Question: What is your opinion about celebrating Mawlid (the Prophet's birth day)? Some people repeat that some scholars permit it and participate in it. Please, advise us about this issue. May Allah reward you with the best.

Answer: Celebrating the Mawlid has no legal foundation to substantiate, as it is a Bid`ah (innovation in religion) that people introduced during the fourth century and the next centuries. It is well known that the Fatimids were the first to introduce this innovation. They ruled the region of North Africa and Egypt during the fourth and the fifth centuries and introduced this Bid`ah in the fourth century in the name of `Aly, Al-Hasan, Al-Husayn, and Fatimah. They also made celebrations in the name of the Prophetﷺ and in the name of their ruler. Later, this practice became widely common, but it was not practiced during the early preferable centuries or during the lifetime of the Prophetﷺ. Thus,

(Part No. 3; Page No. 57)

the erudite scholars mentioned that it is a Bdi`ah, because the Prophetﷺ said: Anyone who does an action which is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected. Heﷺ also said: Anyone who introduces anything into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it will have it rejected. It means that it will not be accepted. There is no consideration for the great numbers of those who practice it, because they inherited that from their forefathers. The rule adopted by both the common people and the Kafirs (disbelievers) before the Prophetﷺ is: We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps. There is no evidence in following the practice of forefathers when their practice is not based on a firm legal foundation in the same manner that the deeds of Kafirs have no authority. Thus, Allah denounced their tradition and ordered them to follow the Prophetﷺ leaving them no excuse in their imitation of their ancestors. Allah dispraised them for that. O believer, you should not follow the tradition of your father or grandfather or that of your natives except in matters prescribed by Allah. As for matters that Allah forbade, you should not follow them even if they are many. Suppose that it has become widely common that your natives drink Khamr (intoxicant), commit Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage), or become undutiful to their parents, you must not do that out of following them. Likewise, when they commit Bid`ahs, you should not follow them but you should pray to Allah for their guidance, extend advice and lead them to the good deeds. You must not commit the forbidden acts that Allah prohibited in following their practices in the same manner that you must not commit Zina, drink Khamr, disobey your parents, deal in Riba (usury), or do other similar forbidden acts.