In an authentic hadith the Prophet ﷺ responded with why he fasted on Mondays by saying, “It was on this day that revelation came down to me” (Muslim).
This Month is often used to remember the great favour Allah (swt) showered us with by making us the Ummati of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. In the Masjids there are beautiful reminders of the birth, life and character of the Prophet which instils an un-comparable tranquillity in the hearts of those who listen and serves as a reminder as to who is the most dearest to us in our lives. Allah says in the Quran in Surah Ahzab,
“The Prophet (saws) is closer to the believers than their ownselves” (Qur’an Al-Ahzab: 6)
Discussions around Rabiul Awwal
Many will use this month as a month of seeking knowledge about the Prophets life. Many have raised objections to singling out this month as a special occasion of worship. In this process, heated arguments and debates may surface on the validity of commemorating the day the Prophet was born.
None of these are new issues and in fact have been tackled by scholars of various persuasions who lived under an Islamic System and resolved jurisprudential issues like these based on Daleel (evidence) presented.
The spirit of discussion did not fracture the Unity of Muslims on core issues. Neither did they busy themselves condemning each other. The key focus still remained that Islam be the reference point for all actions, both personal and societal.
Scholarly Approaches
Imam Al-Hafiz Al-Suyuti in his famous book “Al-Hawii Lil-Fatawii” allocated a special chapter “The Excellence of Objective in Celebrating the Mawlid” where he said:
“In my view the Milad is in fact such an occasion of happiness on which people assemble and recite the Holy Qu’ran to the extent that is easy. Then they relate the prophecies concerning the appearance of the Noble Prophet (Allah’s Grace & Peace be upon Him) that have been transmitted in Ahadith and Author, and the miraculous events and signs that took place on his birth. Then food is set before them and according to their desire they partake thereof to satisfaction. This festival of celebrating the birthday of the Noble Prophet (Allah’s Grace & Peace be upon Him) is a Bid’ah Hasanah (good Innovation) and those arranging it will get blessing, since in such a celebration is found the expression of joy and happiness at the greatness and eminence of the Noble Prophet (Allah’s Grace & Peace be upon Him) and his birth”.Ibn Tay’miah, a key Historical scholarly figurehead for many said in his book “Necessity of the Right Path”, the following:
“As far as what people do during the Milad, either as a rival celebration to that which the Christian do during the time of Christ’s birthday or as an expression of their love and admiration and a sign of praise for the Noble Prophet (Allah’s Grace & Peace be upon Him), Allah Almighty will surely reward them for such Ijtihad” (p. 266, published by Dar Al-Hadith)Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar was asked, same reference of Imam Suyuti, about Milad Shareef. His reply was:
“Milad Shareef is, in fact, and innovation, which was not transmitted from any pious predecessor in the first three centuries. Nevertheless, both acts of virtue as well as acts of abomination are found in it (i.e. Sometimes acts of virtue are found therein and sometimes acts of abomination). If in the Milad Shareef only acts of virtue are done and acts of abomination are abstained from, then the Milad Shareef is a Bid’ah Hasanah (good innovation), otherwise not.”Imam Al-Hafiz Al-Qastalani, who gave commentary on Sahih Bukhari, said:
“May Allah Almighty shower his Mercy upon a person who takes the days of the month of Rabbi-ul-Awwal, in which the Noble Prophet (Allah’s Grace & Peace be upon Him) was born, as days of feast and celebration for doing so is the best cure for the heart of an ailing person.”The debates will continue on this topic. The Ulama respected each others opinions as any ijtihad (extracted ruling) which has a semblance of daleel is still considered an ijtihad based upon the Knowledge and abilities of the scholar who issued the ruling.
However, the Ulama of the past had bigger issues to worry about related to the implementation of Islam in State and society which were Qat’i (definitive) matters and not Dhann’i (Speculative), open to interpretation.
Forgetting the Key Message?
If the year 2011 was witnessed by the same scholars of the early generations their jaws would drop at the condition of the Ummah. Whilst Muslims continue with a historical debate on the commemoration of the day of Birth of the Prophet, Islamic law is completely suspended in State life!
There is great remembrance in this month about the Prophet and his character, the various miraculous incidents where even the animals came to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and the love people had for him.
