LM has always been intrigued by the debate we Muslims have over Mawlid ie the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) birthday and is it innovation or not.
I've always tended to steer clear of major theological internal strife within Islam mainly because I'm no theologian or scholar and in part because if that is what tickles your fancy then their are loads of other places on the web for you to read up on.
This is an issue that always tends to be black or white for Muslims a bit like the Halal/Haram stuff which always seems to bypass the issue of makruh which is neither or Shia/Sunni divide to name but two. I have not celebrated Mawlid largely because It's not really been a family tradition and whenever a debate was had it was largely hostile and in the bidah camp.
LM cannot help the odd chuckle to see loads of beards and Green turbans in East London falling over in the snow shouting "no politics" when they go on Mawlid marches only to invite George Galloway and Stella Creasy to lead the march. Also, what is it with the Green Turbans call me old fashioned but I always thought Turbans were for those that practiced the Sikh faith? Perhaps what annoys me about the marches is the hypocrisy of those that invite Stella Creasy who has done nothing for the Muslim ummah apart from hoodwinking a few Walthamstow Pakistani's with visas which probably allowed her to defeat the excellent Muslim Hina Ansari a GP to be Labour's candidate in a very dirty selection battle.
However, returning to the substance of the debate Sheikh Qaradawi has issued a strong fatwa saying "celebrating the Prophet's birthday means celebrating the birth of Islam" thus approving the celebration of Mawlid. In addition, Al Azhar has accepted the permissibility along with others like the Grand Mufti of India but then all manner of Wahabis and Salafis will kick off with the innovation tag along with citing how the Prophet (pbuh) nor the Sahaba ever celebrated birthdays. Having manged to confuse myself even more perhaps LM is justified in taking the Fifth by sitting on the fence for this one and leaving you to enlighten me.
**Update** Check out this shocking reason why you should not celebrate Mawlid
I've always tended to steer clear of major theological internal strife within Islam mainly because I'm no theologian or scholar and in part because if that is what tickles your fancy then their are loads of other places on the web for you to read up on.
This is an issue that always tends to be black or white for Muslims a bit like the Halal/Haram stuff which always seems to bypass the issue of makruh which is neither or Shia/Sunni divide to name but two. I have not celebrated Mawlid largely because It's not really been a family tradition and whenever a debate was had it was largely hostile and in the bidah camp.
LM cannot help the odd chuckle to see loads of beards and Green turbans in East London falling over in the snow shouting "no politics" when they go on Mawlid marches only to invite George Galloway and Stella Creasy to lead the march. Also, what is it with the Green Turbans call me old fashioned but I always thought Turbans were for those that practiced the Sikh faith? Perhaps what annoys me about the marches is the hypocrisy of those that invite Stella Creasy who has done nothing for the Muslim ummah apart from hoodwinking a few Walthamstow Pakistani's with visas which probably allowed her to defeat the excellent Muslim Hina Ansari a GP to be Labour's candidate in a very dirty selection battle.
However, returning to the substance of the debate Sheikh Qaradawi has issued a strong fatwa saying "celebrating the Prophet's birthday means celebrating the birth of Islam" thus approving the celebration of Mawlid. In addition, Al Azhar has accepted the permissibility along with others like the Grand Mufti of India but then all manner of Wahabis and Salafis will kick off with the innovation tag along with citing how the Prophet (pbuh) nor the Sahaba ever celebrated birthdays. Having manged to confuse myself even more perhaps LM is justified in taking the Fifth by sitting on the fence for this one and leaving you to enlighten me.
**Update** Check out this shocking reason why you should not celebrate Mawlid
Turbans only for those of the Sikh faith?
ReplyDeleteThis just highlights the historically ignorant & Westoxified insularity of LM's views. Can one really take LM's views as anything but a joke with that kind of US-style global awareness?
Here's an idea LM, try looking up the Ottomans or the subcontinental Muslims who died fighting the Germans for the British for starters...
http://www.sunnaforum.com/threads/mawlid-hypocrisy-wahhabis-do-ibn-abd-al-wahhab-najdi-week.1369/
ReplyDeleteMy personal view (based on no authentic religious sources whatsoever) is that the practice of Islam is a bit serious and without adequate opportunity to let ones hair down, the community starts building a great deal of tension with no healthy release of that tension. While the rest of the world is popping fireworks, celebrating birthdays and Xmas's, promotions and whatever else - the Muslim community have one to three days of the year in Eid where they get to go "Hooray!" and have a get together. That and weddings - and you know how vehemently the community pursues weddings (its the only other time of the year where they get to party).
ReplyDeleteIf a group of Muslim people want to get together and have some fun because the Prophet was born - I say allow it. If you disagree, don't do it - but for Gawds sake, don't hate them for it! They're happy! How often do you see Muslim people having fun? Rarely - they have to usurp a bleemin' dictator before they are allowed to conduct a national celebration and get a day off work for crying out loud. Muslims of all shapes, sizes, opinions and sects are marching left right and centre in big and small groups so that they can have some kind of victory - however small or Islamic. Why do they need a victory? So they can get together and celebrate! We need celebrations! We need to have some fun, and we need to have it without guilt.
