By Alhaji Mohamed Wusha Conteh 1st November 2021 updated 20:00
Please permit space in your widely circulated news medium, to dilate on this most thorny topic, Celebration of Maulid ‘Bidah or Mubah’? This topic continues to confuse the Muslims Ummah as scholars yearly embarked on fierce debate with different schools of thoughts to justify or demonize the day.
I am of the strong view, that if we are not careful the way the debate of the Birth of the Holy prophet Mohammed Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him (PBUH) is going, it will really cause some deeper problem amongst Muslims which have the tendency to deepen conflict. There is no harm in having difference of opinion in Islam but how we go about addressing these differences of opinion is very important to us as Muslims.
The Holy prophet Mohammed (PBUH) has prepared our minds long ago about addressing our differences. He told us if we defer in whatever matter we should refer to the Holy Quran and/or Sunnah. On this issue, there is no way one can refer to the Holy Quran to justify his point our only evidence is from the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. We can also trace difference of opinion with the four (4) great Imams: Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafa’i and Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on them) their differences was so clear as to whether a hadith was sound or weak, and their differences with regard to the principles of understanding the text was very common but despite that there was no dispute ever recorded as to one school attacking the other of their belief.
What we are seeing today on the difference of opinions of celebrating the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) will one day enter into serious dispute amongst Muslims if not checked. If we have a disagreement especially between the followers of one Madhab (School of Fiqh) and another, we must respect each other's opinions and present our evidence. In the end, even if neither side proves a point, we must be courteous and respectful.
With this, let me define these two words commonly used by both side to either justify or demonize the day: Bidah - is an Arabic word that refers to innovation that has no roots in the traditional practice of the Holy Prophet (Sunnah). Whereas, Mubah - mean any acts that are allowed in Islam which doesn’t affect your faith or relationship with Allah.
I believe one thing we have in common despite the differences of the schools of thought, all of us believe in the Holy Prophet as the last and final Prophet of Allah. All of us believe in the Holy Quran as the authentic words of Allah and we also believe in the practices of the Holy Prophet (Sunnah/Hadith) though we have some difference of opinion as to which sunnah/hadith is sound or weak.
In the Hadith there are different views about the miraculous birth of the Holy prophet Muhammed (PBUH), but despite the different views we must admit that it was very common amongst our grandparents that were born in the 19th Century (1800’s). Majority of them cannot tell you their birthday except by an event which took place during that year or month. But, with the Holy Prophet (PBUH) there is a Hadith that linked to the day he was born on Monday.
According to Abu Qatadah al-Ansari (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was asked about fasting on Mondays and he said: “That is a day on which I was born and on it my mission began – or Revelation came to me.” (Narrated by Muslim, 1162).
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The deeds are presented on Monday and Thursday. Thus, I love for my deeds to be presented while I am fasting.”
From these two hadiths which are commonly used by both sides to either justify or demonize the day, one can read clearly there is a difference of opinion on the reason why the Holy Prophet (PBUH) fast on Monday. I do believe if we want to justify any of the hadith we need to go back to the advice of the Holy Prophet and the four Great Imams and look how they addressed their difference of opinions.
Alhamdulillah, there is a clear consensus on the year and month of the Birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), according to several scholars including Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: the Prophet was born in the year of Elephant. According to Muhammad ibn Yusuf as-Salihi (may Allah have mercy on him) said “There is no difference of opinion concerning the fact that he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was born in Makkah, and that his birth was in the Year of the Elephant.”: (Zad al-Ma'ad fi Hadiy Khayr al-‘Ibad, 1/76) and according to Ibrahim ibn al-Mundhir al-Hizami, the Shaykh of al-Bukhari, said: This is the opinion concerning which none of the scholars has any doubt. Khalifah ibn Khayyat, Ibn al-Jazzar, Ibn Dihyah, Ibn al-Jawzi and Ibn al-Qayyim went further and narrated that there was consensus on this matter.” (Subul al-Huda wa’r-Rashad fi Seerat Khayr al-‘Ibad, 1/334, 335)
Another difference of opinion is the date of his birth, Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “It was said that he was born on the twelfth of the month. It was narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah in his Musannaf from ‘Affan from Sa‘eed ibn Mina that Jabir and Ibn ‘Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was born in the Year of the Elephant on Monday 12.
