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To Celebrate Or Not To Celebrate The Holly Prophet’s Birthday
Apr 25, 2007
Nvasekie Konneh
Since
the invasion of Iraq and the subsequent removal of Saddam Hussein
from power by the US and her allies, there has been an increased
sectarian violence between the Shia and Sunnis of that country.
Not that the division between the two is anything new (the Shia-Sunnis
divide has existed for over thousand years) but under the former
dictator Saddam Hussein the news of the division was not as terrible
as it is now. On the surface of things, most of the current level
of violence has more to do with politic than religion. Otherwise,
how can anyone explain or justify any Moslem dropping bombs in mosques
full of other Moslems? We have heard so much of such stories about
both groups. The only thing that is missing is the widespread condemnation
of such barbarism committed by one group or another of the same
religion, worshiping the same God.
To understand why this is happening is to understand the demography
of Iraq. 60% of Iraqi population is Shia, with the remaining 40%
comprising of Sunnis, the Kurds, and others. But for more than three
decades, the country has been under the Sunnis political control
with the dictator Saddam Hussein who was himself a Sunnis. With
the combined population of the Shias and the Kurds under Sunni domination,
Saddam’s regime was clearly a minority regime. Now that the
table has been turned around, giving power to the majority Shias,
the Sunnis are not gladly accepting their new status. They are fiercely
resisting the new status quo. That’s why we are hearing about
all the assassinations and bombings and counter-assassinations and
bombings. So given the background to this increasing conflict, it
is fair to say that what we are witnessing in Iraq today has more
to do with politic than religion.
Growing up in my part of the world, I was not aware of this Shia-Sunni
divide. What we had that has any resemblance to what is happening
today in Iraq was a fuss over the positions of hands while praying
(whether to fold hands over the chest or to bring them down along
one’s sides and reciting the Shahada at the end of the prayer).
Carrying hands down was what most people were doing until the reformists
came with their reform agenda. The way they aggressively pursued
their reformation was considered too extreme by others while at
the same time they won some converts. Both sides strongly believed
it was right and the other side was wrong. At times it became very
acrimonious with people insulting and threatening each other. Family
members broke up, dividing themselves between the two feuding groups.
Whereas there was one mosque before the reformers came, now there
were two mosques in many towns and cities, one attended by those
carrying their hands down and those carrying their hands up. The
terms used to describe each other were “wahbia or bedia.”
The reformists were the wahbias and those who rejected the reformers’
agenda were called bedia.
Over the years, everyone has grown mature and more tolerant and
it’s no longer a big deal whether one carries hands down or
up. Now a day it’s common to see both groups praying together
without fussing.
As I write this article, there is new controversy growing in our
community that reminds me of the past. This one has to do with whether
or not to celebrate the birthday of the Holly Prophet of Islam,
Muhammad (Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him). On one side
of the argument is that since the Holy Prophet himself did not celebrate
his birthday, it is not permissible for anyone to do so and those
who do so are introducing something new to the religion. This side
argues further that any innovation is misguidance and every misguidance
leads to the hell fire and that “an adulterer or a drunkard
is closer to Allah more than someone introducing something new to
the religion of Islam.”
The counter-argument is that nothing could be wrong with Moslems
gathering on the Holly Prophet’s birthday to educate themselves
about the life and mission of the Holly Prophet and that this can
only strengthen their understanding and faith in their religion
and reverence for the Holly Prophet. They further argue that there
are positive and negative innovations and observing the Prophet’s
birthday is one of the positive ones. The Tarawe prayer during the
Holly Month of Ramadan, accordingly, is another positive innovation.
They say that the phrase “all innovations lead to the hell
fire” is a misinterpretation of the Arabic phrase (Kul bedia
dalala) and that the correct interpretation is “most innovations.”
I came across some supporting views of this side of the argument
from an Islamic chartroom and here is what one of the charters has
to say: “Not everything which the Prophet or his Companions
did not do would ultimately make things "Haraam." Since
the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) himself said: "He
who introduces a new good Sunnah in Islam will be rewarded for it
..."
This charter went further to quote Imam Shafi'i (radi Allahu anhu)
who said: "Anything which enjoys the backing of Shari'ah cannot
be an innovation even if the Companions did not practice it, because
their abstention from doing something may have been due to a particular
reason which was there at that time, or they have left it to something
which happens to be better, or perhaps news about a particular matter
did not reach them at all.’
