Celebrating the Mawlid What is the Mawlid: The Mawlid is a joyful event during which Muslims gather to thank Allah for sending Prophet Muhammad, peace on him. The Muslims commemorate this event repeatedly every year on the 12th of Rabee` al’Awwal, which is the day when the Prophet was born. During this event, the Muslims come together, recite Qur’an, praise the Prophet, speak about the honorable life of the Prophet and his attributes, learn about Islam, and serve food.

Judging the Mawlid: The activities of the Mawlid, as mentioned, are lawful in Islam. Muslims are rewarded for doing the Mawlid. The doing of the Mawlid does not contradict Qur’an, Hadeeth, Consensus or the practices and sayings of the Companions. It is a special event and Muslims celebrate Mawlid throughout the five continents. Remembering the birth of the Prophet by doing rewardable deeds is a praise-worthy practice for those who prepare and participate in this honorable event.

History of Mawlid: The king of Irbil, Abu Sa`eed alMuzaffar bin Baktakeen Kawkabriyy, initiated the Mawlid in the 7th hijriy century and was the first person to do so. He was a pious, brave, just, generous and knowledgeable ruler and defender of Islam, who died while fighting the Crusaders in Palestine. He invited many Muslims including the scholars of Hadeeth, Tafseer, Fiqh and sincere Sufis and celebrated the Mawlid.  The scholar of Fiqh, Abul Khattab Ibn Duhyah, wrote a book praising this doing and gave it to the king especially to be read during the Mawlid celebration. The doing of the Mawlid became known to the scholars in the east and west, who accepted it and pointed to the Islamic proofs which confirmed its validity. Among those scholars the imam of Hadeeth hafiz Ahmad bin Hajar al`Asqalaniyy, imam hafiz asSakhawiyy and imam hafiz asSuyutiyy. Those scholars and others wrote several books praising the Mawlid and none of the Muslim scholars dispraised this celebration.