Pakistan comes alive with beautiful display of colorful lights as the 12th Rabi Ul Awwal come on the 1st of December 2017. It is believed that Prophet Mohammad Peace be upon Him was born on 12th day of Rabi Ul Awwal the third Islamic month.
In Pakistan all mosques, important government and non government building, land marks and roads are decorated with colorful lights and gree flags of Islam. Special Naat (Praise of prophet) recitation programs are held all over the country. The 12 of Rabi Ul Awwal is observed as a holiday and many Muslims respect the day as the day of Eid the day of Happiness.
According to Pakistani Muslim scholar Taqi Usmani, “The birth of the Holy Prophet was the most significant and the most remarkable event in human history. Had there been room in Islamic teachings for the celebration of birthdays and anniversaries, the birthday of the Holy Prophet would have undoubtedly deserved it more than the birthday of any other person”.
This is because the advent of the Prophet to the world brought about a new chapter in history, gave a new hope to humanity and it was through him that Allah Ta‘ala completed His religion. If the Prophet (SAW) had not been born, then there would be no Qur’an, no Laylatul Qadr, no Shari‘ah and no Muslim Ummah.
It was Allah’s great favour upon us that He sent His last and greatest Prophet amongst us and enabled us to be among his Ummah, as the Qur’an says: “Surely Allah has bestowed a great favour on the believers by sending amongst them a Messenger who recites to them His verses and who purifies them and teaches them the Book and Wisdom, even though before that they were in clear misguidance” (3:164). The Qur’an also says: “By the Grace of Allah and His Mercy let them rejoice” (10:58). The birth of the Prophet (SAW) is a great blessing to us and we should express our joy by showering praises on him (33:56), loving him (9:25) and following his lifestyle (33:21 & 59:7).
Origin of Celebrating the Prophet’s Birthday (Mawlid Al-Nabi)
About 150 years after the Prophet’s death, the house in which he was born was transformed into a place of prayer and pilgrimage by Al-Khaizuran, the mother of the Abbasid Caliph Harun Al-Rashid [7] . From 500 AH/ 1106 CE special anniversaries were held in the Prophet’s house. Around the same time, a low profile celebration of Mawlid Al-Nabi was started in Egypt by the Fatimids but it was confined to the ruling elite. The act of publicly celebrating the Prophet’s Birthday in a grand way was introduced in 604 AH/ 1207 CE by King Muzaffar Al-Kawkari, the ruler of Irbil, in imitation of the Christians [8] .
In 996 AH/ 1587 CE Sultan Murad III introduced it into the Ottoman Empire incorporating religious elements into the celebration. As a result of this and the growing influence of Sufis, celebrating Mawlid Al-Nabi became widespread and popular in the Muslim world.
Though Mawlid Al-Nabi (SAW) was invented six centuries after Islam, many scholars endorsed the practice of celebrating the Prophet’s birth (such as Al-Suyuti, Ibn Hajar, Ibn Al-Jauzi, Al-Sakhawi, Shah Waliullah and Qasim Nanutvi). In this respect, Abu Shama Al-Muqaddasi says: “One of the good innovations of our times is celebration of the Blessed Prophet’s birthday every year. There are celebrations, people give charity and decorate their homes and streets. This has many benefits; the poor and needy are generously treated and people express their love and respect for Al-Mustafa (SAW). Above all Allah has sent the Messenger as a Mercy for the entire universe and this is one of His greatest favors to mankind” .
However, many other great scholars such as Ibn Al-Hajj, Tajuddin Al-Fakahani, Ibn Taymiyyah, Abdurrahman Al-Mughzi, Nasiruddin Al-Shafi‘i, Mujaddid Alf Thani and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi have condemned the practice, despite the religious colouring, as an innovation in religion (bid‘ah) that should be shunned.
