It is not permissible to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) or somebody else. In fact, it must be stopped, as it is an innovation in the religion. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) neither celebrated it, nor commanded others to do this for himself or for any one who died before him amongst the Prophets, for his daughters, his wives, or his other relatives.


The rightly guided Caliphs, the Companions of the Prophet  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  them or the successors who rightly followed them did not celebrate this event, nor did any one of the Muslim scholars in the centuries before. They knew the Sunnah of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) best, they loved him more, and followed the Sharee'a better than those who came after them. If celebrating his birthday was a good deed, they would have done it.


We are commanded to follow and forbidden to innovate. This is because of the perfection of the Islamic religion, the sufficiency of what Allah and His Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) have given us and what was accepted by Ahl As-Sunna wa Al-Jama'ah (the Muslim community of the Companions and those who followed them in the best way).


It is related to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) that he said: "He who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it, will have it rejected." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] According to Muslim who reported: "Whoever does an act which is not in agreement with our matter, will have it rejected." In another tradition the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: "You must keep to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-guided Caliphs, cling to it firmly... Beware of newly invented matters, for every new matter is an innovation and every innovation is misleading."


He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) used to say in every Friday sermon: "The best discourse is the Book of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah, and the worst matter is that of innovation and every innovation is misleading.Thus, these traditions contain a strong caution against innovations and a warning that such an act is a deviation from the right course." The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) warned the people of the gravity of these innovations and of their bad consequences. There are many traditions adduced in this connection.


Allah Almighty has said (what means):


"...And whatever the Messenger has given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty." [Quran 59: 7]


"So let those beware who dissent from the Prophet’s order, lest fitnah strike them or a painful punishment." [Quran 24: 63]


"There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often." [Quran 33: 21]


"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, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment." [Quran 9:100]


And here Allah the Almighty clearly Declares about the perfection and completion of His religion. Allay Says: (what means): "...This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion..." [Quran 5: 3] This verse decisively indicates that the Almighty Allah has completed the religion for this Ummah, and has showered His blessings on them.


His Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) passed away only after he had imparted the complete message of Allah Almighty to the Ummah as well as His legislations concerning sayings and deeds. He also stressed that all things invented by people and then attributed to the religion of Islam are innovations and to be rejected, even if their inventors did so in good faith.


It is established that the Companions of the Prophet  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  them and the righteous successors after them warned the people against innovations as they add to Islam and legislate what is not permitted by Allah, in line with the enemies of Allah such as the Jews and the Christians who added to their religion and innovated what was not allowed by Allah.


Moreover, to admit innovation in Islam is to describe it as incomplete and imperfect. Such a belief is not only an evil but contradicts the following verse (which means): "...This day I have perfected for you your religion..." and the sayings of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) which warn us against innovations.


To celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) and the others, means that the Religion is not perfected by Allah (the Glorious, the Almighty) for this Ummah, and the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) did not impart to the people what was necessary regarding their religious duties, till these late ones appeared and invented in the religion what is not permitted by Allah, thinking that this would bring them nearer to Allah.


Undoubtedly, this is a great danger and is tantamount to criticizing Allah the Almighty and the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) whereas Allah the Almighty has already completed the religion and perfected His grace, and the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) has conveyed the message openly and informed the Ummah of all such ways that will lead them to the Paradise and save them from Hell-fire.


According to an authentic Hadith, on the authority of Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: "Allah the Almighty did not send a prophet but obliged him to lead his people to the best way which is known to him, and warn them against the worst which is known to him." [Muslim]


It is well-known that our Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) is the best of all the Prophets, the last and the most perfect of them regarding the way he conveyed the message and advised his people. Had the celebration of Milad been an act of religion chosen by Allah for His servants, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) would have either explained that to his people, would have celebrated it during his life, or his Companions would have done it.


As these did not happen, it becomes clear that Islam has no concern with Milaad. On the contrary, it is one of the innovations against which the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) has warned his people as mentioned earlier. A host of scholars have not only rejected the celebration of Milad but have warned against it in view of the evidences given above.


According to the rule of the Islamic Sharee'a, all matters regarding legalization or prohibition and all disputes among the people, should be referred to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) in line with the sayings of Almighty Allah (which mean):


A. "O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result." [Quran 4: 59]


B. "And in anything over which you disagree – its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah. [Say], "That is Allah, my Lord; upon Him I have relied, and to Him I turn back." [Quran 42: 10]


[Summarized from an article by late Shaikh `Abdul `Aziz bin `Abdullah bin Baaz (May Allah have mercy on him)]

Referring this issue back to the Book of Allah, we find it ordaining upon us to follow the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) in his commandments and warning us against whatever he prohibits. Furthermore it tells us that Allah has perfected the religion for the people. So, as long as Milad (birthday celebration)  is not among the teachings of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) it cannot be a part of the religion which Allah has perfected for us and asked us to adhere to by following the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ).


