‘Iyad ibn Himar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Allah has revealed to me that you must be humble towards one another, so that no one oppresses another or boasts to another.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2865
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim
عَنْ عِيَاضِ بْنِ حِمَارٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَوْحَى إِلَيَّ أَنْ تَوَاضَعُوا حَتَّى لَا يَبْغِيَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ وَلَا يَفْخَرَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ
2865 صحيح مسلم كتاب الجنة وصفة النعيم وعائلتها يعرف باب الصفات التي في هذا العالم أهل الجنة وأهل النار
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2865
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim
عَنْ عِيَاضِ بْنِ حِمَارٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَوْحَى إِلَيَّ أَنْ تَوَاضَعُوا حَتَّى لَا يَبْغِيَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ وَلَا يَفْخَرَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ
2865 صحيح مسلم كتاب الجنة وصفة النعيم وعائلتها يعرف باب الصفات التي في هذا العالم أهل الجنة وأهل النار
Dear married sisters, that gentleman you think is better than your husband is because he's not living with you.
And to you married Men, that lady you think is better than your wife its because she's not living with you!
Marriage is a very complex institution. Even when ALLAH blesses you with a loving partner, you will still have some bad days in your relationship.
How the two of you choose to resolve your misunderstandings is what makes you different from other couples!
I can assure you that even the most admired couples have fights once in a while!
Marriage calls for maturity, communication, understanding, sacrifice, dedication, transparency, patience, forgiveness and love!
And to you married Men, that lady you think is better than your wife its because she's not living with you!
Marriage is a very complex institution. Even when ALLAH blesses you with a loving partner, you will still have some bad days in your relationship.
How the two of you choose to resolve your misunderstandings is what makes you different from other couples!
I can assure you that even the most admired couples have fights once in a while!
Marriage calls for maturity, communication, understanding, sacrifice, dedication, transparency, patience, forgiveness and love!
*A Father’s Advice to his Daughter.*
Abu Aswad ad-Du’ali [may Allāh have mercy on him] advised his daughter saying:
“Beware of jealousy for it is the key to divorce, be keen to adorn yourself; the best of adornment is applying eye make-up _[kohl]_. Upon you is to make yourself smell good [for your husband] and the best means to smell good is to continuously perform _wudu_.”
‘Uyūn ul-Akbār, 4/76 | Al-Imām ibn Qutaybah [may Allāh have mercy on him]
Translation: Authentic Quotes.
Abu Aswad ad-Du’ali [may Allāh have mercy on him] advised his daughter saying:
“Beware of jealousy for it is the key to divorce, be keen to adorn yourself; the best of adornment is applying eye make-up _[kohl]_. Upon you is to make yourself smell good [for your husband] and the best means to smell good is to continuously perform _wudu_.”
‘Uyūn ul-Akbār, 4/76 | Al-Imām ibn Qutaybah [may Allāh have mercy on him]
Translation: Authentic Quotes.
Before you lose hope in making dua please give this beautiful reminder a read.... <3
❝If you fall into a hardship that is hard to be free from, you can’t (do anything) but make du’a and take refuge in Allāh, after repenting from sins, because sinning necessitates punishment, so if it is erased with repentance, the reason (for punishment) is lifted. So if you repented and made du’a, and did not see any trace of response, then look into your affair.
Maybe the repentance was not sound, so correct it then make du’a and don’t become tired of making du’a.
Maybe the good is in delaying the response, and maybe the good is not in responding, so you will be rewarded and responded to according to what benefits you, and it would be beneficial for you to not be given what you requested, but rather to be given other than it as a replacement.
So if Iblees comes and says: ‘How much did you call upon Him and did not see any response?’
Then say: ‘I worship (Allāh) by making du’a, and I am certain that the answer will come. But maybe its delay is due to some good, and even if it doesn’t happen, worship and humility takes place.’
So take care not to ask for something except by combining it with asking for that which is good, because the occurrence of many a wish from the dunya was a cause for destruction.❞
- Ibn Al Jawzi رَحِمَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ
[Sayd ul-Khatir]
❝If you fall into a hardship that is hard to be free from, you can’t (do anything) but make du’a and take refuge in Allāh, after repenting from sins, because sinning necessitates punishment, so if it is erased with repentance, the reason (for punishment) is lifted. So if you repented and made du’a, and did not see any trace of response, then look into your affair.
