Muhammad's birthday: How should it be observed?



A Mawlid Procession in India

Right about now (the Gregorian date varies from year to year, and the lunar-calendar date varies amongst different Islamic groups) is the anniversary of Muhammad’s birth (Mawlid an-Nabi or The Birth of the Prophet).  Although many Muslims will honor this profound event with public celebrations, others decidedly will not.

Just as there are groups within Christianity (such as the Jehovah Witnesses and The United Church of God) who feel that Christmas traditions do not stem from the actual teachings of Jesus, there are groups within Islam who feel that Mawlid an-Nabi traditions do not stem from the true teachings of Muhammad. 

The Arabic word, Bid’ah, refers to innovations within Islam.  Innovations within worldly disciplines such as

the sciences are acceptable, and Islamic cultures have produced some of the world’s finest.  However,

innovations that are not in keeping with the basic principles of Islam are considered sinful.  Since Muhammad’s birthday was not celebrated until generations after his death, there are some Islamic scholars who have considered its celebration to be a sinful Bid’ah.  These scholars have included Muhammad Taqi Usmani from Pakistan and Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah ibn Baaz from Saudi Arabia.

Wikipedia cites other Islamic scholars (such as American Imam Zaid Salim Shakir, Canadian-based Tahir-ul-Qadri, Egyptian theologian Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Indian Grand Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan, and Brunei-based teacher Gibril Haddad) that have approved of Mawlid an-Nabi observances that are in keeping with Sharia (as derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah).  For example, fasting in honor of this birthday would be in keeping with Sharia – whereas indiscriminate “intermingling” would not.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawlid

http://amused-muse.blogspot.com/2007/12/christians-against-christmas.html