The writer added that we should celebrate this day before anyone else. The newspapers should prepare articles and the radio should prepare programs marking this memorable occasion. I wondered at the the boldness of this writer in inviting people to a Bid`ah (innovation in religion) which contradicts the way of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the Noble Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them), the Salaf (righteous predecessors) who followed them in righteousness in an Islamic country which applies Allah's Shari`ah (Law) and fights Bid`ah. As it is my duty to advise for the sake of Allah, His Messenger, His Book, and the Muslims, I thought of writing this article to warn the writer and others showing the Shari`ah ruling on celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Undoubtedly, Allah (Glorified be He) sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) with guidance and the religion of truth represented in useful knowledge and good deeds. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not pass away before Allah (Exalted be He) perfected His Religion and completed His Favor upon him and his Ummah (Nation). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion. In this Noble Ayah, Allah (Glorified be He) explained that He has perfected His religion and His favor upon His Slaves. Whoever introduces a novelty and claims to be Mashru` (Islamically acceptable) and asks people to care about and act accordingly, entails that the Religion has not yet been completed. There is no doubt that this is Batil (null and void) and one of the most awful fabrications against Allah (Glorified be He) and contradicts the previously­mentioned Ayah.

If it was permissible to celebrate his birthday, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would have expounded the matter to his Ummah as he was the best advisor and there is no prophet after him to explain what he (peace be upon him) kept silent about. He (peace be upon him) is the final Prophet and he explained to the people their duties towards him such as loving him and following his Shari`ah, invoking Allah (Exalted be He) to send His peace and blessings upon him and his other rights that are explained in the Qur'an and the Sunnah. He did not tell his Ummah that celebrating the day of his birth was prescribed so that they would act accordingly. He (peace be upon him) did not celebrate it during his lifetime nor did the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) who were the dearest people to him and the most knowledgeable of his rights, or the Rightly­Guided Caliphs or any other Companion.

The Tabi`un (Followers, the generation after the Companions of the Prophet) who followed them in righteousness in the best three generations did not celebrate this day either. Do you think that all these people were ignorant of his rights or fell short with regard to them, until the later generations came and made up for this shortfall and made the truth complete? No, by Allah. No wise man who understands the nature of the Sahabah and the Tabi`un would say this. If you understand that the celebration of the Prophet's birthday was unknown during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him), his Sahabah, and the time of their earliest followers, you will realize that it is Bid`ah that has been introduced into religion, and it is not permissible to hold it, approve of it, or advocate it; rather, we must denounce and warn people against it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said in his Friday Khutbah (sermon), The best speech is that of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad (peace be upon him). The most evil affairs are innovations; and every innovation is an error. , You must follow my Sunnah and that of the Rightly­Guided Caliphs. Adhere to them and hold fast to them. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error. , Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it, will have it rejected. According to another wording, Whoever does an action which is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam), will have it rejected. There are many Hadith to the same effect.

Whoever has the least knowledge and insight knows that showing reverence for the Prophet (peace be upon him) should not be through Bid`ah like the Mawlid. It should be through loving him, adhering and calling to his Shari`ah, and fighting Bid`ah and whims that contradict his way. Allah (Exalted be He) says, Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it). It is reported in an authentic Hadith that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "All my people will enter Paradise, except those who refuse." They (his Companions) said, "O Messenger of Allah! Who will refuse?" He said, "Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys has refused." (Related by Al­Bukhari in his Sahih (authentic) book of Hadith).

Showing reverence to the Prophet (peace be upon him) should not be at certain times or once a year, as this is actually forsaking him. It is obligatory to

show reverence for the Prophet (peace be upon him) all the time through acting according to his Sunnah and calling to it, and warning against whatever opposes it. It is also through showing his good deeds and his good morals, advising people to invoke Allah (Exalted be He) frequently to send peace and blessing upon him. This is the way of showing reverence for the Prophet (peace be upon him) that was prescribed by Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) to his Ummah and on which Allah (Exalted be He) has promised them abundant good and double reward and honor in this worldly life and eternal happiness in the Hereafter.

The ruling which I have mentioned is quite equally applied to all types of Mawlid and is not exclusive to the celebration of the Prophet's birthday which people invented. The evidence shows that celebrating the Prophet's birthday is Bid`ah which should not be permitted. It is obligatory upon scholars and Muslim rulers throughout the Islamic world to warn people against this Bid`ah. They should also renounce and prevent holding this celebration as an act of obedience to Allah (Exalted be He) and their duty to point out what is wrong to His Servants. They should explain to the people that honoring the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the other messengers, and the righteous people is through following their footsteps, inviting people to what was ordained by Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him), and warn them against anything that contradicts it. Scholars who are known for verifying and glorifying the Sunnah disapprove of and warn against these Mawlids. They declared that it is Bid`ah that has no origin in the purified Shari`ah and should not be allowed.