Rabiul Awwal is that bountiful month of Islam in
which the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) graced the universe. On the 12th of
Rabiul Awwal an inextinguishable light known as
Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was born,
triumphing over darkness which had
prevailed till then. Allah Subhaanahu Wata’ala in
His Infinite Mercy endowed mankind with a
gift, immeasurable in worth. Celebrating,
remembering and showing gratitude for that auspicious
day on which we received this precious gift is
known as Jashne Eid-Milad-un-Nabi (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam). Indeed, it is a day of great
and splendorous celebration, for in it we thank Allah
Ta’ala for His gift, whose appreciation is beyond
the power of mortal man. It is with this Meeladun-
Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that we avail
ourselves the opportunity of rejuvenating our
souls and strengthening our belief in Allah
Subhaanahu Wata’ala and His Beloved Rasool
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
Allah Ta’ala exclaims in the Holy Qur’an, “And
remind them of the days of Allah.” [Surah 14,
Verse 5] Indeed all the days and nights, every
fraction of a second of existence are among His
creations and belong to Him, so of which days
does Allah Ta’ala remind His servants? The days
are those wherein Allah Ta’ala has sent His
Bounties unto His servants. And which is the Bounty
of Bounties? Those who believe know that above
all the gifts from Allah Ta’ala none is more
apparent in greatness than the very person of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
Allah Ta’ala further says in the Holy Qur’an,
“Say (Oh Muhammad), with the receival of Allah’s
Bounty and Mercy the believers should be happy.”
Therefore, the Holy Qur’an clearly sanctions
the fact that the believers should remember and
express joy at the receival of the gifts of Allah
Ta’ala. Almighty Allah then says, “Proclaim and
publicise the Bounty of thy Lord.” [Surah 93,
Verse 11] Imam Bukhari (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh)
says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) is the greatest Bounty of Almighty
Allah. Therefore in accordance with the Aayat and
narration above, our Beloved Aaqa (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) should become the object of most
publicity.
The intention of celebrating Milad Shareef is to
show joy and gratitude to Allah Ta’ala on the
auspicious birth of the Noble Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) and there is no doubt from the
above Aayaat that this is a virtuous and
commendable act. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) came into this mundane world on a
Monday and as a mark of gratitude to Allah Ta’ala
for this day, he would fast every Monday. When
asked about his fasting on Mondays he replied, “I
was born on a Monday and revelation also began on
this day.” Therefore even the Holy Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) himself celebrated
the day of his birth and showed gratitude to Allah
Ta’ala, which is the essence of Milad-un-Nabi
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) celebrations.
When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) was born, Abu Lahab’s slave-girl
Thuwaibah brought the news of a child
(Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) born to his
brother Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh).
In his frenzy of happiness Abu Lahab freed
Thuwaibah from her chains of servitude. All
Muslims know that Abu Lahab was a kaafir and that
Surah Lahab is Almighty Allah’s Wrath upon him,
yet Oh Muslims listen:
It is stated in Bukhari Shareef that when Abu
Lahab died he was seen in a dream by Hazrat Abbas
(Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) in a very bad state.
Hazrat Abbas (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) asked him,
“What has come to pass?” Abu Lahab replied, “I
have known no peace since my separation from all of you but yes, from this
forefinger of mine I receive water because with this finger I freed
Thuwaibah.”
In another narration Imam Hafiz Ibn Asqalaani
(Rahmatullah Alaih) writes that Hazrat Abbas
(Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said that, “One year
after Abu Lahab died I saw him in a very bad state in
a dream saying to me that, “I have known no peace
since I departed from you all but yes every
Monday my punishment is lessened.” This was
because Abu Lahab freed Thuwaibah on a Monday
after hearing the good news of the birth of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
Shah Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dehlvi (Rahmatullah
Alaih) commenting on this narration writes, “In
this incident there is clear proof for the
celebration of Milad Shareef and that those who are
happy and spend in the celebration of Milad
Shareef then indeed they will be in a laudable
position, because if a kaafir such as Abu Lahab
received a gift for showing happiness at the birth
of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
then greater by immeasurable extent will be the
reward for Muslims who do likewise.”