I vote: YES to being allowed to celebrate the Prophet's birthday, because I vote YES to having more celebrations and fun times in the Muslim community. I think it will chill the community out a bit, and release some of their tension.
The Prophet SAW used to wear a turban. It is a sunnah. The sikhs have derived it from the Muslims.
ReplyDeleteQuick comments -
ReplyDelete"I'm no theologian or scholar" yet "the issue of makruh which is neither (halal / haram)"
--Not sure if that was a disclaimer or not for your fatwa (opinion). For the record, Makruh is halal, just unclean (i.e. imperfect). Praying with long uncut fingernails being one small example. Doesn't make it haram or invalidate the prayer. Is it too much to ask that you perhaps just googled it before writing it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makruh not too hard, surely.
"I always thought Turbans were for those that practiced the Sikh faith?"
--Absolute corker. How can you not know Sikhism came from Islam (just like Baha'ism), or that Muslims and Jews were wearing turbans hundreds (if not thousands) of years before Sikhs.
Brother / sister - I cannot recommend enough that you improve your knowledge. This blog could be used for so much good, instead mere tittle-tattle and bringing back biting upon yourself (which is forbidden) by showing your ignorance and making loose statements. As the Prophet (pbuh) said
"A man might speak a word without thinking about its implications, but because of it, he will plunge into the Hellfire further than the distance between the east and west." [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih al-Muslim]
A little bit of integrity would be great, thanks.
I agree with Jasmine. There are many people who go on about innovation in Islam. Innovation is not allowed. Innovation for the promotion and increasing the love of Islam in my opinion is allowed. The Prophet (pbuh) used to fast on his birthday to give thanks to Allah (swt). He also used to fast on other days such as Friday as it was the day that Hazrat Adam (AS) was born. Now, if our beloved Prophet (pbuh) used to fast to give thanks, is that not a celebration? A celebration and showing thanks to Allah (swt)? Coming back to Mawlid, anything that increases the love for Islam should be encouraged especially in times where we are losing the next generation. Think back to the Sahaba's times. The Quran in book formation was innovation after the Prophet (pbuh) passed away. Why was it done? To continue the message and increase the love of Islam. Now, in the Quran and Hadith, our blessed Prophet (pbuh) is very important for Islam. He was a mercy for mankind. Now if we celebrate to show and give thanks to Allah (swt), surely that's allowed? The only extent to which I disagree is when some people go overboard....
ReplyDeleteOh please.
ReplyDeleteDuring the time of the Prophet and for the following 600 years none of the companions or followers of the Prophet (pbuh) and Islam, did any such thing as Mawlid.
Nuff said?
The Prophet told us who were the best guided. So if six HUNDRED years afterwards, some scholar says "ooh, I have cracking idea, lets compete with Xmas by doing our own one" ... this isn't right. And you will know it if you can set aside your bias and cultural prejudice, and baggage.
Rummage around in the darkness as much as you want for guidance. Allah makes truth clear from error. If the Prophet didnt celebrate it per se, what would he make of marches, fairy lights, gatherings, parties, seminars, protests even and certainly fitna and causing division within the Muslims.
He HATED the cult of celebrity and even forbade taking a single rock from Jabal Nur for fear of it. WE are going where he didnt want us to go.
Think for yourselves, don't be sheep.
Read my comment carefully because it seems like you didn't. Do you not understand what Mawlid is about? It's about celebrating Islam and the final Prophet (SAW) who brought the message to mankind. As I said, at the end of my comment, that some people go overboard which I disagree with i.e. fairy lights, parties etc. With the utmost respect, scholars have debated this for years, therefore I hardly think I have baggage. If marches help to increase awareness and knowledge of Islam (especially for non-believers) then in my opinion there is nothing wrong with it. And for your information, not that it is any of your business, I know my deen.
ReplyDeleteYou ignored my comment about the Quran in book formation. Also, to add to that, what about the symbols used in the Quran? How is it that you can read the Quran with Tajweed rules? Was that not innovation??
The Prophet (SAW) did tell us who were the best guided. With respect, you should always use (SAW or pbuh) after reference to him.
And by the way, why would there have been a need for Mawlid in the time of the companions when they saw the Prophet (pbuh) all the time? I don't feel like i'm in darkness. Allah (swt) does make things clear.
I don't wish to argue with you but I think more knowledge is needed perhaps? InshaAllah, Allah (swt) knows best.
Perhaps next time, you can refrain from leaving an anonymous comment?
It may be news to some sectarians, but EVEN in the home of ultra-fanatical, Mawlid is being celebrated again!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/01/AR2006050101380.html