Al-Bakri al-Dimyati - I‘anat al-Talibin ‘ala Hall Alfadh Fath al-Mu‘in - Chapter on Marriage
Volume: (3) - Page: (413–415)
Point of Benefit: In al-Hafiz al-Suyuti’s Fatawa under the chapter on wedding feasts: He was asked about holding the Prophet’s birthday celebration in Rabi‘ al-Awwal—what is its ruling according to Shariah, whether it is praiseworthy or blameworthy, and whether the person who does it is rewarded or not. He said, “In my view, the basis of the Mawlid celebration, which is the gathering of people to recite what is possible from the Qur’an and to recount the stories of the beginning of the Prophet’s (S) life and the events surrounding his birth, then to serve a meal for them without adding any other forms, is one of the good innovations. Its practitioner is rewarded because of the veneration it shows for the Prophet’s (S) stature and the expression of joy and gladness for his noble birth.”
Shaykh al-Islam of the Sacred City, our teacher, the knower by the grace of Allah, Sayyid Ahmad ibn Zayni Dahlan, elaborated on this in his Sirah of the Prophet, and it is beneficial to cite here. He said, may Allah prolong his life and that of the Muslims: It is customary that when people hear the mention of the Prophet’s (S) birth, they stand in reverence for him (S). This standing is praiseworthy, as it shows respect for the Prophet (S), and it has been practiced by many of the scholars of the ummah who are taken as examples.
Al-Halabi mentioned in his Sirah: It is reported that Imam al-Subki was once gathered with many of the scholars of his time, and one of his attendants recited the lines of praise by al-Sarsari for the Prophet (S):
“Writing the praise of the Chosen One with gold is a small act,
On paper as splendid as this, no writer’s script excels.”
“And the noble rise in lines upon hearing it,
Standing, whether upon their feet or kneeling.”
At that moment, Imam al-Subki and everyone in the gathering stood up, and a great happiness filled that assembly as they performed the Mawlid and likewise gathered people for it.
Imam Abu Shama, the teacher of al-Nawawi, said: One of the best innovations in our time is what is done every year on the day corresponding to the Prophet’s (S) birth, from giving charity, showing goodwill, decorating, and celebrating, for it is an expression of love and respect for the Prophet (S) in the hearts of those who practice it and a way of showing gratitude to Allah for bringing into existence the Messenger of Allah (S) whom He sent as mercy for the worlds.
Al-Sakhawi stated: The Mawlid celebration arose after the first three generations, and yet Muslims from all regions and major cities have consistently observed the Mawlid, giving charity in its nights, taking care to recite his noble biography, and witnessing for themselves abundant blessings.
Ibn al-Jawzi said, Among its blessings are peace in that year and a swift glad-tiding of fulfillment and the achievement of aspirations. The first ruler to hold it was King al-Muzaffar Abu Sa‘id of Irbil. Al-Hafiz Ibn Dihya authored a book for him titled al-Tanwir fi Mawlid al-Bashir al-Nadhir, for which the king rewarded him with one thousand dinars. Al-Muzaffar would hold it in Rabi‘ al-Awwal and would celebrate it magnificently, and he was courageous, bold, intelligent, scholarly, just, and his reign was long until he passed away besieging the Franks in Acre in the year 630 A.H., his legacy was praised.
Sibṭ Ibn al-Jawzi mentioned in Mir’at al-Zaman: (It is reported) that someone who attended one of al-Muzaffar’s Mawlid feasts said that it included five thousand roasted sheep, ten thousand chickens, one hundred thousand bowls of cream, and thirty thousand trays of sweets. Distinguished scholars and Sufis were present at his Mawlid celebrations, where he would honor them, offer them incense, and the expense of these events would reach three hundred thousand dinars.
Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani derived support for the Mawlid celebration from a fixed basis in the Sunnah as related in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, where the Prophet (S) came to Medina and found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. When he asked why, they said, “This is the day when Allah drowned Pharaoh and saved Musa, so we fast in thanks.” The Prophet said, “We are closer to Musa than you are.” Moreover, Abu Lahab was lightened from his punishment every Monday because he freed Thuwaybah in joy for the Prophet’s (S) birth. The poet of Damascus, al-Hafiz Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn Nasir, said:
“If even this disbeliever is thus reproached,
And his hands condemned to flame everlasting,
It is acknowledged that on each Monday
His punishment is lessened for his joy in Ahmed.”
“Then what is thought of the servant whose entire life
Was spent rejoicing in Ahmed, and who died monotheist?”
Al-Hasan al-Basri said (may Allah have mercy on him): I would wish to have the equivalent of Mount Uhud in gold to spend on reciting the Prophet’s (S) Mawlid.
Al-Junayd al-Baghdadi (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Whoever attends the Mawlid and exalts the Prophet’s rank has succeeded in faith.
Ma‘ruf al-Karkhi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Whoever prepares food for the Prophet’s (S) Mawlid, gathers his friends, lights lamps, wears new clothes, uses fragrance, and beautifies himself out of veneration for the Prophet’s birth, Allah will resurrect him on the Day of Resurrection with the foremost of the Prophets, in the highest of the high levels, and whoever reads the Prophet’s (S) Mawlid over coins of silver or gold and mixes these coins with others will find that they are blessed and that the owner will never suffer from poverty.
Imam al-Yafi‘i al-Yamani said: Whoever gathers his friends for the Prophet’s (S) Mawlid, prepares food, clears a space, acts kindly, and facilitates the reading of the Prophet’s (S) Mawlid will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection among the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous, and will dwell in the gardens of bliss.
Al-Sari al-Saqati said: Whoever goes to a place where the Mawlid of the Prophet (S) is read has visited a garden from the gardens of Paradise, as they went there out of love for the Prophet, and the Prophet said, “Whoever loves me will be with me in Paradise.”
Sultan al-‘Arifin al-Suyuti said in his book al-Wasa’il fi Sharh al-Shama’il: “In any house, mosque, or neighborhood where the Prophet’s Mawlid is read, the angels surround the people of that place and encompass them in mercy, while the angels bearing light—Gabriel, Michael, Israfil, Qurbail, ‘Aynail, the aligned, the surrounding, and the cherubim—pray for the one who is the cause of the Mawlid’s recitation. No house in which the Mawlid is recited will suffer from drought, plague, fire, calamities, tribulations, misfortunes, envy, or theft, and if anyone in that house dies, Allah will ease the questioning of Munkar and Nakir for him.”
It was narrated that during the time of Amir al-Mu’minin Harun al-Rashid, there was a young man in Basra known for his transgressions, whom the townspeople looked down upon due to his vile actions. However, each Rabi‘ al-Awwal he would wash his clothes, apply fragrance, adorn himself, host a feast, and arrange for the Prophet’s (S) Mawlid to be read, which he continued for many years. When he died, the people of the town heard a voice saying, “O people of Basra, attend the funeral of one of Allah’s beloved, for he is honored in My sight.” The townspeople gathered, performed his funeral, and buried him. Later, they saw him in a dream, adorned in garments of silk and brocade, and asked him, “How did you attain this honor?” He replied, “Through my veneration of the Prophet’s (S) Mawlid.”