Maybe the repentance was not sound, so correct it then make du’a and don’t become tired of making du’a.
Maybe the good is in delaying the response, and maybe the good is not in responding, so you will be rewarded and responded to according to what benefits you, and it would be beneficial for you to not be given what you requested, but rather to be given other than it as a replacement.
So if Iblees comes and says: ‘How much did you call upon Him and did not see any response?’
Then say: ‘I worship (Allāh) by making du’a, and I am certain that the answer will come. But maybe its delay is due to some good, and even if it doesn’t happen, worship and humility takes place.’
So take care not to ask for something except by combining it with asking for that which is good, because the occurrence of many a wish from the dunya was a cause for destruction.❞
- Ibn Al Jawzi رَحِمَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ
[Sayd ul-Khatir]
✒️ Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله تعالى
❝When the people of Jannah will reunite, they will remember all the times they spoke about Jannah in this world. They’ll look back and laugh, at how short life was, and then smile, because beautiful is their final abode.
The people of paradise will have all that they desire. One step into Jannah and they will remember no pain. They will say they never suffered, they will say they never cried.
A dip in Jannah.
Oh how much we long for that moment. The moment where we reunite, we hug our loved ones once again. We forget about all the pain, and thank Allāh for all the tests!
How strange does it seem, that these tests which weigh a ton on our chest today will one day elevate us. Elevate us so high, that we will thank Allāh. We will thank Him for testing us, for loving us and for giving us more than anyone could imagine.
A place of eternity, vast, beautiful, peaceful.
Everything one can desire.
Be patient, oh beautiful slaves of Allāh, for our Lord is more Merciful than a mother is to her child.❞
📝- Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) in “Al-Fawa’īd” (pg. 119).
❝When the people of Jannah will reunite, they will remember all the times they spoke about Jannah in this world. They’ll look back and laugh, at how short life was, and then smile, because beautiful is their final abode.
The people of paradise will have all that they desire. One step into Jannah and they will remember no pain. They will say they never suffered, they will say they never cried.
A dip in Jannah.
Oh how much we long for that moment. The moment where we reunite, we hug our loved ones once again. We forget about all the pain, and thank Allāh for all the tests!
How strange does it seem, that these tests which weigh a ton on our chest today will one day elevate us. Elevate us so high, that we will thank Allāh. We will thank Him for testing us, for loving us and for giving us more than anyone could imagine.
A place of eternity, vast, beautiful, peaceful.
Everything one can desire.
Be patient, oh beautiful slaves of Allāh, for our Lord is more Merciful than a mother is to her child.❞
📝- Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) in “Al-Fawa’īd” (pg. 119).
Imaam ash-Shāfi'ī رحمه الله: The dignity of a man is in three things;
• Hiding poverty until people consider from your integrity that you are rich.
• Hiding anger until people consider that you are pleased.
• Hiding hardship until people consider that you prosperous.
[ﻣﻨﺎﻗﺐ ﺍﻟﺸﺎﻓﻌﻲ للبيهقي ٢/١٨٨]
• Hiding poverty until people consider from your integrity that you are rich.
• Hiding anger until people consider that you are pleased.
• Hiding hardship until people consider that you prosperous.
[ﻣﻨﺎﻗﺐ ﺍﻟﺸﺎﻓﻌﻲ للبيهقي ٢/١٨٨]
Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Bāz mentioned:
The sitting after the taslīm in the prescribed prayers is from the most important times, in which the mercy of Allāh descends (upon his slaves).
Do not hastily get up, rather seek forgiveness from Allāh, glorify Him, praise Him, and magnify Him.
Ibn Baṭṭal (raḥimahullāh) said:
Whoever has many sins and desires that Allāh remove these sins from him without burdening himself, then let him seize this opportunity and remain seated in his place after the prayer, so that he may take advantage of the supplications from the Angels and their asking forgiveness for him.
Source: Sharḥ Ibn Baṭṭal, vol. 3, pg. 114
Translated by: Munīb al-Sumālī
The sitting after the taslīm in the prescribed prayers is from the most important times, in which the mercy of Allāh descends (upon his slaves).
Do not hastily get up, rather seek forgiveness from Allāh, glorify Him, praise Him, and magnify Him.
Ibn Baṭṭal (raḥimahullāh) said:
Whoever has many sins and desires that Allāh remove these sins from him without burdening himself, then let him seize this opportunity and remain seated in his place after the prayer, so that he may take advantage of the supplications from the Angels and their asking forgiveness for him.
