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The Celebration of the Prophet's Birth and the Renewal of the Pledge with Allah
Author : The Grand Mufti, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Al-Hasanat
Date Added : 17-09-2024

Every year, in the radiant month of Rabi' Al-Awwal, the Muslim Ummah throughout the world renews its celebration of a noble and momentous occasion that is deeply cherished by every believing Muslim: the birth of the Master of Creation and the Beloved of Allah, our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. His birth illuminated the world with light and extinguished its darkness. Our celebration of the Prophet, peace be upon him, is not confined to a single day or month; rather, it is an enduring commemoration that spans generations. Our joy in him is a testament to our love for him. Allah Says in the Quran (What means): "Say, 'In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy, in that let them rejoice. It is better than anything they accumulate.'" [Yunus/58]. This love for the Prophet is an enduring, ever-renewing faith that is a hallmark of true belief. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child, and all people." [Agreed upon]. And when Umar Ibn Al-Khattab said to the Prophet: "You are more beloved to me than everything except myself," the Prophet replied: "No, O Umar, until I am more beloved to you than yourself." Umar said: "By Allah, you are now more beloved to me than myself." The Prophet said, "Now, O Umar." [Al- Bukhari]. Whoever fills their heart with love for the Prophet tastes the sweetness of faith. This sweet taste is experienced only by those whose hearts are filled with love for the Messenger of Allah. Love for the Prophet is not a mere optional act of devotion but a duty incumbent upon every Muslim. Indeed, everyone who truly knows the Prophet loves him, for he is the benefactor of this entire nation and of all humanity. Through him, we became a united nation that leads other nations and champions knowledge, civilization, and reason. He guided us out of the darkness of ignorance, superstition, and idol worship. He took humanity by the hand and invited them to the noblest of morals and values. He brought peace and balance to the human soul, ensuring harmony between its physical, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional aspects. He restructured social relations, eliminating disparities and class divisions, and established clear boundaries for rights and duties between leaders, institutions, individuals, men, and women. He established a just and equitable system that ensured equal opportunities for all. He built an economic system that preserved the nation's resources, eradicated poverty, and guaranteed a dignified life for the elderly, the disabled, widows, and orphans, both Muslim and non-Muslim. He eradicated harmful practices like usury, deceit, and hoarding. He established a political system and international relations based on strong foundations that ensured global peace. All of this and more is what we commemorate on the occasion of the Prophet's birth. Therefore, his birth was a pivotal point in the course of all humanity, and thus, loving him, peace be upon him, is obligatory upon everyone who knows him, for he is indeed a mercy to all the worlds. In addition, he worked to build individuals and, ultimately, a nation that was distinguished by its intellect and civilization, capable of leadership and pioneering in various fields. It became a model for other nations, fulfilling Allah's promise: "You are the best nation ever raised for mankind." [Al-Imran/110]. On the anniversary of his birth, we reflect on how he dealt with events, built the Islamic nation, confronted challenges and difficulties, planned for the nation's progress, and developed strategies and visions for the future. By celebrating his birth, we remember the glorious past of our nation, identify our shortcomings, seek remedies, and renew our determination. We follow the same path and approach that the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his noble companions charted. As a result, the nation united its goals, capabilities, and resources to achieve a dignified life for all humanity, befitting the divine honor bestowed upon them. The month of Rabi' Al-Awwal is a month for introspection. We examine our shortcomings, correct our course, and recommit ourselves to our mission. We identify our weaknesses and seek to address them. We learn from the reasons for the greatness of the Islamic nation and strive to emulate them. We discuss how the Prophet planned for this nation to be the leader of humanity and a pioneer in knowledge and civilization. Celebrating the Mawlid and commemorating the Prophet's attributes is not merely about singing his praises and expressing joy at his birth. Rather, it strengthens our resolve to adhere to his teachings and follow his Sunnah. It enables us to identify our problems and seek solutions in accordance with his methodology. Celebrating the Mawlid is a means of renewing our pledge to Allah and our covenant with the Prophet, always mindful of Allah's command, it Says (What means): "And say, 'Work, and Allah will see your work, and His Messenger, and the believers.'" (At-Tawba/105)."

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on mentioning Allah`s name upon slaughtering an animal?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is a Sunnah (prophetic tradition) for the person slaughtering to say: "Bismillah" (In the Name of Allah), though the most complete and perfect phrasing is to say: "Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim" (In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). This is in accordance with the words of Allah Almighty: "So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned." (Al-An'am/118)
 
However, pronouncing it is not an obligatory requirement (Wajib). If someone omits it—whether deliberately or out of forgetfulness—the meat remains entirely lawful (Halal) to eat, though purposely omitting it is considered disliked (Makruh). And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on performing prayer on the upper floors of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Facing the actual structure of the Ka‘bah (‘ayn al-Ka‘bah) is one of the conditions for the validity of the prayer. The scholars have clarified what is meant by "the actual structure of the Ka‘bah."
Imam ash-Sharwānī (raḥimahullāh) said: "What is meant by its ‘ayn (actual structure) is its physical body, or the airspace directly aligned with it — if the person praying is not inside it. But if he is inside it, then the airspace alone does not suffice; rather, the actual physical structure must be faced, such that even if he faces a projecting part of it measuring roughly two-thirds of a dhirā‘ (cubit) or more, this would be sufficient." [Ḥāshiyat ash-Sharwānī ‘alā Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj, Vol.1/P.484]
Sheikh al-Qulyūbī (raḥimahullāh) said: "Unlike one who prays outside it — i.e., outside the Ka‘bah — for him the airspace (directly above it) suffices, even if he is higher than it, or even if he is at the location where it (hypothetically) has been demolished." [Ḥāshiyat al-Qulyūbī ‘alā Sharḥ al-Minhāj,  Vol.1/P.154]
Accordingly, the prayer is valid on the upper floors of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, even though these floors are higher than the roof of the Ka‘bah itself. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Does sacrificing one sheep avail for the entire household?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is a communal Sunnah (Sunnah Kifayah) for members of the same household, provided that their financial maintenance is undertaken by a single provider. By "communal Sunnah," we mean that when one person performs it, the religious recommendation is fulfilled on behalf of the entire household, though the spiritual reward itself belongs uniquely to the one who offered it.
 
Therefore, if any member of the household performs the sacrifice—even if it is someone who is not legally responsible for the household's expenses, such as the wife or one of the children—the recommendation is fulfilled for everyone in that home. However, the reward does not automatically extend to the other members unless the person offering the sacrifice explicitly intends to share the reward with them—similar to how performing a funeral prayer (Janazah) fulfills the communal obligation for everyone, yet the specific reward is earned by those who actually prayed.
 
Additionally, a single sacrifice is sufficient for a man who is married to more than one wife. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

How is the meat of the 'aqīqah to be distributed?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
If the 'aqīqah is a recommended one (mandūbah), it is obligatory to give some portion of it in charity to the poor — even if the amount is small — with the minimum being approximately half a kilogram of meat.
The most preferable manner of distribution is to divide it into three equal portions, as with the uḍḥiyyah:
 
One third for the guardian and his household to eat from
One third to be given in charity to the poor
One third to be gifted to friends and neighbours, even if they are wealthy
 
It is furthermore more preferable to send the food to the poor already cooked, rather than inviting them to come and eat. And Allah Almighty knows best.

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