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

Does undergoing surgery under anesthesia break the fast?

Anesthesia itself does not break the fast because anesthetic gases have no physical substance (jirm), and subcutaneous anesthesia injections do not reach the body cavity (jauf). However, this is on condition that the person is conscious at some point during the fasting hours:
● If they were awake at the beginning of the day, their fast remains valid.
● If they wake up even for a moment before sunset, their fast is also valid.
However, if the surgery involves the entry of foreign substances into the body cavity, their fast is invalidated, and they must make up for that day later.

A pious man proposed to me and my father was hesitant in this regard because he is black, am I sinful if I accepted his proposal?

If the suitor is pious, color isn`t a drawback. However, try talking to your father kindly, so that he approves of your marriage with contentment, and that is better for you.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on following the actions of the imam in prayer and how this following is achieved?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
The follower (ma'mum) is required to follow his imam in the actions of the prayer. This "following" (mutaba'ah) means that the follower performs each action of the prayer after the imam has begun it but before he has finished it. For example, the follower bows (in ruku') after the imam has reached the position of bowing, then rises after the imam has risen. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The imam is only appointed to be followed, so when he says the takbir, say the takbir; and when he bows, then bow; and when he prostrates, then prostrate" (agreed upon, i.e., reported by both al-Bukhari and Muslim).
It is stated in Mughni al-Muhtaj (1/505): "Among the conditions of valid congregational prayer (iqtida') is following the imam in the actions of the prayer... meaning that following the imam is obligatory in the physical actions of the prayer, not in its verbal utterances... Complete following (kamal al-mutaba'ah) is achieved when the follower's beginning of an action comes after the imam's beginning of that same action, while the follower's beginning of the action precedes the imam's completion of it" — end of quote, with slight paraphrasing.
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is the prayer of someone who didn`t face Quibla (Ka`ba direction) valid?

All perfect praise be to Allah,The Lord of The Worlds.                                                                                                                                                              Facing the Quibla is a condition for the validity of prayer, and the prayer of the person who hadn`t faced the direction of the Quibla is invalid, and he is obliged to repeat it. And Allah Knows Best.