Allamah Ibn Hajar Makki (Rahmatullah Alaih)
writes in his great book Ne’matul Kubra the
sayings of the first four Caliphs of Islam:
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh)
said, “He who hath spent in the recital of Milad
Shareef one dirham, then he shall be my companion
in Jannat.”
Hazrat Umar Farooq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said,
“He who hath kept in veneration the Milad of
the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), he
hath kept Islam alive!”
Hazrat Uthman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said,
“He who hath spent one dirham in the recital
of Milad Shareef, it is as if he had been a
participant in the battles of Badr and Hunain!”
Hazrat Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said,
“He who revered the Milad Shareef and was
instrumental in its recital, he shall leave this
world upon Imaan and shall enter Jannat without
reckoning!”
Allamah Ismail Haqqi (Rahmatullah Alaih) writes
in his famous Tafseer Roohul Bayaan under the
Qur’anic Verse “Muhammadur Rasoolullah” that the
celebration of Milad Shareef is also a mark of
respect for the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam). Furthermore, Imam Jalaaluddin Suyuti
(Rahmatullah Alaih) and Allamah Ibn Hajar Makki
(Rahmatullah Alaih), who were giants of
knowledge in Islam, proved the permissibility of
Milad Shareef and at the same time, refuted the
corrupt beliefs of those who claimed Milad
Shareef to be ‘Bid’at-e-Sayyiah’ (bad innovation).
Hazrat Shah Waliullah Muhaddis Dehlvi
(Rahmatullah Alaih) reports that, “In Makkah Shareef
on the day of Milad-un-Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) I was present. The people sent
salutations on the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) and mentioned his birth and the
miracles at the time of his birth, and I saw Noor
(light) and Blessings in that gathering. I ventured
to find out where the Noor was coming from and I
came to know that the Noor was that of the
angels who are sent to such gatherings and I saw
the Light of the angels and the Light of Mercy
together.”
He further goes on to explain that once his
honourable father said that, “During the day of the
birth of the Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) I always have food cooked for the
people but one year besides roasted chana (gram)
I did not have anything else to give to my guests
and I was saddened.” After this I had a dream
wherein I saw the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) and around him lay roasted chana and
the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
was indeed very happy.”
If after all these proofs there are people who
still do not want to acknowledge the permissibility
of Milad Shareef, then they should ponder over
the following statement. Imam Mujaddid Alfe
Thaani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) who was the
Mujaddid of the 11th century has stated in his
writings on Milad Shareef, “What matters when the
Qur’an is recited sweetly and when praises
are sung in honour of the Holy Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)?”
There are many more proofs on the permissibility
of Milad Shareef however one more incident is
being presented which will reinforce our belief
in the permissibility of Milad Shareef. On the
night of the birth of the Holy Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), angels came and stood at the
door of Sayyidah Amina’s (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha)
home and commenced the recital of Salaat
and Salaam. Yes, the natural wretch and disgraced
Shaitaan ran in sadness. [Madaarijun-
Nubuwwah] Therefore those, in whose bosoms
kindles the light of belief, who celebrate the birth
of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
and stand to send Salaam upon him, are
following the practice of the angels. And those
who stop others from attending such gatherings by
calling it haraam and bid’at-e-sayyiah and run
far from such gatherings are following the practice
of shaitaan. So we should ponder carefully on
this and decide whether we want to follow the
angels or to follow shaitaan. Unfortunate beyond
measure indeed, are those who are bereft of
these bounties!
May Allah Ta’ala grant us all the Taufeeq to
participate in the beautiful occasion of Jashne Eid-
Milad-un-Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), so
that we may show our happiness and gratitude to
Almighty Allah and attain the Mercy and Bounties
of Allah Ta’ala that descend on this auspicious
day, Ameen.
