Discussing the permissibility of celebrating the Prophet’s birthday is not about questioning love for the Prophet ﷺ. The discussion stems from understanding the religious validity of this practice.
- Allah ﷻ commands in the Qur'an:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ
"Say, [O Muhammad], 'If you love Allah, then follow me, so Allah will love you.'" (Surah Aal-e-Imran: 31)
True love for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ is expressed through following the Sunnah. The question at hand is:
- Did the Prophet ﷺ himself celebrate his birthday?
- Did his companions and the early generations observe this practice?
- Who introduced Mawlid, and what was their character and integrity?
This article will provide a historical analysis of the origins of Mawlid, its early practitioners, and the scholarly perspectives on it.
The Absence of Mawlid in Early Islamic Generations
A thorough look at the Prophet’s biography and the history of the first generations shows that the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday did not exist in their time.
- The Prophet ﷺ himself did not celebrate it.
- Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali (رضي الله عنهم) did not observe it.
- The students of the Sahaba, the four great Imams (Abu Hanifa, Malik, al-Shafi’i, and Ahmad) did not practice it.
If Mawlid was an act of worship that drew one closer to Allah, why did these greatest generations of Islam not engage in it? The silence of the Prophet ﷺ and his closest followers regarding it is clear evidence that it was not part of Islamic teachings.
What the Scholars Say About Its Absence
- Imam al-Sakhawi explicitly states:
لم يفعله أحد من السلف في القرون الثلاثة الفاضلة، وإنما حدث بعد
"It was not practiced by anyone from the first three virtuous generations, but was introduced later." (Al-Sirah Al-Ḥalabiyyah: 1:83-84)
Similarly, Al-Imam al-Maqrizi, in Al-Khitat (Vol. 1, Page 490), writes that the first known instance of celebrating Mawlid was in the time of the Fatimids (Ubaydiyyun).
The First Group to Introduce Mawlid: The Fatimid (Ubaydid) Dynasty
Historical Evidence of Its Origins
The earliest documented instance of celebrating Mawlid comes from the Fatimid rulers in Egypt. This is recorded in numerous historical sources, including:
- Al-Khitat (Al-Maqrizi) – Fatimids introduced it in Egypt.
- Subh al-A’sha (Abu Abbas Ahmad ibn Ali) – Fatimids officially held Mawlid gatherings.
- Ahsan al-Kalam (Shaykh Muhammad al-Muti’i) – The first to introduce Mawlid were the Fatimids.
- Al-Ibda’ fi Madar al-Ibtida’ (Shaykh Ali Mahfuz) – Fatimids also introduced celebrations of Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn’s birthdays.
These sources all confirm that the Fatimids started the celebration of Mawlid in the 4th century Hijri.
Who Were the Fatimids (Ubaydiyyun)?
The Fatimids, also called the Ubaydiyyun, were a Shia sect that falsely claimed lineage from Fatima (رضي الله عنها), the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ. However, historical records confirm that their genealogy was fabricated.
Scholarly Verdict on the Fatimids
- Ibn Kathir, in Al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya (Vol. 11), records a signed declaration by scholars, judges, and righteous people of the time, stating:
أن الفاطميين ملوك مصر كفار فساق فجار زنادقة معطلون، وللإسلام جاحدون
"The Fatimid rulers of Egypt were disbelievers, transgressors, criminals, heretics, who abandoned Islam and denied it."
- Qadi Abu Bakr al-Baqillani, a prominent Ash’ari scholar, described them as:
هم قوم يظهرون الرفض ويبطنون الكفر المحض
"They outwardly display Shi’ism, but inwardly they conceal pure disbelief."
- Imam al-Dhahabi on Al-Hakim bi Amrillah (Fatimid ruler who reintroduced Mawlid):
الرافضي، الإسماعيلي، الزنديق، المدعي الربوبية
"A Rafidi, an Ismaili heretic, a man who claimed divinity."
- At-Turtushi, in Siraj al-Muluk, calls them:
زنادقة ملحدون مجوس كفار
"Heretics, disbelievers, Magians, and infidels."
The Fatimid Atrocities: A Historical Perspective
One of the most notorious Fatimid rulers, Al-Hakim bi Amrillah, was known for:
- Killing scholars who opposed him.
- Claiming divinity and having people worship him.
- Ordering the cursing of Sahaba in public places.
- Enforcing bizarre religious laws (e.g., banning certain foods like molokhia).
- Mass executions and torture of Sunni scholars.
Imam al-Dhahabi narrates that he used to walk in the markets with his guards, and if he found someone violating his rules, he would order his slave to rape them publicly.
Is it reasonable to take religious practices from such individuals?
Did a Sunni Ruler Start Mawlid? The Case of Al-Malik al-Muzaffar
Some claim that Al-Malik al-Muzaffar of Irbil (7th century) introduced Mawlid. However:
- He did not start it—he took it from the Fatimids.
- Historical records confirm that Mawlid was already practiced by the Fatimids in the 4th century.
- Even if he did celebrate it, it only proves he adopted an existing innovation.
Thus, attributing Mawlid to Al-Malik al-Muzaffar does not change the fact that it originated with the Fatimids.
Is Celebrating Mawlid an Innovation (Bid’ah)?
- The Prophet ﷺ explicitly warned:
إياكم ومحدثات الأمور، فإن كل محدثة بدعة، وكل بدعة ضلالة
"Beware of newly introduced matters in religion, for every innovation is misguidance." (Sunan Abu Dawood: 4607)
If Mawlid was a path to Jannah, why did:
- The Prophet ﷺ not instruct it?
- The Khulafa Rashidun (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali) not practice it?
- The four Imams (Abu Hanifa, Malik, al-Shafi’i, Ahmad) never mention it?
Conclusion: Following the Sunnah, Not Innovations
The historical evidence is undeniable—Mawlid was not part of early Islam.
True love for the Prophet ﷺ is not through innovations but through following his Sunnah. May Allah guide us all to the correct path and keep us away from innovations.
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