Marking the Prophet’s Birthday, Adil Salahi

Marking the Prophet’s Birthday

Adil Salahi

Arab News, 7/21/04

Q. In most Muslim countries the Prophet’s birthday is marked with celebrations starting on 12th of Rabiul Awwal, but little of this, if any, is seen in Saudi Arabia. What is the reason for this lack of interest?

M.Z. Abedin, Jeddah

A. In matters of religion we have to follow the Prophet’s guidance. He has delivered the Islamic message complete, given us good counsel and showed us the way to earn God’s pleasure.

Therefore, what is required of us on the Day of Judgment is to show that we have followed the Prophet’s guidance, adding nothing without clear authority given in the Qur’an or the Sunnah.

What we need to realize is that the Islamic message is complete as delivered by the Prophet. Hence, nothing can be added to it. What has been made complete by God cannot be made “more complete” by man. Hence, scholars agree that all innovation in matters of worship and religion are not allowed.

When we consider the marking of the Prophet’s birthday against what the Prophet said and did, we find that he neither marked his birthday, nor encouraged anyone to mark it. None of the Prophet’s companions ever celebrated the Prophet’s birthday or advocated its marking.

So, how could it be thought of as a religious occasion? Indeed the Prophet made it clear that there are only two feasts annually in the Islamic calendar: Eid Al-Fitr which marks the end of fasting in Ramadan, and the Eid of Sacrifice which starts on the day after attendance at Arafat.

Having said that, I realize that the day when the Prophet was born heralded the end of all erroneous concepts about God and religion, all deviant beliefs and all forms of polytheism.

Therefore, we should mark that day with reflection on the Prophet’s guidance and determination to bring our concepts and practices in line with his teachings. This ensures that we maintain the right track that earns God’s pleasure.

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

Apartheid Wall


The Israeli Land-Grab Apartheid Wall built inside the Palestinian territories, here separating Abu Dis from occupied East Jerusalem. (IPC, 7/4/04).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03).

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