by Naweed Hassan
In this article, we will understand when it comes to following a religion how emotions followed by arrogance and lack of knowledge blinds people from seeing the reality.
Muslims in order to display their love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) celebrate his birthday on not so accurate birth date, 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal (Islamic Month).
Debate over Prophet’s actual date of birth
Although there is a huge difference amongst the Islamic scholars concerning the actual date of birth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Some scholars have said it is in Ramadan, some have believed it to be in Shaban and according to some scholars, and it’s in Rabi ul awwal but on different dates (8th or 9th or 12th), based on the fact that Hijri calendar didn’t exist during his birth.
Date of Prophet’s death
But one thing that all Islamic scholars have unanimously agreed upon is the death date of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) which is confirmed to be 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal.
Are Muslims celebrating Prophet’s death day?
Now the question that arises in our minds is that “Are Muslims who tend to celebrate the prophet’s birthday out of love, unknowingly celebrating the prophet’s death day?” Note that this is a very dangerous matter and Muslims soon need to take heed and repent for their wrongdoing, to avoid the wrath of Allah the Almighty, the all-knowing, the most powerful.
Who introduced the celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday?
According to the authentic traditions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), the best centuries in Islam are the first three centuries since Islam was revealed. It contained the best of people who followed Islam in the best manner as taught by the messenger of Allah Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), his companions being the top most in the list, and that list started with the four rightly guided caliphs of Islam (Abu Bakr Siddique, Umar Farooq, Othman-e-Ghani, Ali Karamullah Wajhu – May Allah be pleased with all of them) who sacrificed their lives, wealth and desires for the love of the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and Islam.
None of the above foresaid people and generations celebrated the Prophet’s birthday and neither the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself celebrated nor did he command the celebration on his birth day.
What many Muslims don’t know?
The Shiite Fatimids introduced the celebration of the prophet’s death day by calling it the prophet’s birthday celebration and many innocent Muslims belonging to various sects contribute to this deviant Shiite ideology and err.
Now a days you may find even a non-muslim organization or media houses (who generally are anti-Islam and against the Islamic practices for all false reasons) are promoting the celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday and a good number of Muslims mostly from the sub-continent imitate those non-Muslims blindly, instead of following the foot-steps of the messenger of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his companions.
What is highly recommended?
To really understand the concept of Eid in Islam one must refer to the authentic traditions and teachings of the Prophet.
I sincerely pray to Allah the Almighty, the most compassionate, the most merciful to guide all the Muslims to His straight path upon the way of His last and final Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
Naweed Hasan is an ardent entrepreneur and an engineer by profession. He regularly writes for the Milli Chronicle.
