Is it lawful for Muslims to hold celebrations in Masjids (mosques) to remind themselves of the Sirah (biography) of the Prophet (peace be upon him) on the twelfth night of Rabi' AlAwwal on the occasion of the Mawlid (the Prophet's birthday), without taking a holiday on that day, as is done on 'Eid (the feasts)? We differ over this; some say that it is a good Bid'ah (innovation in religion) and others says it is not a good Bid'ah.
A: It is neither permissible for Muslims to celebrate Mawlid on the twelfth night of Rabi' Al Awwal or at any other time, nor may they celebrate the birth of anyone else. This is because celebrating birthdays is a new Bid'ah, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not celebrate his birthday during his lifetime, and he was the one who conveyed the Din (religion of Islam) and the Shari'ah (Islamic law) from His Lord (may He be Praised and Exalted). He did not order that it be celebrated. He did not do this and neither did the RightlyGuided Caliphs, the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet), nor the Tabi'un (Followers, the generation after the Companions of the Prophet), and they were the best and favored generations of Islam. This act is Bid'ah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Anyone who introduces something into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it, will have it rejected." (Agreed upon by Imams AlBukhari and Muslim)There is also a narration by Muslim, classed as a Hadith Mu'allaq (a Hadith missing link in the chain of narration, reported directly from the Prophet) by AlBukhari, which he confirmed: "Anyone who does an action which is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam), will have it rejected."
Indeed, celebrating birthdays is not authenticated by the Prophet (peace be upon him); it is an innovated act that people introduced to the Din (religion of Islam) in the later centuries, and therefore it is to be rejected. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say in the Friday Khutbah (Sermon): "Ama ba'd (to proceed): The best of all matters is the Book of Allah, the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace be upon him), the most evil of all matters are those which are newlyinvented (in religion), and every Bid'ah is a Dalalah (deviation from the right)." (Related by Muslim in his "Sahih [compilation of authentic Hadith]" and by AlNasa'y with a good Isnad (chain of transmitters), who added "...and every Dalalah is in the Fire."
Rather than celebrating the birth of the Prophet (peace be upon him) it is better to teach his Sirah and the history of his life during the Jahiliyyah (the preIslamic time of ignorance) and Islam in the schools, Masjids, and other places. And explain about the events related to his birth and death, without needing to hold celebrations that have not been permitted by Allah or His Messenger (peace be upon him) nor substantiated by a Shar'y (Islamic legal) proof. Allah is the One Whose help is sought. We ask Allah (Exalted be He) to grant all Muslims guidance and success, and help them adhere to the Sunnah and shun Bid'ah.