Source: Sharḥ Ibn Baṭṭal, vol. 3, pg. 114
Translated by: Munīb al-Sumālī
*🌹Ibn al-Qayyim: Sit for a short while before you sleep and do this..*
Ibn al-Qayyim said: * *"Avoid those things that necessitate the punishment of the grave.*
*And from the most beneficial of them is that when a man wants to sleep, he sits for an hour, for the Sake of Allaah, calling himself to account over the things that he has lost and gained during that day of his. Then, between him and his Lord, he renews his sincere repentance over those things that he lost, and sleeps on that repentance, firmly resolving not to return to the sin when he wakes up–and he does this every night.*
*So if he dies on that night of his, he would have died upon repentance and if he wakes up, he will wake up going towards action, pleased with the postponement of his appointed time so that he can turn to his Lord and set right what he missed out on.*
*And there is nothing more beneficial for the servant than this sleep, especially when he follows that [i.e., his resolve to renew his repentance] up with the remembrance of Allaah, performing those sunnahs which have been reported from the Prophet of Allaah when going to bed, [doing so] until sleep overtakes him.*
*So whoever Allaah wishes good for, He will grant him the success to do that. And there is neither movement, nor power except through Allaah.”*
● {Ar-Rooh, p. 79.}
_A Reminder Benefits the Believers.
Ibn al-Qayyim said: * *"Avoid those things that necessitate the punishment of the grave.*
*And from the most beneficial of them is that when a man wants to sleep, he sits for an hour, for the Sake of Allaah, calling himself to account over the things that he has lost and gained during that day of his. Then, between him and his Lord, he renews his sincere repentance over those things that he lost, and sleeps on that repentance, firmly resolving not to return to the sin when he wakes up–and he does this every night.*
*So if he dies on that night of his, he would have died upon repentance and if he wakes up, he will wake up going towards action, pleased with the postponement of his appointed time so that he can turn to his Lord and set right what he missed out on.*
*And there is nothing more beneficial for the servant than this sleep, especially when he follows that [i.e., his resolve to renew his repentance] up with the remembrance of Allaah, performing those sunnahs which have been reported from the Prophet of Allaah when going to bed, [doing so] until sleep overtakes him.*
*So whoever Allaah wishes good for, He will grant him the success to do that. And there is neither movement, nor power except through Allaah.”*
● {Ar-Rooh, p. 79.}
_A Reminder Benefits the Believers.
Beware: The Evil-Eye Can Come From Someone Who Did Not Even See That Which He/She Has Afflicted
Ibnul-Qayyim [رحمه الله] said:
❝The one who puts the evil-eye on another not only has an effect based upon that which he has seen. Rather, perhaps the blind person has something described to him, thus his soul is affected by what he didn't even see. Many of those who put the evil eye on others do so based on something being described to them without even seeing it.❞
[Zad Al-Ma'ad, (Page: 117) | Translated By Raha Batts]
Ibnul-Qayyim [رحمه الله] said:
❝The one who puts the evil-eye on another not only has an effect based upon that which he has seen. Rather, perhaps the blind person has something described to him, thus his soul is affected by what he didn't even see. Many of those who put the evil eye on others do so based on something being described to them without even seeing it.❞
[Zad Al-Ma'ad, (Page: 117) | Translated By Raha Batts]
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said,
“There will come a time for my ummah when they will love five things and forget five things -
they will love this life (dunyā) and forget the life to come;
they will love property and forget the grave; they will love wealth and forget the [Day of] Judgement;
they will love their children and forget the truth; and they will love themselves and forget Allah.
They have nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with them.”
[Preparing For The Day Of Judgement By: Imaam Ibn Hajar Al'Asqalani (رحمهالله), “Counsel In Fives”, Qt.(2)]
“There will come a time for my ummah when they will love five things and forget five things -
they will love this life (dunyā) and forget the life to come;
they will love property and forget the grave; they will love wealth and forget the [Day of] Judgement;
they will love their children and forget the truth; and they will love themselves and forget Allah.
They have nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with them.”
[Preparing For The Day Of Judgement By: Imaam Ibn Hajar Al'Asqalani (رحمهالله), “Counsel In Fives”, Qt.(2)]
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
“Anger is like a lion; if it's owner sets it free it will eat him.