“The Egyptian astronomer Mahmoud Basha (d. 1885 CE) who was well-versed in astronomy, geography and mathematics, wrote several books based on his research stated that it was on the morning of Monday 9th Rabee‘ al-Awwal, which corresponds to 20th April 571 CE. That corresponds to the first year following the elephant incident. He was born in the house of Abu Talib in Shi‘ab Banu Hashim.” (Nur al-Yaqeen fi Seerat Sayyid al-Mursaleen (p. 9). See also ar-Raheeq al-Makhtum, p. 41).
Others more especially the Shia are of the view that the Holy Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) was born on the 19th Rabee‘ al-Awwal 11 AH.
With regard to the date of his death in that month, there is a difference of opinion among the scholars.
1. The majority are of the view that it occurred on 12th Rabee‘ al-Awwal.
2. al-Khawarizmi was of the view that it occurred on 1st Rabee‘ al-Awwal.
3. Ibn al-Kalbi and Abu Makhnaf were of the view that it occurred on 2nd Rabee‘ al-Awwal. As-Suhayli was inclined to favour this view and al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) regarded it as most likely to be correct.
With these differences in view, one can conclude that there is no need for deepen conflict as the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) once said: ‘The Jews were divided into seventy one or seventy two sects, and so were the Christians. My Ummah will be divided into seventy three sects.’ (Sunan Tirmidhi 40:35, Ahmed 2:332, Hadith: 2640 and Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al-Ihsan, Hadith: 6247 & 6731)
“My ummah will divide into 73 sects, all of them will be in the Fire except for one, and that is the Jamā’ah.” Allah (the Most High) has commanded us with unity upon the truth.
The fact that we have sects like Shia, Sunni, Sufi etc that uphold the celebration of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as they believe they can utilised this day in remembrance of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and a way to unite the Muslim Ummah despite the differences of schools of thought whilst another sect that prefer to be called Salafi, following the opinion of Muhammed Idn Wahab believe that celebrating the Birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) is Bidah as the Holy Prophet and his companion never celebrated the birthday and the celebration should be consider as an innovation in Islam.
This debate will continue unabated as everyone believe in his evidence on the sunnah/hadith of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) what we need to do in such case is to respect each other evidence and try to ensure that this day is observe and/or commemorated Islamically and to the benefit of the Muslim Ummah especially in trying to unite the various sects in Islam as commanded by Allah in Sura 3:103 ‘And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it’
In conclusion, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is a symbol of perfection of both the individual and society. He must be emulated as he is one that is endowed with virtues of strength, solemnity, charity, generosity and ultimately a mercy for the entire creation. The love of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is not personal love but rather, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is loved because he symbolises all that is beautiful in God’s creation. His virtues are universal and as such the celebration of such a wonderful personality is indeed a celebration of humanity.
It is very important to have a round table conference of Islamic scholars from all sects to discuss these different views in order for us to respect each other and live in peace and harmony as the more we continue to confuse our Muslim Ummah the more we are dividing them and becoming weak for serious conflict.
For us in Sierra Leone after going through the history books, our fore-fathers fought for the recognition of this day because Muslims were denied certain facilities like echoing Azan, Muslims schools were not recognized to even have a platform like other schools etc. So the day was not only utilized to remember the Holy Prophet but also to give more strength to the Muslim Ummah in the country.
There are several questions that need answers
1. Are we trying to re-write the History of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)?
2. Are we trying to stop the teachings of the Holy Prophet in the schools and Mosque? I believe some of our teachings have succeeded in confusing the ummah that you hardly hear our Imams talking about the sira of the Prophet.
3. Are we trying to promote your school of thought disregarding others?
4. Why can’t we come together as Muslims and enjoin in doing good like feeding the orphans, help the needy, visit the sick etc?
5. Do we think the yearly debate will encourage the ummah to accept the Islamic faith?