Again when we refer this issue back to the Sunnah, of the Messenger of Allah , we do not find either the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) or the Companions doing it by themselves or asking others to do it. So it becomes evident that Milad is not a part of religion, rather one of innovations and blind imitation of the people of the book, i. e. the Jews and the Christians in their festivals. With this argument in mind, it becomes crystal clear for everyone having the least insight and inclination towards truth and justice, that celebrating any birthday has nothing to do with Islam. It is rather among the innovations which Allah and His Messenger warned against emphatically.


A wise man must not be deceived by seeing a large number of people doing it throughout the world because the truth is known and recognized by the evidences of Sharee'a and not by the acts of a great number of people. Allah the Almighty says regarding the Jews and the Christians (what means): "And they say, 'None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian.' These are their own desires. Say (Muhammad) 'Produce your proof if you are truthful.' " [Quran 2: 111]


And the Almighty also said (what means): "And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah's Path. They follow nothing but conjectures, and they do nothing but lie." [Quran 6: 116]


Most of these innovations, in addition to their innovatory nature, also do not usually escape from a number of other evils, such as mixed gatherings of men and women, songs accompanied by musical instruments. drinking intoxicants, narcotics and the like. They may also involve the worst thing i. e. the greatest Shirk (polytheism), through showing exaggeration in the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) and other saints and through praying to him, invoking his help or believing that he knows what is hidden and all similar claims which render a believer as an infidel.


It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) has said: "Beware of extravagance in the Religion: It has caused the people before you to perish." He also said: "Do not lavish praise on me as the Christians did with the son of Maryam (Jesus, the son of Mary). I am just a bondman. So Simply say: The bondman of Allah and His Messenger." [Al-Bukhari]


It is curious to note that a great many people participate most actively in these celebrations and defend them vehemently, while they sit back from attending the obligatory forms of worship such as daily and Friday prayers. They are not even ashamed of this, nor do they realize that they are committing a great evil. Undoubtedly, this shows the weakness of their faith, their short-sightedness, and the deeply ingrained rust on their hearts because of sins and disobedience. We ask Allah's protection for us and for all the Muslims.


It is even more astonishing to note that some people believe that the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) is present at Milaad. Consequently they stand to greet and welcome him. That is not only a sheer lie but a worst form of ignorance, as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) shall neither come out of his grave before the Day of Resurrection, nor shall he meet the people or attend their meetings. Instead, he shall remain in his grave till the Day of Resurrection while his soul rests at the highest of the high with his Lord in the most exalted and highest place.


Allah The Almighty says (what means): "After that, surely, you will die. Then (again), you will be resurrected on the Day of Ressurection." [Quran 23: 15 & A.16] And the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: "I am the first one to rise from the grave on the Day of Resurrection and I will be the first intercessor and the first one whose intercession is to be accepted".


The aforesaid evidences from the Qur'an and Hadith prove beyond doubt that the dead people will come out of their graves only on the Day of Resurrection. All the scholars of Islam agree upon this. A Muslim should be aware of these things and must not be easily misled by the innovations and the superstitions created by the ignorant people with no authority from Allah at all.


As for offering the blessings and greetings (Salat and Salam) to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) they are among the most preferred and virtuous deeds in accordance with the saying of Allah (which mean): "Allah sends His Salat (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet (Muhammad) and also His angels too (ask Allah to bless and forgive him). O you who Believe! Send you Salat on (ask Allah to bless) him (Muhammad), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salaamu-Alaikum)." [Quran 33: 56]


The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) has said: "Whosoever sends blessings on me one time, Allah sends blessings on him ten times." It is prescribed on all times, particularly at the end of each prayer. It is held obligatory at last Tashahud of each prayer by most of the scholars. It is strongly required at a number of occasions such as immediately after Adhaan (the call to Prayers), at the mention of the name of the Prophet , during the day of Friday and the night preceding it according to a host of Ahadith.


This is what I wanted to emphasize regarding this issue. I hope it will satisfy everyone whom Allah has shown the light. How sad it is to see some devoted Muslims, known for their strength of faith and love for the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) organizing such innovatory celebrations.


Let us ask such people: "Tell us, if you belong to Ahl-As-Sunna and follow the Prophet, whether he himself or one of his Companions or their successors did this or is it no more than a blind following of others?


The love of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) is not reflected by the celebration on his birthday, but by obeying him, believing in his teachings, keeping away from what he prohibited and by worshipping Allah in the way he prescribed for us. It is also reflected through offering Salat and Salam to him from time to time, particularly at the mention of his name and during prayers.


May Allah help us and all the Muslims to understand His religion, to continually confirm us on it, stick to Sunnah and keep away from the innovation. Indeed He is Generous and Kind. And May Allah Shower His blessings and mercy upon our Prophet Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) his Posterity and his Companions.


[Summarized from an article by late Shaikh `Abdul `Aziz bin `Abdullah bin Baaz may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him.