Desire is like a fire; if it's owner starts it, it will burn him.
Pride is like fighting against a king to take his Kingdom, if it does not destroy you it will expel you.
And envy is like showing enmity to one who is more powerful than you.
Whoever overcomes his desire and anger, Satan will depart from him, and whoever's desire and anger beat him, Satan will stick to him.”
[al-Fawa'id I Pg. 267]
“Anger is like a lion; if it's owner sets it free it will eat him.
Desire is like a fire; if it's owner starts it, it will burn him.
Pride is like fighting against a king to take his Kingdom, if it does not destroy you it will expel you.
And envy is like showing enmity to one who is more powerful than you.
Whoever overcomes his desire and anger, Satan will depart from him, and whoever's desire and anger beat him, Satan will stick to him.”
[al-Fawa'id I Pg. 267]
If you love your (Muslim) brother for the sake of Allaah, then give him generously from your self and your wealth.
[Transcribed from: The Biography of Sufyaan ath-Thawree (rahimahullah), Salah ud Din ‘Ali Abdul Maujood published by Darus Salam or adh-Dhahabi (rahimahullah), Siyar A’lâm an-Nubalâ (Biography/Life of Noble Characters) in his biography of Sufyaan ath-Thawree (rahimahullah), pgs. 176 - 181]
[Transcribed from: The Biography of Sufyaan ath-Thawree (rahimahullah), Salah ud Din ‘Ali Abdul Maujood published by Darus Salam or adh-Dhahabi (rahimahullah), Siyar A’lâm an-Nubalâ (Biography/Life of Noble Characters) in his biography of Sufyaan ath-Thawree (rahimahullah), pgs. 176 - 181]
Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen [may Allāh have mercy on him] said:
“Celebrating the birthday (Mawlid) of the Messenger of Allāh صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ is an innovation and forbidden [in the religion of Islām].”
Fatāwa Arkān al-Islām | Page 172 | Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen [may Allāh have mercy on him]
Translation: Authentic Quotes
“Celebrating the birthday (Mawlid) of the Messenger of Allāh صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ is an innovation and forbidden [in the religion of Islām].”
Fatāwa Arkān al-Islām | Page 172 | Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen [may Allāh have mercy on him]
Translation: Authentic Quotes
‼️Don’t Be Deceived By The Beauty Of Our Posts.‼️
Al-Imām Ahmad said:
“We are a poor people. If it were not for Allāh screening us we would have been exposed.”
Al-Hilyah of Abu Nu’aym, 9/181.
Al-Imām Ahmad said:
“We are a poor people. If it were not for Allāh screening us we would have been exposed.”
Al-Hilyah of Abu Nu’aym, 9/181.
My Thoughts on Birthday Celebrations in General, and the Mawlid in Particular
1. It is an established fact the birthdays are of pagan origin and therefore foreign to Islām. A Muslim is not to imitate the pagans, as proven in the following Ḥadīth:
Ibn 'Umar reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” [Source: Sunan Abū Dāwūd 4031 ~ Grade: Ḥasan (fair) according to Ibn Ḥajar]
2. The so-called Mawlid birthday celebration has no basis in Islām. It was not practiced by Muḥammad ﷺ nor his companions, may Allāh be pleased with them, nor the subsequent generations until later on (by the Shiites of all people). Acts of worship in Islām require clear evidence from the texts, and so, innovations in matters of worship are not allowed due to the following clear evidences:
‘Ā’ishah reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said, “Whoever innovates something into this matter of ours which does not belong to it will have it rejected.”
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our matter will have it rejected.”
[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2550, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1718]
3. There is no such thing as a good innovation in matters of worship, as some may claim. The evidence is clear in this Ḥadīth:
Jābir ibn 'Abd Allāh reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ would praise Allāh in his sermon as He deserves to be praised and then he would say, “Whoever Allāh guides, no one can lead him astray. Whoever Allāh sends astray, no one can guide him. The truest word is the Book of Allāh and the best guidance is the guidance of Muḥammad. The most evil matters are those that are newly invented, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.”
[Source: Sunan an-Nasā’ī 1578 ~ Grade: Ṣaḥīḥ (authentic) according to al-Albānī]
Also, it is equivalent to accusing Muḥammad ﷺ of not fulfilling the mission and that he missed some good things about which to inform us to do. Such implicit claims are blasphemous, because it would mean disbelieving in the following verse in Noble Qur'ān 5:67
"O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allāh will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people."