But what was the Prophet sent for? What was his mission? What did he bring for us? These are questions which sometimes are lost in the discussion
Corrupt Un-Islamic Regimes
Right in front of us What the Prophet stood for, practiced and conveyed about Implementing Islam to create that just, balanced and harmonious society for all is being attacked by secular fundamentalists within Muslim Countries whose Qibla has changed from Mecca to Washington and London. How can we remain silent in Rabiul Awaal? The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
“A day under a just leader is better than sixty years of worship, while the hadd (proscribed punishment) established on the earth according to its right is better than forty days of rain” (Bayhaqi/ Tabarani)
Do we have just leaders who rule by Islam exclusively today? Are we following the Prophet s orders on Ruling and politics as prescribed in the hadith above?
Muslims Violated
In front of us, Muslim Countries are allowing belligerent foreign powers to harm Muslims right under the noses of these rulers under the guise of War on Terror yet they remain silent.
Aafia Siddiqui was kidnapped in Karachi and handed over by Pakistani Security services to the US. Thousands of innocents have been killed in Drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan while Uzbekistan boils it political opponents, Egypt and Libya electrocute its people who stand against tyranny and Saudi Arabia gives sanctity to rulers like Ben Ali who fought harshly against Islam and Muslims in Tunisia as President! The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
“The wiping away of the World means less to Allah than a Believer to be killed unjustly” (Ibn Maja)
Aren’t those who are being slaughtered the followers of the Prophet?
Islam is Missing
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
“The knots of Islam will be undone one by one, each time a knot is undone the next one will be grasped, the first to be undone will be the Ruling and the last will be Prayer” (Hakim/ Ahmed)
There is great emphasis on following the sunnah (example) of the Prophet but is limited to the discussions on the beard, imama and juba/Shalwar kameez. Yet the Sunnah is also a source of law in Jurisprudence that is referred to extract rulings such that they can be implemented on Society (trade, Marriage, contracts, education, government, social issues).
Where is the Sunnah implemented? Where is the Challenge to these regimes to implement this law exclusively? Didn’t the Prophet warn us against Silence on these issues? The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
“If the people witness an oppressor and they do not take him by his hands (to prevent him) then they are close to Allah covering them all with punishment” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, ibn Maja)
Who is the The Holy Prophet ﷺ for us we must ask? What is our relationship to him today? What is his message? What was the Holy Prophet ﷺ sent for? What is his Sunnah?
We must find the answers for these questions. We need to learn about the Holy Prophet ﷺ’s Life, educate ourselves with the rules of Islam the Prophet bought us and we must work for that change which The Holy Prophet ﷺ desired and Struggled for in his life.
There is corruption around us in the Muslim World which is being left un-challenged. There is social decay directed by the government who believe that Western Social values are better than Islam (which they state is old and backward) and have created a society where Free-mixing, sleeping around and consuming alcohol are seen as ‘lifestyle choices’
How can we remain silent against these criminal regimes?
The Khilafah is off the world map. This is the mechanism by which Islam is implemented just like an ink pen which requires the ink and the pen to be able to write. Similarly, no Khilafah means that Islam is suspended!
Rabiul Awwal- The month of Change
Rabiul Awwal should not be treated just like a holy month where dhikr is made and durood and Salam is sent to the Prophet in abundance. Rather this needs to be the month where we connect to the revolutionary mission of the Prophet to establish Islam.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said “By the One who my soul is in His Hand, the Hour will not be established until Allah sends rulers who are liars, and ministers who are immoral, and supporters who are traitors, and knowledgeable people who are oppressors, and readers (of Quran) who are sinful, their appearance is like the appearance of holy people, and their hearts are more rotten than dead meat, their desires are different and so Allah will send upon them fitna which will cover them in darkness and so they will be destroyed therein. By the One who the soul of Mohammad biyadihi, Islam will be taken away part by part, until it is not even said Allah Allah.
You will (must) enjoin the good, and you will (must) forbid the evil, or Allah will make sovereign over you the worst of you, who will afflict you with the worst of punishment, then the best of you will make Du’a and it will not be answered. You will (must) enjoin the good, and you will (must) forbid the evil, or Allah will send against you those who will have no mercy to your young and no respect for your elderly." (Ibn Qayyim)
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