Therefore, whosoever alleges that this thing is Haraam on the basis
that the Noble Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) did not practice
it, then surely he has alleged something which has no foundation
or backing in Shari'ah and thus his allegation is refuted and rejected.”
He listed some of what he considers as positive innovations:
1. To gather collectively the Muslims to pray behind one Imam during
"Tarawih Prayers," at the two Sacred Mosques and other
Mosques.
2. Reading the "Du's" at the conclusion of finishing the
recitation of the Holy Qur'an during "Tarawih Prayers"
and "Tahajjud Prayers".
3. Allocating the 27th night of Ramadan to recite the whole Quran
at the two Sacred Mosques.
4. The Caller for Azaan saying, when announcing to the people the
commencement of the Tarawih Prayers the following, "Rise up
for Tarawih Prayers, May Allah reward you."
5. Claiming that "Tarawih Prayers or Divinity" is divided
into three Parts.
Is this a prophetic saying, or the saying of one of the Companions
or of the Four Imams? And many other things such as the formation
of the committees for "Enjoying what is Good and Forbidding
what is Evil," establishment of universities, association for
memorization of the Holy Quran, Offices of Dawah and "Special
Week of Masha'yekh." Hence, I do not raise objections to these
things since they are in place for serving Islam. Let us add that
these things are all "Bid'ah" but we acknowledge that
they are ‘good Bid'ah.’"
Here is another view on the opposite of the points advanced above,
“It is alleged that since the Birthday of the Prophet (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) is the same as his demise, therefore, expressing
joy on that day is no better than expressing grieve over his demise
and if the religion of Islam was to be applied on the basis of one's
opinion, then we are bound to show grief during this day and not
happiness!”
Another counter-rebuttal, “I will leave the rebutal of such
crooked argument to none other than Imam Suyuti (radi Allahu anhu)
himself, where he said in his famous book "Al-Hawaii Lil-Fatawii,"
(P. 193), the following: "The birthday of the Noble Prophet
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is the greatest favor of Allah granted
to us, and that his demise is the greatest affliction for us. However,
Shari'ah has encouraged us to show gratitude for favours and has
taught us to observe patient perseverance, silence and calm in the
face of afflictions. The Shari'ah has ordered us to offer "Aqiqa"
on the birth of a child which is an expression of happiness and
gratitude for favours and has taught us to observe patience, silence
and calm in the face of afflictions. But the Shari'ah has not ordered
us to sacrifice an animal on the death of someone nor to do such
action. On the contrary, it has prohibited wailing and lamentation.
Thus, the laws of Shari'ah indicate that to exhibit happiness in
this Holy month in connection with the birth of the Noble Prophet
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), is better than showing grief at
his demise."
For millions of Moslems around the world, Mawlid is a big religious
occasion and the intention is not to dance or have party as we may
know but to listen to the learned scholars giving lectures on the
life and time of the Holly Prophet.
Whether or not to celebrate the Holly Prophet’s birthday is
one of those issues that Moslems have divided opinion on. From where
I see it, this is not one of those issues that should cause Moslems
to fuss with one another. There are millions of Moslems around the
world who celebrate the Holly Prophet’s birthday and it is
even a national holiday in some countries. There are also millions
of Moslems who do not celebrate the day. For the love of the Holly
Prophet and the religion, everyone believes he or she is doing the
right thing. Only when we begin to pass judgment on each other,
going to the extend of assigning or sentencing others to hell because
we do not agree with them, that’s where we go wrong. For me
it boils down to tolerance. It will serve us better if our scholars
and imams were to exercise moderation in their teachings and preaching
so that we their followers can better understand and serve our God
the right way. There is so much confusion and misunderstanding in
the world today and religion suppose to provide message of healing,
peace, and understanding. Religion must be a refuge of hope from
all the terrible things that are afflicting us today in the world.
Our world becomes more hopeless and helpless when the only message
we get from our preachers are doom and gloom. Sometime you don’t
want to listen to message that will add on to the daily frustration
you are faced with in these terrible times.
About
the author: Nvasekie Konneh is a nine year veteran
of the US Navy and the author of the book of poetry, “Going to War
for America.” He’s the chairman of the Liberian Writers Network
(LWN) and Editor in Chief of the Limany website. Besides writing,
Nvasekie Konneh is a music producer/promoter and CEO of the KonnLove
Entertainment and Production. Nvasekie Konneh is the Executive Producer
of the Positive Force’s CD, “Liberia, Land of the Free,” and Massebe
Kamara’s debut CD, “Dengo.” Contact info: KonnLove@aol.com or 215
869 2463.
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