Rabi' al-Awwal and the Celebration of Mawlid al-Nabi ﷺ

Translated from the original Urdu article by Mawlana Habibur Rahman A'zami.

Rabi' al-Awwal is the blessed month in which Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, sent the greatest benefactor of humanity, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, as a mercy to mankind. Through his luminous teachings and noble character, he not only eradicated the darkness of disbelief, polytheism, and ignorance, but also transformed a humanity disfigured by vain amusements, religious innovations (bid'ah), baseless customs, and superstitions. He adorned people with the virtues of morality, dignity, honor, and adherence to the Sunnah and the Shari'ah.

The right of this greatest benefactor upon us is that our hearts should always be filled with reverence and love for him. Every heartbeat should testify to our respect for him, every action should reflect his noble example, and every aspect of our lives should conform to his blessed Sunnah. The life of a Muslim should be a living embodiment of the Seerah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the noble character he exemplified.

It should not be that, like followers of other religions, we confine the remembrance of our Prophet ﷺ to a few selected days and then neglect his life and teachings for the remainder of the year. Indeed, every moment spent remembering him and reflecting upon his life is a source of blessing and a means of attaining success in the Hereafter.

Sadly, many who claim to love the Messenger of Allah ﷺ organize temporary and spiritless gatherings during the month of Rabi' al-Awwal under the attractive title of "Eid Milad al-Nabi." The very thought of what these gatherings have become causes one's heart to grieve.

What great misfortune has befallen the Muslim Ummah that gatherings supposedly held in honor of the Prophet's ﷺ birth have, in many places, become occasions of disorder, noise, and inappropriate behavior—conduct that would make even Satan ashamed.

While hearts continue to grow spiritually empty, streets and marketplaces are illuminated with decorative lights and colorful banners. People spend hours participating in processions in the name of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, yet many neglect the very first pillar of practical Islam after faith: the prayer (Salah).

In many of these gatherings and processions, men and women intermingle without regard for Islamic guidelines of modesty, and vast amounts of wealth are spent on decorations and public displays that have no basis in the teachings of Islam.

O those who claim to love the greatest benefactor of humanity! Reflect sincerely.

A claim of love that is devoid of obedience is nothing more than self-deception.

«"If your love were genuine, you would obey him,

For the one who truly loves always obeys the one he loves."»

Many profess their love for the Messenger ﷺ with their tongues, yet their conduct and daily lives often contradict his teachings.

During the final moments of his blessed life, when death approached, the Prophet ﷺ repeatedly emphasized the importance of Salah. He warned against unlawful interaction between unrelated men and women, even prohibiting lustful glances because of their destructive consequences for faith. He strongly discouraged extravagance and wastefulness.

Yet today, many of the activities carried out in his name include precisely those practices from which he warned his Ummah.

The world has advanced in countless ways, while many Muslims continue to expend their wealth, energy, and valuable time on superficial gatherings and religious practices unsupported by the teachings of Islam. In doing so, they not only squander worldly resources but also risk earning the displeasure of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

Allah Almighty has made it abundantly clear that success in this world and the Hereafter lies only in obeying Him and following the path of His Messenger ﷺ.

Allah says:

«"So let those who oppose his command beware lest a trial befall them or a painful punishment overtake them."

(Qur'an 24:63)»

Allah also says:

«"Whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer—We will surely grant them a good life, and We will reward them according to the best of what they used to do."

(Qur'an 16:97)»

Every believer should reflect honestly: Are our actions making us deserving of Allah's mercy, or are they exposing us to His punishment?

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«"Successful indeed is the one who has purified his heart for faith; whose heart is sound; whose tongue is truthful; whose soul is at peace; whose character is upright; whose ears listen to the truth; and whose eyes perceive with insight."

(Musnad Ahmad, 5:148)»

Throughout the Qur'an and Sunnah, one message is repeated in various forms: true success in this life and the next is inseparable from obedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

Allah Himself established the criterion for genuine love:

«"Say, [O Muhammad], 'If you truly love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins.'"

(Qur'an 3:31)»

Without following the Messenger ﷺ, a mere verbal claim of love remains an empty assertion and, if examined carefully, becomes a form of self-deception.

Every Muslim should pause and sincerely ask:

Are the celebrations, gatherings, and processions conducted in the name of Mawlid—particularly those involving practices contrary to the Qur'an and Sunnah—leading us toward the success promised by Allah, or are they leading us toward loss in this world and the Hereafter?

This is a question that deserves careful reflection by every believer who sincerely seeks the pleasure of Allah and wishes to express true love for His Messenger ﷺ through faithful obedience and adherence to his blessed Sunnah.

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ماہنامہ دارالعلوم ‏، شمارہ11، جلد:100 ‏، صفرالمظفر 1438 ہجری مطابق نومبر 2016ء