Question:
In Europe, some celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi (peace be upon him) because celebrating it promotes mutual ties and relationships, everyone sits together, and everyone is also advised to consider it an honor for us to adhere to our religion, and it also has the advantage that in this way young people avoid participating in infidel festivals, including Valentine’s Day and other festivals. Is this allowed?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum Wa-Raḥmatullāhi Wa-Barakātuh
In principle, mentioning the blessed life, virtues, character and qualities of Rasulullah ﷺ is among the greatest forms of worship; indeed, it is from the very spirit of īmān. Every aspect of his blessed life is a source of guidance: his birth, childhood, youth, prophethood, propagation, sacrifices, worship, Ṣalāh, character, appearance, manners, piety, knowledge, mercy, anger, dealings, sleeping, waking and every other aspect of his life. Learning and teaching these matters, discussing them, and encouraging people to follow his example are duties of the Ummah. Likewise, mentioning his Companions, wives, children, servants, clothing, animals and other things connected with him ﷺ is virtuous because of their connection and association with Rasulullah ﷺ.
The blessed life of Rasulullah ﷺ may broadly be considered in two periods: the period before his prophethood and the period from the commencement of his prophethood until his demise. The latter period, in particular, has been extensively preserved in the books of Ḥadīth and Sīrah, providing the Ummah with a remarkably comprehensive record of his blessed life. Through this, Muslims can study his example and distinguish authentic reports from those that are unreliable.
The Sīrah should be presented and cultivated in two ways. First, a Muslim should mould his outward and inward life according to the Sīrah, so that his appearance, speech, character, manners, dealings and actions reflect the example of Rasulullah ﷺ. Second, whenever an appropriate opportunity arises, gatherings and assemblies should be filled with the mention of Rasulullah ﷺ, his virtues, his blessed character, his actions and his Sunnah, while encouraging people to follow his example.
Accordingly, gatherings in which the blessed mention of Rasulullah ﷺ is made are, in principle, praiseworthy and may be a means of great virtue. They can also provide an opportunity for Muslims to strengthen their relationships, gather their families and communities, teach the younger generation about their religion, cultivate love for Rasulullah ﷺ, and encourage adherence to Islam. These are all praiseworthy objectives.
However, the praiseworthiness of these objectives does not, by itself, establish the permissibility of every means used to achieve them. Such gatherings must remain within the limits of the Sharīʿah and must be free from unlawful or reprehensible practices, such as impermissible intermingling between men and women, extravagance and wasteful expenditure, fabricated or baseless narrations, neglect of Ṣalāh, impermissible forms of entertainment, and other matters prohibited by the Sharīʿah.
Likewise, the desire to protect Muslim youth from participating in Valentine’s Day or other non-Muslim festivals is a valid and important concern. However, this objective should be achieved by strengthening their attachment to Islam, teaching them the Sīrah and Sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ, providing them with beneficial Islamic education and wholesome permissible activities, and cultivating their Islamic identity throughout the year. The avoidance of one impermissible practice does not, by itself, establish another practice as a religious observance.
Furthermore, a particular date should not be treated as having a special religious status merely by being fixed for such a gathering, nor should attendance be regarded as obligatory, necessary or a defining sign of one’s love for Rasulullah ﷺ. Those who do not attend must not be considered sinful, deficient in their love for Rasulullah ﷺ, or looked down upon merely because they chose not to participate.
Therefore, there is a clear distinction between a permissible gathering for the remembrance and study of Rasulullah ﷺ and establishing a particular annual religious celebration under the name of “Eid Milad-un-Nabi” or treating a specific date as a religious occasion. The former, when conducted within the limits of the Sharīʿah, is praiseworthy. The latter cannot be established merely on the basis that it brings people together, strengthens relationships, reinforces Islamic identity, or keeps young people away from other festivals.
The fact that such a celebration takes place in Europe does not alter this principle. Living in a non-Muslim country makes the need to preserve one’s Islamic identity and protect Muslim youth from non-Islamic practices especially important, but these objectives should be achieved through means that themselves conform to the Sharīʿah.
The love of Rasulullah ﷺ is not fulfilled merely by attending an annual gathering. Its true expression is to learn his Sīrah, revive his Sunnah, adopt his character, follow his commands and make his blessed example manifest throughout one’s life. Thus, the appropriate response to the challenges faced by Muslim youth in Europe is not to establish a new religious festival, but to strengthen their relationship with Islam and Rasulullah ﷺ throughout the year through consistent sound Islamic education, lessons on Sīrah, and Sunnah, and other permissible community activities under the guidance of the ulema. [1]
And Allah Taʿāla Knows Best.
Baba Abu Bakr
Student –Darul Iftaa
Accra, Ghana
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Muhammad Zakariyya Desai