4. What is an innovation in the religion?
An innovation in religion has the following attributes:
i. It is a good deed.
ii. It is done in order to get closer to Allāh.
iii. But is not based on the teachings of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him.
There is a principle that some scholars use; if there was any good in it, they (the early Muslims) would have succeeded us to [to do] it, meaning, we are not going to know more than them in matters of devotion.
Specifying a time for and giving a special status to an act of worship is not allowed without clear evidence from the texts.
5. Statements of the companions regarding innovations
The companion, ‘Abd Allāh Ibn Mas‘ūd, may Allāh be pleased with him, said: Follow and do not innovate, for indeed you have been sufficed, and every innovation is misguidance.”
[Source: Reported in Aḥmad in Az-Zuhd p. 162 - Authentic]
The companion ‘Abd Allāh Ibn 'Umar said: "Every innovation is misguidance, even if the people see it as something good."
[Source: Al-Bayhaqī in Al-Madkhal Ilas-Sunan (no. 191) and also Ibn Naṣr in as-Sunnah (p. 24) - Authentic]
6. Many people come to you with the difference of opinion card. They fail to realize that not every difference of opinion is valid. One must bring evidence for such claims.
You will also hear Sufis (mystics) like Hamza Yusuf admit that it is an innovation, but that it is a "good innovation". In reality, the Sufis as well as the Shiites are both guilty of over-praising the righteous, whether it is Muḥammad ﷺ or others, and this over-praising is where polytheism (Shirk) begins.
7. Clearing a doubt
1. It is an established fact the birthdays are of pagan origin and therefore foreign to Islām. A Muslim is not to imitate the pagans, as proven in the following Ḥadīth:
Ibn 'Umar reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” [Source: Sunan Abū Dāwūd 4031 ~ Grade: Ḥasan (fair) according to Ibn Ḥajar]
2. The so-called Mawlid birthday celebration has no basis in Islām. It was not practiced by Muḥammad ﷺ nor his companions, may Allāh be pleased with them, nor the subsequent generations until later on (by the Shiites of all people). Acts of worship in Islām require clear evidence from the texts, and so, innovations in matters of worship are not allowed due to the following clear evidences:
‘Ā’ishah reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said, “Whoever innovates something into this matter of ours which does not belong to it will have it rejected.”
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our matter will have it rejected.”
[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2550, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1718]
3. There is no such thing as a good innovation in matters of worship, as some may claim. The evidence is clear in this Ḥadīth:
Jābir ibn 'Abd Allāh reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ would praise Allāh in his sermon as He deserves to be praised and then he would say, “Whoever Allāh guides, no one can lead him astray. Whoever Allāh sends astray, no one can guide him. The truest word is the Book of Allāh and the best guidance is the guidance of Muḥammad. The most evil matters are those that are newly invented, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.”
[Source: Sunan an-Nasā’ī 1578 ~ Grade: Ṣaḥīḥ (authentic) according to al-Albānī]
Also, it is equivalent to accusing Muḥammad ﷺ of not fulfilling the mission and that he missed some good things about which to inform us to do. Such implicit claims are blasphemous, because it would mean disbelieving in the following verse in Noble Qur'ān 5:67
"O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allāh will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people."
4. What is an innovation in the religion?
An innovation in religion has the following attributes:
i. It is a good deed.
ii. It is done in order to get closer to Allāh.
iii. But is not based on the teachings of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him.
There is a principle that some scholars use; if there was any good in it, they (the early Muslims) would have succeeded us to [to do] it, meaning, we are not going to know more than them in matters of devotion.
Specifying a time for and giving a special status to an act of worship is not allowed without clear evidence from the texts.
5. Statements of the companions regarding innovations
The companion, ‘Abd Allāh Ibn Mas‘ūd, may Allāh be pleased with him, said: Follow and do not innovate, for indeed you have been sufficed, and every innovation is misguidance.”
[Source: Reported in Aḥmad in Az-Zuhd p. 162 - Authentic]
The companion ‘Abd Allāh Ibn 'Umar said: "Every innovation is misguidance, even if the people see it as something good."
