Is it permissible to celebrate Mawlid?

Mawlid is the commemoration of the birth of our Prophet (ﷺ). This event falls on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal according to the Hijri calendar, and it can be celebrated throughout the month. During Mawlid, passages from Mawlid Sharif poetry are recited, along with salawat and supplications. The life and character of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) are discussed and sermons are delivered. Therefore, celebrating the Mawlid of the Prophet (ﷺ) is considered mustahabb (recommended).

It is narrated from Ibn Abbas: "When the Prophet (ﷺ) came to Madinah, he saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them, 'Why do you fast on this day?' They replied, 'This is a great day when Allah saved Musa and drowned Pharaoh. We fast on this day out of gratitude to Allah.' The Prophet (ﷺ) then fasted on that day and ordered others to do so as well." [1]

Thankfulness to Allah is expressed through acts of worship such as fasting, giving charity, and reciting the Qur'an. Our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the greatest blessing Allah has bestowed upon creation. Through him came Islam, faith, the promise of Paradise, and salvation from Hellfire. Expressing joy at the Prophet's (ﷺ) birth, feeding the poor, and delivering sermons are all acts of gratitude that lead to Allah's pleasure. Allah says in the Qur'an:

لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ

"Indeed, Allah has bestowed a great favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been in clear error before." [2]

Furthermore, the Prophet (ﷺ) himself considered his birthday significant and expressed gratitude by fasting on that day. In the hadith narrated by Abu Qatadah:

"When the Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about fasting on Mondays, he replied: 'That is the day I was born and the day on which revelation was sent to me.'" [3] Based on these hadiths, scholars have concluded that it is permissible to commemorate Mawlid [4].

The claim by some that Mawlid is a bid'ah (innovation) and that the early generations (the Salaf) did not practice it is not a valid reason to prohibit it. The Prophet (ﷺ) himself called any action that leads to good a "sunnah" and said that the one who initiates it will be rewarded. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever introduces a good practice in Islam will have its reward and the reward of those who act upon it after him, without their rewards being diminished in the least. And whoever introduces a bad practice in Islam will bear its burden and the burden of those who act upon it after him, without their burdens being diminished in the least." [5]

The term "sunnatu hasanah" in this hadith includes all good deeds that do not contradict the principles and foundations of the religion. Examples include Umar (ra) gathering people behind one imam for Tarawih prayer, Uthman ibn Affan (ra) compiling the Qur'an, and the addition of a second adhan for Friday prayer.

Celebrating Mawlid has been approved by many renowned scholars from both the East and West, such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Hafiz Suyuti, Abdullah ibn al-Hajj, Hafiz al-Sakhawi, Hafiz al-Qastallani, Hafiz Ibn al-Shamma, and Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, among others[6]. Therefore, commemorating the Mawlid of the Prophet (ﷺ) is not contrary to Sharia.

Bauyrzhan Abdualiyev

Department of Sharia and Fatwa

• [1] Bukhari, Muslim.

• [2] Surah Al Imran, 3:164.

• [3] Muslim, No. 1162.

• [4] Ibn Rajab Hanbali, Lata'if al-Ma'arif, 98. Ali Jum'ah, Al-Bayan, 169-174.

• [5] Muslim, No. 1017.

• [6] Al-Suyuti, Al-Hawi lil-Fatawa, 1/181-189. Mulla Ali Qari, Al-Mawrid ar-Rawi, 307. Al-Qastallani, Al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah, 1/148. Ibn al-Shamma, Al-Ba'ith 'ala Inkar al-Bida', 1/23-24. Al-Haytami, Al-Fatawa al-Hadithiyyah, 202.