prayer?

It is permissible for a praying person, whether praying individually, or in congregation, to make supplication during Sujood (prostration) in obligatory, or voluntary prayers. However, it is disliked for the Imam to do so since he is required to spare the prayer performers any sort of hardship, unless he is leading a certain group who don`t mind him extending the prayer.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on participating in the prize draws (raffles) that commercial stores hold for their customers?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
There is no objection to participating in the prize draws (raffles) that commercial stores hold for their customers, provided that the buyer's intention in purchasing is not merely to enter the competition without any need for what is bought — rather, the purchase must be genuinely intended for the item itself, and one must not pay more than the item's fair market price. This is because paying an amount above the market price would effectively be paying a fee to enter the prize draw, which would render it a form of gambling (qimār).
These prizes are, in essence, gifts that businesses offer through a random drawing (qur'ah) to those who purchase from them, as a means of encouraging sales, without the customer bearing any additional monetary cost for participation. So long as the aforementioned conditions are met, there is no objection to benefiting from the prize offered by the store, as it is considered a lawful prize from the viewpoint of Islamic Law.
It is stated in the resolutions of the "Jordanian Iftaa' Board" (Resolution No. 47), in the context of outlining the conditions for permissible prizes: "The price of the ticket [or item purchased] for the sake of the prize must not exceed its original price, so that there is no payment of money in exchange for participation in the draw." And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

What is the ruling on performing the Witr prayer as a single rak`ah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to perform the Witr prayer as a single unit (rak‘ah). It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the night prayer, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: 'The night prayer is offered two by two (mathna mathna). If one of you fears the approach of dawn, let him pray a single rak‘ah to make what he has prayed odd-numbered (Witr) for him.' (Related by al-Bukhari & Muslim)). However, limiting the prayer to only one rak‘ah is considered 'contrary to the preferred way' (Khilaf al-Awla).
 
It is stated in Al-Minhaj al-Qawim Sharh al-Muqaddimah al-Hadramiyyah (p. 137): 'The minimum of Witr is one rak‘ah, but limiting it to that is contrary to what is best.'
 
The most complete form of Witr is eleven units, while the minimum level of 'perfection' is three units. It is stated in ‘Umdat al-Salik (p. 60): 'The minimum of Witr is one rak‘ah, and its maximum is eleven, performing the taslim (salutation) after every two units. The lowest level of perfection is three units with two separate taslims (meaning 2+1).' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

Is it permissible to slaughter a single sheep with the combined intention of both the uḍḥiyyah and the 'aqīqah?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
According to Shaykh al-Islām Imam Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, it is not permissible to combine the intention of the uḍḥiyyah and the 'aqīqah in a single animal, as each of the two has a distinct and separate cause that differs from the other.
However, Shaykh al-Islām Imam al-Ramlī permitted the combining of both intentions in a single animal — and this position offers a degree of latitude and ease. And Allah Almighty knows best.

See More