[Source: Al-Bayhaqī in Al-Madkhal Ilas-Sunan (no. 191) and also Ibn Naṣr in as-Sunnah (p. 24) - Authentic]
6. Many people come to you with the difference of opinion card. They fail to realize that not every difference of opinion is valid. One must bring evidence for such claims.
You will also hear Sufis (mystics) like Hamza Yusuf admit that it is an innovation, but that it is a "good innovation". In reality, the Sufis as well as the Shiites are both guilty of over-praising the righteous, whether it is Muḥammad ﷺ or others, and this over-praising is where polytheism (Shirk) begins.
7. Clearing a doubt
Some may use the evidence that when Muḥammad ﷺ was asked as to why he fasted Mondays, he answered that this was because Monday is the day that he was born. So, Muḥammad ﷺ was born on a Monday. But he fasted every Monday of every week, so if someone really wants to "celebrate" the Mawlid, then this person should fast every Monday, and Muḥammad's birthday ﷺ was not every Monday of every week anyway, so that argument holds no ground.
8. The actual date of the Mawlid
The date commonly known is that Muḥammad ﷺ was born on the 12th of Rabī‘ al-Awwal of the Islamic calendar. Interestingly enough, that date is not actually confirmed, because other scholars gave different dates. What is confirmed is that Muḥammad ﷺ was born in the Year of the Elephant, the one in which Abrahah tried to trample the Ka‘bah with an army of elephants and Allāh destroyed him and his army before he reached the Ka‘bah as we read in chapter 105 of the Noble Qur'ān
Interestingly enough, what is CONFIRMED is that Muḥammad ﷺ died on the 12th of Rabī‘ al-Awwal, so the irony is that people are actually celebrating the day he died - imagine?
9. Conclusion
Whoever tells you that you should celebrate birthdays for your children or to take part in birthday celebrations, and using the Mawlid as evidence, you can answer them very easily that the Mawlid has no basis in Islām, and that birthday celebrations are of pagan origin to begin with, and that we as Muslims ought to be the ones who uphold strict and pure monotheism and follow the Sunnah properly.
You can also question them as to which calendar they base the birthday, the Islamic one or the Gregorian one. The Islamic lunar calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar, which means that when you and I were 33 years old on the Gregorian calendar which we use everyday, we were in fact 34 years old according to the Islamic calendar.
والله أعلم
8. The actual date of the Mawlid
The date commonly known is that Muḥammad ﷺ was born on the 12th of Rabī‘ al-Awwal of the Islamic calendar. Interestingly enough, that date is not actually confirmed, because other scholars gave different dates. What is confirmed is that Muḥammad ﷺ was born in the Year of the Elephant, the one in which Abrahah tried to trample the Ka‘bah with an army of elephants and Allāh destroyed him and his army before he reached the Ka‘bah as we read in chapter 105 of the Noble Qur'ān
Interestingly enough, what is CONFIRMED is that Muḥammad ﷺ died on the 12th of Rabī‘ al-Awwal, so the irony is that people are actually celebrating the day he died - imagine?
9. Conclusion
Whoever tells you that you should celebrate birthdays for your children or to take part in birthday celebrations, and using the Mawlid as evidence, you can answer them very easily that the Mawlid has no basis in Islām, and that birthday celebrations are of pagan origin to begin with, and that we as Muslims ought to be the ones who uphold strict and pure monotheism and follow the Sunnah properly.
You can also question them as to which calendar they base the birthday, the Islamic one or the Gregorian one. The Islamic lunar calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar, which means that when you and I were 33 years old on the Gregorian calendar which we use everyday, we were in fact 34 years old according to the Islamic calendar.
والله أعلم
My Thoughts on Birthday Celebrations in General, and the Mawlid in Particular
1. It is an established fact the birthdays are of pagan origin and therefore foreign to Islām. A Muslim is not to imitate the pagans, as proven in the following Ḥadīth:
Ibn 'Umar reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” [Source: Sunan Abū Dāwūd 4031 ~ Grade: Ḥasan (fair) according to Ibn Ḥajar]
2. The so-called Mawlid birthday celebration has no basis in Islām. It was not practiced by Muḥammad ﷺ nor his companions, may Allāh be pleased with them, nor the subsequent generations until later on (by the Shiites of all people). Acts of worship in Islām require clear evidence from the texts, and so, innovations in matters of worship are not allowed due to the following clear evidences:
‘Ā’ishah reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said, “Whoever innovates something into this matter of ours which does not belong to it will have it rejected.”
