Attending Mawlid and Khaddaats

Question

Is Celebrating the Mawlid Permissible and Attending Mawlid and Khaddaats?

Bottom Line

Mawlid (Prophet’s birthday) is a religious innovation (bid‘ah) not practiced by the Prophet ﷺ, his Companions, or early generations. It was introduced centuries later and is not part of Islam.

Quick Answer

The Prophet ﷺ never celebrated his birthday, nor did the Companions. Mawlid was first introduced by King Muzaffar ad-Din in Irbil around 600 AH, supported by the unreliable Ibn Dihya. Scholars criticized this practice as baseless. If Muslims gather to speak about the Prophet ﷺ and revive Sunnah without innovations, it is permissible, but fixing it to his birthday is bid‘ah.

Key Takeaways

• Mawlid was not practiced by the Prophet ﷺ, Companions, or Tabi‘een.
• First celebrated in Irbil around 600 AH under King Muzaffar ad-Din.
• Resembles Christian celebrations of Jesus’ birth, adding further issues.

Detailed Answer

Mawlid was first organized by King Muzaffar ad-Din of Irbil about 600 years after the Prophet ﷺ. It was unknown to the Prophet, Companions, and early generations.
Anwar Shah al-Kashmiri said:

“A Sufi innovated it in the era of Sultan Irbil around 600 A.H, and it does not have any basis in our pure Shari‘ah.” (al-‘Arf ash-Shadhi, 2/82)

Mu‘izz ad-Din Khawarizmi described King Muzaffar as prodigal, introducing Mawlid for his own aims.

The Role of Ibn Dihya

The king was influenced by Ibn Dihya al-Andalusi, who fabricated narrations. Ibn Kathir noted that people abandoned his reports due to exaggerations (al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, 13/169). Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani called him “evil-tongued, arrogant, and ignorant” (Lisan al-Mizan, 4/296).

Why Mawlid Is Bid‘ah

– The Prophet ﷺ and Companions never observed it.
– True love means following Sunnah, not inventing new rituals.
– Many Mawlid gatherings involve haram practices like music, intermingling, or extravagance.

Permissible Gatherings

Scholars distinguish between Mawlid and general gatherings. Muslims may meet to discuss the Prophet ﷺ and encourage Sunnah, without fixing it to a date.
Example: Abu Hurairah reported that ‘Umar objected to Hassaan’s poetry in the mosque, but Hassaan replied:

“I used to recite poetry here, and in this mosque there was one greater than you (the Prophet ﷺ).” Bukhari 3212; Muslim 2485

This shows that beneficial gatherings are allowed, but Mawlid as a religious festival is an innovation.

What This Means for You

Avoid celebrating the Prophet’s birthday as a religious ritual. Instead, revive his Sunnah daily, hold beneficial gatherings, and strengthen your love for him through following his guidance, not innovated celebrations.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Hadith

1. Sahih al-Bukhari 3212: Hassaan reciting poetry in the mosque with the Prophet ﷺ present.
2. Sahih Muslim 2485: Same narration confirming the permissibility of gatherings.

Secondary Sources

3. Anwar Shah al-Kashmiri, al-‘Arf ash-Shadhi, 2/82 – Notes Mawlid as an innovation of 600 AH.
4. Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, 13/169 – Critique of Ibn Dihya’s fabrications.
5. Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, Lisan al-Mizan, 4/296 – Harsh criticism of Ibn Dihya’s reliability.
6. Mu‘izz ad-Din Khawarizmi, al-Qawl al-Mu‘tamid – Notes Mawlid’s political and cultural motives.