by Moulana Hafiz Mohammad Arshad Misbahi

In the following article, we have briefly discussed the Milad un Nabi sallallaho alaihi wasallam , its celebration and validity basically through the Quran and Ahadeeth. The subject matter has been divided into five sub-headings

-The Quran and Milad
-Ahadeeth and Milad
-The Prophets and Milad
-The Salaf and Milad
-Muhammad (sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) and Milad

THE QURAN AND MILAD

Allah(swt) says in the Glorious Quran:

-Remind them of the days of Allah(swt) (Ibrahim 5)

-Rehearse and proclaim the bounty of your lord (Dhuha 11)

-Say In the bounty of Allah(swt) and in His mercy : therein let them rejoice. It is better than what they hoard (Younus 58)
-And remember Allah's grace upon you (Baqara 231)

-When Allah(swt) made (His) covenant with the Prophets (He said): Behold that which I have given you of the scriptures and knowledge. Then there will come to you a messenger, confirming that which you possess. You shall believe in him and you shall help him (AI-i-lmran 81)

- Peace be on him the day he was born, and the day he will pass away and the day he shall be raised alive (Maryam 15)

- And when your Lord proclaimed: If you give thanks, I will give you more; but if you are ungrateful, lo! My punishment is dire (Ibrahim 7)

- Yerily, Allah(swt) has conferred a great favour on the believers by sending unto them a messenger of their own who recites to them the revelations and purifies them, and teaches them the scripture and wisdom; although before that they were in manifest error (AI-i-lmran 164)

There is sufficient proof in these verses of the Quran that our Lord and Creator, Allah(swt) demands from us that when we are bestowed with a grace, mercy and bounty from Him, then we should in return be grateful and joyous towards it. Once this concept and message of the Quran is firmly rooted in our minds, let us then ask ourselves a question:-

IS MUHAMMAD(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) NOT A MERCY AND THE GRACE OF Allah(swt) UPON ALL HIS CREATION?

The answer will definitely be in the affirmative. If this is so, and it surely is, then we Muslims have complete right to celebrate the Maulood of Muhammad(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ). We, by carrying out this action are in fact obeying the command of Allah(swt) given to us throughout the Quran

AHADEETH AND MILAD

Iman Abdul Razzaq (rahmatullahi alaihi) narrates with his own sanad (chain) from Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari (radiyallaho anhu):-

I asked the Holy Prophet (sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) to inform me or the first thing that was created by Allah. He replied: Oh Jabir, Allah(swt) first of all created the Nur (light) of your prophet(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) from his own Nur. That Nur was then placed wherever Allah(swt) willed. At that time there was no existence of the Loah, Qalam, Heaven, Hell, Angels, Skies, Earth, Sun, Moon, Jinn or Humans. Then when Allah(swt) intended to create other things that Nur was divided into four sections The Qalam (pen) was created from the first section, the Loah (tablet) from the second, the Arsh (throne) from the third. This Hadeeth is very detailed, in which it is explained that the rest of the creation was made through the means of that Nur.

The following Hadeeth is narrated by Iman Tirmidhi. He has certified it as being Hasan.

Hazrat Abu Huraira (radiyallahu anhu) narrates that the Sahaba (companions) asked the prophet (sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) as to when Nubuwwat (Prophethood) was given to him. Rasulullah (sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) answered that Nubuwwat was granted to him when Adam (alaihis salaam) was still going through the process of creation, i.e. his soul was not placed in his physical body.

Iman Askalani (rahmatullahi alaihi) writes that at the time of the Holy Prophets(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) birth, Sowaiba, the maid-servant of Abu Lahab was also present. She had the privilege of being the Prophets's(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) foster mother. When she informed Abu Lahab (the Prophets(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) non-Muslim uncle) of the good news he happily freed her pointing with his finger.

A Hadeeth in the Sahih Bukhari says that after the death of Abu Lahab, Hazrat Abbas (radiyallahu anhu) saw him in a dream and asked how he was. Abu Lahab replied: I am being punished most severely but when every Monday night arrives (the night when the Prophet(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) was born) my punishment is lightened. On this night a cold fluid flows out from the fingers that I used to free Sowaiba. By the sucking of the liquid I feel at ease and relieved.

Lesson

The Ulama (scholars) and Imans of Hadeeth come to the conclusion that if a Kafir (non-Muslim) like Abu Lahab can benefit by the joy of the Prophets(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) birth, then the Believers (Muslims) will also definitely be rewarded in abundance for rejoicing the coming of the Seal of Prophethood (sallallaho alaihi wasallam ).