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our matter will have it rejected.”
[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2550, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1718]
3. There is no such thing as a good innovation in matters of worship, as some may claim. The evidence is clear in this Ḥadīth:
Jābir ibn 'Abd Allāh reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ would praise Allāh in his sermon as He deserves to be praised and then he would say, “Whoever Allāh guides, no one can lead him astray. Whoever Allāh sends astray, no one can guide him. The truest word is the Book of Allāh and the best guidance is the guidance of Muḥammad. The most evil matters are those that are newly invented, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.”
[Source: Sunan an-Nasā’ī 1578 ~ Grade: Ṣaḥīḥ (authentic) according to al-Albānī]
Also, it is equivalent to accusing Muḥammad ﷺ of not fulfilling the mission and that he missed some good things about which to inform us to do. Such implicit claims are blasphemous, because it would mean disbelieving in the following verse in Noble Qur'ān 5:67
"O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allāh will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people."
4. What is an innovation in the religion?
An innovation in religion has the following attributes:
i. It is a good deed.
ii. It is done in order to get closer to Allāh.
iii. But is not based on the teachings of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him.
There is a principle that some scholars use; if there was any good in it, they (the early Muslims) would have succeeded us to [to do] it, meaning, we are not going to know more than them in matters of devotion.
Specifying a time for and giving a special status to an act of worship is not allowed without clear evidence from the texts.
5. Statements of the companions regarding innovations
The companion, ‘Abd Allāh Ibn Mas‘ūd, may Allāh be pleased with him, said: Follow and do not innovate, for indeed you have been sufficed, and every innovation is misguidance.”
[Source: Reported in Aḥmad in Az-Zuhd p. 162 - Authentic]
The companion ‘Abd Allāh Ibn 'Umar said: "Every innovation is misguidance, even if the people see it as something good."
[Source: Al-Bayhaqī in Al-Madkhal Ilas-Sunan (no. 191) and also Ibn Naṣr in as-Sunnah (p. 24) - Authentic]
6. Many people come to you with the difference of opinion card. They fail to realize that not every difference of opinion is valid. One must bring evidence for such claims.
You will also hear Sufis (mystics) like Hamza Yusuf admit that it is an innovation, but that it is a "good innovation". In reality, the Sufis as well as the Shiites are both guilty of over-praising the righteous, whether it is Muḥammad ﷺ or others, and this over-praising is where polytheism (Shirk) begins.
7. Clearing a doubt
1. It is an established fact the birthdays are of pagan origin and therefore foreign to Islām. A Muslim is not to imitate the pagans, as proven in the following Ḥadīth:
Ibn 'Umar reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” [Source: Sunan Abū Dāwūd 4031 ~ Grade: Ḥasan (fair) according to Ibn Ḥajar]
2. The so-called Mawlid birthday celebration has no basis in Islām. It was not practiced by Muḥammad ﷺ nor his companions, may Allāh be pleased with them, nor the subsequent generations until later on (by the Shiites of all people). Acts of worship in Islām require clear evidence from the texts, and so, innovations in matters of worship are not allowed due to the following clear evidences:
‘Ā’ishah reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said, “Whoever innovates something into this matter of ours which does not belong to it will have it rejected.”
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our matter will have it rejected.”
[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2550, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1718]
3. There is no such thing as a good innovation in matters of worship, as some may claim. The evidence is clear in this Ḥadīth:
Jābir ibn 'Abd Allāh reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ would praise Allāh in his sermon as He deserves to be praised and then he would say, “Whoever Allāh guides, no one can lead him astray. Whoever Allāh sends astray, no one can guide him. The truest word is the Book of Allāh and the best guidance is the guidance of Muḥammad. The most evil matters are those that are newly invented, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.”
[Source: Sunan an-Nasā’ī 1578 ~ Grade: Ṣaḥīḥ (authentic) according to al-Albānī]
Also, it is equivalent to accusing Muḥammad ﷺ of not fulfilling the mission and that he missed some good things about which to inform us to do. Such implicit claims are blasphemous, because it would mean disbelieving in the following verse in Noble Qur'ān 5:67
"O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allāh will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people."
4. What is an innovation in the religion?
An innovation in religion has the following attributes:
i. It is a good deed.
ii. It is done in order to get closer to Allāh.
iii. But is not based on the teachings of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him.
