Q: What is the shari'ee status of meelaad and salami as is practised today?
A: After Allah Ta’ala, our love for Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) should be the greatest. The love, kindness and compassion that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) showed us (his ummah) is immeasurable and unconceivable. The blood that flowed from his Mubaarak body in Taa’if, his Mubaarak tooth that became shaheed at Uhud and the tears that flowed from his Mubaarak eyes at the time of tahajjud for his ummah is well known. Love demands that we remember him, obey him and fulfill what he wanted from us every day of our lives (not just on the 12th of Rabi ul Awwal). Why should we imitate the kuffaar in earmarking one day in the year for expressing our love for Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)? The kuffaar have reduced their parents to such a low position that they earmark one day in the year (which they call ‘mother’s day’ and ‘father’s day’) to express their love and respect. We should not reduce the position of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) by just remembering him on the 12th of Rabi ul Awwal.
Meelaad i.e. celebrating the birthday of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is an innovation in Deen. It was neither practiced in the era of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), the Sahaabah, Taab’ieen, Tab ut-Taab’ieen nor the centuries that followed. It was only in the seventh century of Islam that king ‘Arbal’ initiated this practice. Apart from this many wrongs are found in the meelaad celebrations. Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد
“The one who innovates a practice in our Deen, it will be rejected”.
Reciting Durood upon Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is a virtuous deed and earns one immense reward. Shariat has permitted the recitation of the Durood in all conditions without any restriction (i.e. standing, sitting, whilst lying down etc.). Hence, restricting the Durood to any condition or occasion is impermissible. The practice of Salaami prevalent nowadays does not conform to Shariat on account of the restrictions that people have brought in it as well as many other wrongs. Hereunder are some of the wrongs that are found in it:
- People regard it necessary to stand and recite the Salaami.
- People regard this method of reciting Durood (Salaami) as a Sunnat of deen.
- People look down at the one who does not stand during the Salaami.
- People regard not standing as a sign of disrespect shown to Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
- In many places, people regard Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to be present at the place where Salaami takes place.
- People regard the recitation of the Salaami on special occasions as necessary.
- In many places, the Salaami takes place without segregation between the sexes.
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها ، قالت : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : (من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد (رياض الصالحين)
المولود الذي شاع في هذا العصر و احدثه صوفي في عهد سلطان اربل سنة 600 ولم يكن له أصل من الشريعة الغراء (العرف الشذي مع جامع الترمذي 1/117)
ومن جملة ما أحدثوه من البدع مع اعتقادهم أن ذلك من أكبر العبادات وإظهار الشعائر ما يفعلونه في شهر ربيع الأول من مولد وقد احتوى على بدع ومحرمات جملة (المدخل لابن الحاج 2/2)
فتاوى محمودية 5/378-379)
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Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Q: Based on what you have stated If one avoids the 7 mistakes enumerated by you and one recites the Salaam and requests Allah ta'ala to bestow it to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Salam) is it ok?
What then is the objection if one avoids the 7 wrongs and recites the Sallam even it happens to be 12th Rabi ul Awwal as long as one does not give importance to that day and consider's that day to be like any other day?
A: The Fuqaha have explained that if wrongs or innovations become associated with a mustahab practice, then such a mustahab practice should be omitted. Based on this principle we understand that it is impermissible for one to attend such gatherings wherein these wrongs and innovations are prevalent. Similarly one should refrain from reciting the Salaami in this manner so that one is not viewed by people to be associated with those who engage in bidaat and innovations. It is more rewarding for one to recite the Durood which appears in the Ahaadith of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) e.g. The forty Durood.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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