04-03-2007, 12:59 AM
<b>Ruling regarding celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam)</b>
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<b>Question: </b> What is the ruling regarding gathering the people (on the occasion) for the birthday (of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam)) whilst they insist that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) attends their sitting? And is this gathering Islaamically correct, and what is befitting for us to do on the birthday of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), and when was he born, on which day, month, and year? And is the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) alive in his grave now or not?
<b>Response:</b> Gathering the people on the night of the birthday and the reading of his life story is not legislated, rather it is an innovation. And their insisting that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) attends their sitting is a lie, and the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) being alive in his grave is the life of barzakhiyyah enjoying the bliss and comfort of paradise, and not like his life in this world, since he died and was washed and covered in the burial shroud and the funeral prayer was performed over him and he was buried like others (are).
And he will be the first who shall rise from his grave on the Day of Resurrection, and Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) has said, addressing him:
{Verily, you will die and verily, they will die. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be disputing before your Lord}, [soorah az-Zumar, Aayahs 30 and 31].
And He (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:
{After that, surely, you will die. Then, surely you will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection}, [soorah al-Mu.minoon, Aayahs 15 and 16].
And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.
The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. - Volume 3, Page 33, Question 5, Fatwa No. 5782