There is a principle that some scholars use; if there was any good in it, they (the early Muslims) would have succeeded us to [to do] it, meaning, we are not going to know more than them in matters of devotion.
Specifying a time for and giving a special status to an act of worship is not allowed without clear evidence from the texts.
5. Statements of the companions regarding innovations
The companion, ‘Abd Allāh Ibn Mas‘ūd, may Allāh be pleased with him, said: Follow and do not innovate, for indeed you have been sufficed, and every innovation is misguidance.”
[Source: Reported in Aḥmad in Az-Zuhd p. 162 - Authentic]
The companion ‘Abd Allāh Ibn 'Umar said: "Every innovation is misguidance, even if the people see it as something good."
[Source: Al-Bayhaqī in Al-Madkhal Ilas-Sunan (no. 191) and also Ibn Naṣr in as-Sunnah (p. 24) - Authentic]
6. Many people come to you with the difference of opinion card. They fail to realize that not every difference of opinion is valid. One must bring evidence for such claims.
You will also hear Sufis (mystics) like Hamza Yusuf admit that it is an innovation, but that it is a "good innovation". In reality, the Sufis as well as the Shiites are both guilty of over-praising the righteous, whether it is Muḥammad ﷺ or others, and this over-praising is where polytheism (Shirk) begins.
7. Clearing a doubt
Some may use the evidence that when Muḥammad ﷺ was asked as to why he fasted Mondays, he answered that this was because Monday is the day that he was born. So, Muḥammad ﷺ was born on a Monday. But he fasted every Monday of every week, so if someone really wants to "celebrate" the Mawlid, then this person should fast every Monday, and Muḥammad's birthday ﷺ was not every Monday of every week anyway, so that argument holds no ground.
8. The actual date of the Mawlid
The date commonly known is that Muḥammad ﷺ was born on the 12th of Rabī‘ al-Awwal of the Islamic calendar. Interestingly enough, that date is not actually confirmed, because other scholars gave different dates. What is confirmed is that Muḥammad ﷺ was born in the Year of the Elephant, the one in which Abrahah tried to trample the Ka‘bah with an army of elephants and Allāh destroyed him and his army before he reached the Ka‘bah as we read in chapter 105 of the Noble Qur'ān
Interestingly enough, what is CONFIRMED is that Muḥammad ﷺ died on the 12th of Rabī‘ al-Awwal, so the irony is that people are actually celebrating the day he died - imagine?
9. Conclusion
Whoever tells you that you should celebrate birthdays for your children or to take part in birthday celebrations, and using the Mawlid as evidence, you can answer them very easily that the Mawlid has no basis in Islām, and that birthday celebrations are of pagan origin to begin with, and that we as Muslims ought to be the ones who uphold strict and pure monotheism and follow the Sunnah properly.
You can also question them as to which calendar they base the birthday, the Islamic one or the Gregorian one. The Islamic lunar calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar, which means that when you and I were 33 years old on the Gregorian calendar which we use everyday, we were in fact 34 years old according to the Islamic calendar.
والله أعلم
8. The actual date of the Mawlid
The date commonly known is that Muḥammad ﷺ was born on the 12th of Rabī‘ al-Awwal of the Islamic calendar. Interestingly enough, that date is not actually confirmed, because other scholars gave different dates. What is confirmed is that Muḥammad ﷺ was born in the Year of the Elephant, the one in which Abrahah tried to trample the Ka‘bah with an army of elephants and Allāh destroyed him and his army before he reached the Ka‘bah as we read in chapter 105 of the Noble Qur'ān
Interestingly enough, what is CONFIRMED is that Muḥammad ﷺ died on the 12th of Rabī‘ al-Awwal, so the irony is that people are actually celebrating the day he died - imagine?
9. Conclusion
Whoever tells you that you should celebrate birthdays for your children or to take part in birthday celebrations, and using the Mawlid as evidence, you can answer them very easily that the Mawlid has no basis in Islām, and that birthday celebrations are of pagan origin to begin with, and that we as Muslims ought to be the ones who uphold strict and pure monotheism and follow the Sunnah properly.
You can also question them as to which calendar they base the birthday, the Islamic one or the Gregorian one. The Islamic lunar calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar, which means that when you and I were 33 years old on the Gregorian calendar which we use everyday, we were in fact 34 years old according to the Islamic calendar.
والله أعلم