Most
historians are silent about the exact date of birth of the Prophet
(saw), where as those who do mention it, there are many contradictions
and disagreements amongst them.
Muhammad Husain Haykal in the biography of Muhammad (saw) writes :
“Historians
have disagreed about the year of Muhammad’s birth. Most of them hold
that it took place in “the Year of the Elephant,” i.e. 570 C.E. Ibn
‘Abbas claims that Muhammad (saw) was born on “the Day of the Elephant.”
Others claim that he was born fifteen years earlier. Still others claim
that he was born a few days, months, or years, after “the Year of the
Elephant.” Some even assert that Muhammad was born thirty years and
others seventy years later than “the Year of the Elephant.”
Historians
have also differed concerning the month of Muhammad’s birth although
the majority of them agree that it was Rabi` al Awwal, the third month
of the lunar year. It has also been claimed that he was born in
Muharram, in Safar, in Rajab, or in Ramadan.
Furthermore,
historians have differed as to the day of the month on which Muhammad
was born. Some claim that the birth took place on the third, of Rabi` al
Awwal; others, on the ninth; and others on the tenth. The majority,
however, agree that Muhammad (saw) was born on the twelfth of Rabi` al
Awwal, the claim of ibn Ishaq and other biographers.”
The
presence of such disagreements on the exact day of his birth, proves
that birthdays were not important to the Arabs. Arabs were very well
known for their great memorization skills. They used to know the lineage
of their families and other Arabs by heart; they used to know hundreds
of verses of poetry by heart, a great feat of memorization.
‘Amr
b. Sharid reported his father as saying: One day when I rode behind
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), he said (to me): Do you
remember any Poetry of Umayya b. Abu Salt. I said: Yes. He said: Then go
on. I recited a couplet, and he said: Go on. Then I again recited a
couplet and he said: Go on. I recited one hundred couplets (of his
poetry). [Muslim 28:5602]
If
the birthday of Rasool Allah (saw) was such an important celebration,
surely they would have remembered it and noted it down. Further more,
there is also no proof from history that Prophet Muhammad (saw)
mentioned his exact date of birth nor encouraged his followers to hold
milads or recite durood loudly on this day.
Neither
is it recorded from any Sahaba that they celebrated his date of birth.
However, he used to fast on Mondays, irrespective of the month and
according to his Hadith he was born on a Monday and the deeds are also
presented to Allah on Monday. He took up this day, not as a celebration
but as a day of Worship.
Hadith References [Maliks Muwatta 6:2606][Maliks Muwatta 47: 017] [Tirmidhi 42:008]
Conclusion
History
proves that Prophet Muhammad (saw) never celebrated his own birthday.
He used to fast on Mondays irrespective of the month. All that we know
for sure is that he was born on a Monday and that deeds are presented to
Allah on Mondays, which is the reason he used to fast on Mondays. His
exact date of birth and even the month is a subject of debate, which
further proves the insignificance of birthday celebration of Prophet
Muhammad (saw)
Further
more none of the Sahaba, his closest companions ever celebrated his
birthday, decorate mosques, read aloud poetry in his praise or hold
milads or take out processions on 12th Rabiul Awal.
So
when we say that we dearly love our Prophet saw and therefore there is
no harm in displaying this love on 12 Rabiul Awa, we need to analyze our
selves and ask our selves…
If companions of Rasool Allah did not celebrate Milad then why are we celebrating it?
Do
we love Prophet Muhammd saw more than his closest companions who
sacrificed their lives, family , wealth and property for him? Do we love
our Prophet (saw) more than these sahaba? Do we know a better way of
expressing our love then the sahaba?Are we better Muslims than the
Sahaba Karam (ra)? Are we more pious than Abu Bakar and Umar and Ali and
usman radiallahu anhum?? Are we more knowledgeable than these
companions? Obviously Not!
This
tradition of Milads seeped into Muslims culture later on and was not
part of original Islam. It is clearly an innovation a new thing added
into Islam which is a Bida and therfore should not be celebrated as it
was not part of original Islam practiced by the companions at the time
of Prophet Muhammad (saw)
Rasool Allah (saw) him self said:“Whoever has performed a deed which is not in the religion from its inception is rejected (not acceptable to Allah)“. (Bukhari and Muslim)
So
how should Muslims prove their love for Rasool Allah (saw)? What is the
right way to proclaim and display your love for Rasool Allah (saw)
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