Articles

Ruling on Celebrating the Prophet`s Birthday
Author : Dr Noah Ali Salman
Date Added : 21-12-2015

Ruling on Celebrating the Prophet`s Birthday

 

On the twelfth of Rabi` al-Awal of each Hijri year, the Muslim World celebrates the birthday of Prophet Mohammad(PBUH). The General Iftaa` Department is pleased to congratulate the Muslim and Arab Nations on this happy occasion, and prays that at the same date of next year Allah would have favored them with peace, stability and honor.
We call on all Muslims in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to participate in this celebration to show their love and high regard to our Prophet Mohammad(PBUH), remembering his words: "None of you is a believer till I am dearer to him than his child, his father and the whole of mankind."{Agreed upon}.
On this happy occasion, Muslims gather to recite the Quran, read the biography of the Prophet(PBUH) and chant Madih to honor him as well as to rejoice at his birth(Mawlid). These acts are amongst the good practices referred to by the Prophet(PBUH) where he said," Whoever introduces a good practice that is followed after him, will have a reward for that and the equivalent of their reward, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest"{Muslim}.
The permissibility of celebrating this happy occasion is indicated by many pieces of evidence, some of these are:
First: Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari (RAA) narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah (the 9th of the month of Dhul Hijjah). He replied, "Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for the preceding year and the following year.” He was also asked about fasting on the day of Ashura (the 10th of the month of Muharram). He replied, “Fasting on the day of Ashura is an expiation for the preceding year.” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was also asked about fasting on Monday, and he replied, "This is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was sent (with the Message of Islam) and the day on which I received revelation." Related by Muslim. In this Hadith, the Prophet clarifies that he Fasted on Monday because it is his birthday which distinguishes that day from the rest of the days, and a Muslim should be keen on receiving as many rewards from Allah as possible during this blessed day.
Second: Allah, The Almighty, said, " and teach them to remember the Days of God."{Ibrahim/5}. i.e. teach them to remember the favors that Allah has bestowed upon them, as interpreted by Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and Qotadah, and the Prophet`s birthday is undoubtedly the greatest favor that Allah has bestowed upon the whole World; therefore, celebrating it means complying with the commands of Allah by remembering His favors and blessings.
Third: Allah, The Almighty, said, "Say: "In the bounty of God. And in His Mercy,- in that let them rejoice": that is better than the (wealth) they hoard"{Younis/58}. Ibn Abbas said, "The bounty of Allah is knowledge and His mercy is Prophet Mohammad(PBUH)." Moreover, Allah, The Almighty, said, "
We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures."{Al-Anbiya`/107}. Therefore, celebrating the birthday of the master of all creatures(PBUH) is one aspect of the prescribed rejoice.
Fourth: When the Prophet (PBUH) came to Medina, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of 'Ashura' (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: "This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah." The Prophet (PBUH) said, "I am closer to Moses than they." So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it."{Bukhari}. Therefore, thanking Allah, annually, for bestowing a favor or removing an affliction is permissible, and amongst the greatest blessings and favors on that day is the birth of Prophet Mohammad(PBUH).
We should remind ourselves and our Muslim brothers to follow our role model Prophet Mohammad(PBUH) in terms of his manners, words and deeds. Allah, The Almighty, said, "Verily there is for you a good example in the Messenger of God for whoever hopes for [the encounter with] God and the Last Day, and remembers God often."{Al-Ahzaab/21}.
We beseech Allah, The Almighty, to protect our country, favor it with peace and security along with the rest of the Muslim countries.

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What fulfills the requirement of Suhoor?

Suhoor is fulfilled by eating even a single date or drinking a sip of water, anytime after midnight and before Fajr, with the intention of strengthening oneself for fasting.

What is the ruling on performing the obligatory prayer immediately after the commencement of the Adhan?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to perform the obligatory prayer (Fard) immediately after the commencement of the prayer time. As the Adhan (call to prayer) serves as a sign that the time has entered, it is permissible to pray as soon as the Adhan begins. However, it is recommended (Mustahabb) for whoever hears the Mu’adhin to repeat what he says. If the Adhan occurs while one is already engaged in prayer, he should repeat the words of the Mu’adhin after he has completed his prayer. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The Sharia basis of the Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is firmly established through the Quran, the Sunnah, and the Consensus (Ijma') of the Muslims:
1. Evidence from the Holy Quran
Allah the Exalted says {what means}: "And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good." [Al-Hajj/36]. He also says {what means}: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]" [Al-Kawthar/2]. According to the most well-known scholarly interpretations of this verse, "prayer" refers to the Eid prayer, and "sacrifice" refers to the slaughtering of the Udhiyah.
2. Evidence from the Sunnah
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The first thing we start with on this day of ours is to pray, then we return and sacrifice. Whoever does that has followed our Sunnah, and whoever slaughters before [the prayer], it is merely meat he has provided for his family; it is not part of the ritual sacrifice in any way" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed two white rams with horns. He slaughtered them with his own hand, mentioned the name of Allah (Tasmiyah), and said the Takbir" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
3. Evidence from Scholarly Consensus (Ijma')
The Muslims have reached a unanimous consensus on the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah, and no one among the scholars has disagreed with this. [Al-Sherbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj, Vol.6/P.122].And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on making up missed prayers during prohibited times?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to make up (qada’) missed prayers at any time, even during the periods when prayer is generally prohibited. The prayers that are forbidden and considered invalid during these times are 'absolute voluntary prayers' (nafl mutlaq)—which have no specific cause—and voluntary prayers whose cause follows the prayer itself, such as the Sunnah of entering Ihram or the Sunnah of the Istikharah prayer. Furthermore, no prayer is considered disliked (makruh) during these prohibited times when performed within the Meccan Sanctuary (Makkah al-Mukarramah).
 
It is stated in Bushra al-Karim (Vol.1/P.181), one of the Shafi’i texts: 'It is not forbidden to perform prayers that have a cause that is not delayed (i.e., the cause is preceding), such as making up a missed prayer (fa’itah)—even if it was a voluntary one—and the funeral prayer (janazah); or a cause that is simultaneous, such as the prayer for rain (istisqa’) or the eclipse prayer (kusuf)... and the Sunnah of wudu, the greeting of the mosque (tahiyyat al-masjid), the Sunnah of circumambulation (tawaf), the Sunnah of arrival, and the prostrations of recitation (tilawah) or thankfulness (shukr). These mentioned prayers and their like are not forbidden provided that one does not specifically intend (ta'ammud) to perform them during the disliked time because it is a disliked time. If one does so intentionally, it becomes forbidden, even if it is a mandatory makeup prayer that is due immediately; because in that case, one is acting in defiance of the Sharia. This is in contrast to when one does not specifically seek out that time, even if the prayer happens to fall within it, or if one seeks it for another purpose—such as delaying a funeral prayer to that time so that a larger number of people may pray over the deceased; in such cases, it is permissible and valid... And it is forbidden to perform prayers with no cause at all, like absolute nafl, or those with a delayed cause, such as the Istikharah prayer, the prayer for Ihram, the prayer for a need (hajah), the prayer before leaving the house, or the prayer before execution; because their causes occur after the prayer itself.' And Allah the Exalted knows best."