THE PROPHETS AND MILAD

It is a well known fact to all those who read and study the Quran that Allah(swt) has mentioned the birth, childhood, upbringing and lives of many of his prophets in his final revelation. In other words, it is the sunnah (way, tradition) of Allah(swt) to talk about and discuss the birth of his beloveds and chosen ones. In many parts of the Quran, we find the mentioning of Prophet Adam's creation in detail, his residence in Jannah (Paradise) and his being sent down to the earth. The birth of Prophet Ishaq (Isaac), his brother Ismaeel (Ishmae]) and his childhood have been dealt with. Hazrat Musa (Moses) and his early years have been mentioned in many different chapters. Hazrat Isa's (Jesus) speech in the cradle and the details from his blessed mothers pregnancy to his birth are given a significant place in the Quran. These are just a few examples, otherwise the Quran is full of these kind of details. In the Milad gatherings, we do exactly the same, ie., the mentioning of the birth, childhood, miracles, tilawah, salam and other Islamic values are observed by the Believers Anyone with some knowledge of Islam will know that all prophets of Allah(swt) gave the glad tidings of the coming of Rasulullah(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) in their own times to their followers. They abundantly talked about the greatness and honour of the Last Messenger of Allah(swt) in front of their people

Hazrat Ibrahim (Abraham alaihis-salam) made this supplication at the time of the construction of Kaba: Oh Allah, send a great prophet(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) amongst them. His dua was accepted as the Prophet(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) says: I am the dua of my father Ibrahim and the last good news given about me was by Isa alaihis-salam(Jesus) (Ibn Asakir).

Isa(alaihis-salam) says I have come to give the glad tidings of a prophet who shall come after me, his name is Ahmad (Saff:6)

Commenting on the word [Arabic word ommitted-Ed] of verse 81 of Sura Al-i-Imran, Imam Taqi ud Din Suboky says: This proves that Muhammad(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) is the prophet of all prophets. The relationship of other apostles to Muhammad(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) is the same as their relationship with their Ummahs (Nations). (Khasais-Kubra V.4)

THE SCHOLARS (SALAF) AND MILAD

The most reliable book after from the Holy Quran is the Shahih Bukhari. In it Imam Bukhari says that the Holy Prophet is the greatest bounty of Allah(swt) Almighty, therefore he should be highly publicized.

Shah Abdul Rahim would annually hold Milad functions and distribute food to the attendants. Likewise his universally recognised son, Shah Waliyullah would do the same.

In his magnum opus, Fuyuz-ul-Haramain, Shah Waliyullah writes that he attended a Maulood celebration in 1144 (AH) in Makkah-al-Mukarramah, where he witnessed blessings and, light (Nur and Rahmah) showering down on the gathering. Even Ibn Taimiyyah gives glad-tidings of great rewards and blessings in abundance to those who hold Milad gatherings (AI- Durr-us-Samin, P.8).

Haji Imadadullah Muhajir Makki, the mentor of Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, would hold these gatherings every year and recite the salat and salam in the standing position (Faysala-i-Haft Mas'ala) These, and innumerous other illustrious Ulama such as Suyuti, Ibn Jawzi, Abu Shama all attest to celebrating Milad.

Shah Abdul Haq Dehlavi, Imam Zurqani and others have gone as far as to write that the night when the prophet graced the universe with his birth is greater in respect than the Night of Qadr (27th Ramadan), upon the basis that on the 27th Ramadan Allah(swt) gave us the Quran and on the 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal, Allah(swt) gave us the living Quran (Muhammad sallallaho alaihi wasallam ), through whom we have been blessed with all bounties including the Quran itself.

MUHAMMAD(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) AND MILAD

On many occasions Hazrat Muhammad(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) throughout his glorious life talked about his blessed birth. It was his practice to fast on Mondays. When asked about his action, the greatest man that ever lived said: I was born on this day and revelation also commenced on Monday (Usdul Gabah). A hadeeth in Tirmizi tells us that the Holy Prophet himself talked about his unique birth from the pulpit. Rasulullah(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ) personally spread a sheet on a platform on which Hazrat Hassan bin Thabit (Allah(swt) be pleased with him) sat and sang an ode in the praise of the Prophet, for which the Messenger of Allah(swt) blessed him with a special prayer.

Respected reader! We have briefly learnt that the practise of Maulood Sharif has been a tradition of the pious Muslims for centuries. All over the world, this occasion is remembered with great respect. Even today, all Islamic countries are following in the footsteps of their forefathers and continuing to honour the Seal Prophethood(sallallaho alaihi wasallam ).

Let us finish with a dua that Allah(swt) Almighty grants us all an ability to lead a life according to the teachings of Islam. May Allah(swt) deepen and increase our love for Himself and His Beloved Messenger (peace be upon him (sallallaho alaihi wasallam )).

AMEEN