So Who Celebrates the Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam)?

Has there ever been, anyone who celebrated the birthday throughout the seerah (lifetime) of the Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasalam)?

Yes there is! One man – a relative of the Prophet.

On the day of the birth of Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasalam), he was so overjoyed, that he celebrated by freeing his slave girl Thuwaybah. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book #62, Hadith #38)

A man so legendary that he is mentioned in the Qur'an.

But later on when Muhammad was commissioned with the task of Prophethood, he became one of the worst enemies of Islam.

His name is Abu Lahab. Verses about him go as follows:

"Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab (uncle of the Prophet), and perish he!

His wealth and his children (etc.) will not benefit him!

He will be burnt in a Fire of blazing flames"

(Surah Al-Masad 111)

So Abu Lahab celebrated it.

So what about us? What should we do?

Let’s resolve this issue by referring to the guidelines and advice of the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) –

“He among you who lives long enough (after I have gone), will see many differences.

So upon you, is to hold on to my sunnah, and the sunnah of the rightly guided successors (Khulafa ar-Rashideen) – Cling to them firmly with your molar teeth!

Beware of every newly-introduced matter, for every innovation (bid’ah) is misguidance”

(Narrated by Abu Daud and At-Tirmidzi, who graded is as hasan sahih)

Let’s follow the path of the companions, who loved the Prophet the most - by benefitting from his teachings : by learning it, acting upon it, conveying to others, and reviving his sunnah,

and by strengthening our knowledge so that we can defend our beloved religion in times of adversity, and not react in immature manners which tarnish the image of our beloved Deen  and cause other not-yet-Muslims to hate us.

Let’s follow the path of the companions, who didn’t sing songs or parade streets on a day which no one truly knows is the actual date of his birth. No, they did not practice it.

If we truly love someone, we don’t just show our love on his birthday.

We aren't just talking about a group of people here, we are talking about a generation of the best Muslims, who understood and practiced Islam the best, so much so that they were  given the Seal of Approval from Allah and His Messenger.

The Prophet said:

“The best of people are those of my generation (my companions)" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book #48, Hadith #819), 

 

“And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him” (Surah Taubah 9:100)

None of them practiced it.

So my brothers and sisters - let's ponder upon this heavy question: 

 

If, without celebrating the birthday of the Prophet, it was good enough for Allah to be Pleased with them,

and it was good enough for them to earn the highest levels of Jannah al-Firdaus, 

it should be good enough for us.

Let’s continuously study his seerah so we can develop a genuine love and respect for this great man whom many have venerated across the centuries, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

The Prophet said,

“None of you will have complete Iman (Faith) until he loves me more than his father, his children and all of mankind”

(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadith 14)