Maulidur Rasul?

Assalamualaikum,

Its here again this year and I am not celebrating it in any way. (even so if there are good lectures, I am sure to attend)

Here is the reason:

1. Are you sure that it is 100% the correct date when our Prophet Muhammad SAW was born? If so what is the proof? From what I read, scholars have different views on the date.

2. The Prophet never celebrated it, the Sahabats never celebrated it. Then why are we celebrating it? Claiming something to be a Sunnah without a proof or support from any hadith is a bidaah. And the Prophet warned us about bidaah, the only place for people of bidaah is Hell.

RasoolAllah {sallalahu alayhi was'salam} informed the Sahabah, that they must adhere to his Sunnah and Sunnah of Khulfa Rashideen, and told them that avoid newly invented matters, because every reprehensiable novelty is reprehensiable Biddah, and every reprehensiable Biddah is error:

Sunnan Abu Dawood, Book 40, Number 4590: "Narrated Irbad ibn Sariyah: Abdur Rahman ibn Amr as-Sulami and Hujr ibn Hujr said: ... He then said: I enjoin you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey even if it be an Abyssinian slave, for those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error."

Sahih Muslim, Book 4, Hadith 1885:Jabir b. Abdullah said: ... He would also say:" The last Hour and I have been sent like these two." and he would join his forefinger and middle finger; and would further say: "The best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the beet of the guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error." He would further say:, I am more dear to a Muslim even than his self; ..."

Sahih Bukhari, Book 92, Hadith 382: "Narrated 'Abdullah: The best talk (i.e. speech) is Allah's Book {i.e. Quran}, and the best way is the way of Muhammad, and the Worst matters are the heresies (i.e. those new things which are introduced into the religion); and whatever you have been promised will surely come to pass, and you cannot escape (it)."

Prophet {sallalahu alayhi was'salam} warned, that one who intorduces a Biddah {not in harmony with principles of deen, withoud valid reason of Sharia, and without aproval from Prophet, Sahabah} such a person is cursed by Allah as well as one who shelters him:

Sunan Abu Dawood, Book 39, Hadith 4515: "Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: Qays ibn Abbad and Ashtar went to Ali and said to him: Did the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) give you any instruction about anything for which he did not give any instruction to the people in general? He said: No, except what is contained in this document of mine. Musaddad said: He then took out a document. Ahmad said: A document from the sheath of his sword. It contained: The lives of all Muslims are equal; they are one hand against others; the lowliest of them can guarantee their protection. Beware, a Muslim must not be killed for an infidel, nor must one who has been given a covenant be killed while his covenant holds. If anyone introduces an innovation, he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His angels, and by all the people. Musaddad said: Ibn AbuUrubah's version has: He took out a document."

Sahih Muslim, Book 7, Hadith 3159: 'Asim reported: I asked Anas b. Malik whether Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) had declared Medina as sacred. He said: Yes. (the area) between so and so. He who made any innovation in it, and further said to me: It is something serious to make any innovation in it (and he who does it) there is upon him the curse of Allah, and that of the angels and of all the people, Allah will not accept from him on the Day of Resurrection either obligatory acts or the surpererogatory acts. Ibn Anas said: Or he accommodates an innovator.”

Sahih Muslim, Book 7, Hadith 3166: “Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: Medina is a sacred territory, so he who made any innovation in it. or gave protection to an innovator, there is upon him the curse of Allah, that of the angels and that of all the people. There would not be accepted on the Day of Resurrection either obligatory acts or supererogatory acts from him.”

Mubtadi {Innovator's}and one who accommodates him are cursed by Allah his angles, and all the people, Messenger of Allah further revealed that Allah will not accept the obligatory acts of worship etc … nor will He accept supererogatory acts, i.e. nawafil prayers, Taraweeh, etc … on the day of judgement, hence without acceptance of Farahid, and Nawafil, person has no basis to enter paradise, he will be sent to fire of hell.

RasoolAllah {sallalahu alayhi was'salam} foretells that on the day of judgement Allah subhana wa tallah will grant him honour on Al Kauthar, and a group of people will come to Messenger of Allah asking for the water, and angles will remind him that they are innovator's and Messenger of Allah will send them away:

Sahih Muslim, Book 30, Hadith 5706 : “Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: Some persons from amongst my associates would turn to my Reservoir {Al Kauthar}; when I would see them and they would be presented to me, they would be detained in the way while coming to me. I would say: My Lord, they are my companions, they are my companions, and it would be said to me: You don't know what innovations they made after you?”

Sahih Muslim, Book 30, Hadith 5690: “'Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying; I shall be there at the Reservoir {Al Kauthar} before you, and I shall have to contend for some people, but I shall have to yield. I would be saying: My Lord, they are my friends, they are my friends, and it would be said: You don't know what innovations they made after you?”

Sahih Muslim, Book 30, Hadith 5686: “Umm Salama, the wife of Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him), said I used to hear from people making a mention of the Reservoir {Al Kauthar}, but I did not hear about it from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him). One day while a girl was combing me I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) say:" O people." I said to that girl: Keep away from me. She said: He (the Holy Prophet) has addressed the men only and he has not invited the attention of the women. I said: I am amongst the people also (and have thus every right to listen to the things pertaining to religion). Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: I shall be your harbinger on the Resevoir {Al Kauthar}; therefore, be cautious lest one of you should come (to me) and may be driven away like a stray camel. I would ask the reasons, and it would be said to me: You don't know what innovations they made after you? And I would then also say: Be away.”

3. Its a good time or opportunity to change or educate the Muslim.
My comment is its been more than 50 years and Muslims in Malaysia should have been educated enough. It is not the responsibility for each Muslim to seek knowledge? Dont tell me we only do so during Maulid?

4. Its good to remember our Prophet and his sacrifice. My comment is dont we do that in everyday in our solats? Come on, what type of person remembers his Prophet and his sacrifice only once a year? We should do it everyday.

5. Its just a birthday celebration. What is wrong with you?
My comment: Even if its a birthday, its a Western culture. To be exact it originated from Druid religion and later became a part of Western culture. So you still want to follow something which originated from a Pagan religion? Plus even if I do not consider that, who would celebrate a dead man's birthday? Who is sick enough to do that? Imagine your family who passed away, do you celebrate their birthdays? We only pray for them like how we pray everyday for our Prophet SAW.

6. We have to show to the non-Muslim our religion.
My comment: What do you want to show them? Do we want to show that out religion promotes parades? Come on la, what we need to do is da'wah which is to tell or explain to them the religion it self. No need for parades, I dont see it as a way of da'wah from any angle at all.

I will not stop anyone from celebrating but remember, in the eyes of a non-Muslim it might look like this pictures and they might have the idea that Islam is not so different from their religion after all....