History of Mawlid an-Nabi (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) Celebrations

Another cheap trick (Irony) the insolent opposition attain is a lame accusation towards the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah that, some ignorants from India and Pakistan of the last few decades have innovated the celebrations of Mawlid an-Nabi Sharif being influenced by the Hindu Celebration culture and that it was never ever celebrated before and there is no history of Mawlid Celebrations (Curse of Allah upon the liars). Let them have some glimpses of enthusiastic and joyous Mawlid celebrations from the very true and evident history.

An old photograph of Bayt al-Mawlid (The place where the blessed birth took place) in Makkah.

..:: History of Mawlid Celebrations ::..

1. Allama Mulla Ali Qari narrating the routine of the people of Madina Munawwarah writes,

"The people of Madina Munawwarah (May Allah have Mercy on them) used to arrange and attend Mawlid gatherings with great enthusiasm and sincerity on the occasion of Mawlid Sharif." [Mawrid ar-Rawi Fi Mawlid an-Nabawi, Page 29]

2. Ibn al-Jawzi says:

"People of Haramain Sharifayn (Makkah Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah) and Egypt and Yemen and Syria and of the eastern and western cities of Arabia hold functions in celebration of the birth of the Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam), they rejoice at the sighting of the moon of Rabi al-Awwal, bathe and put on their best dresses adorn themselves in various ways, put on scent, and give alms with great joy, and exert themselves in listening to the Mawlid of the Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam). By doing so, they themselves attain to success, as it has been proved that by celebrating the Mawlid of the Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) much good accrues the whole year round, security and comfort, greater means of livelihood, increase in children and in wealth, peace in cities and contentment and peace in homes."

References:

1. Tafsir Ruh al-Bayan by Allama Ismail Hiqqi, Vol. 9, Page 56
2. Milad al-Uroos – Urdu "Bayan-e-Milad-un-Nabi", Page 34/35, Published in Lahore.
3. Ad-Durr al-Munazzam, Page 100/101
4. Al-Milad an-Nabawi, Page 58

Prophet's (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) Birthday procession at Citadel Square (Cairo, Egypt) in 1915.
 

3. Gatherings of Mawlid an-Nabi SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam was switched to Prose in 3rd/4th Hijri then 700 years back from today, A pious and virtuous person named Umer bin Mullah Muhammad Mousli (Alayhir Rahmah) established it on regular basis. Following him the great commander Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi's dearly loved Sultan Arbal Malik Abu Saeed Muzaffar al-Din celebrated Mawlid an-Nabi officially. Ibn-e-Khalqaan Arabali Sha'fai was eyewitness of that festival.

4. According to "Tarikh Mir'at az-Zaman" billions of rupees were used to spend on those festivities. In the beginning of 7th Century of Hijri Calendar; Great Scholar named Abul Khattab Umer Bin Hasan dahiyya Qalbi Andalusi Balansi wrote a book on the topic Milad an-Nabi SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam named "At-Tanveer fi Mawlid as-Siraj al-Muneer". In 1207, He went to Sultan Arbal's castle and presented his book on Mawlid to him, for which he was awarded thousand Gold Coins from Sultan. This was the status and respect of Mawlid Sharif in hearts of earlier leaders of Islam.

Mawlid Celebrations in the ottoman empire for the birth of Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam)
 

5. Not only Sultan Arbal, King of Egypt celebrated the Mawlid Shareef; Allama Ibn Jazari (Alayhir Rahmah) is one the eyewitnesses. For the celebration of this festival 1000 Mithqal of Gold was spent on it. Sultan Abu Hamu Musa Talamsani and earlier rulers of Aqsa and Andalus used to Celebrate Mawlid an-Nabi SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam. Abdullah Tunisi Talamsani has written the details of these festivals in his book "Raah al-Arwah".

References:

1. Subl al-Huda wa ar-Rishaad Fi Seerah Khair al-Ibaad by Muhammad Bin Ali Yusuf Damishqi
2. Ad-Durr al-Munazzam Fee Hukmi Mawlidin Nabi Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam
3. Wafyat al-Da'yaan Anba'a Abna az-Zaman, Published in Cairo
4. Allama Muhammad Raza Misri's, Muhammadur Rasoolullah, Published in Lahore, Page 33
5. Imam Jalal al-Din Suyuti, Husn al-Maqsad Fi Amal al-Mawlid
6. Anwar as-Sati'aa (1307 H), Page 261, Published from Muradabad.

Mawlid an-Nabi (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) procession at Boulac Avenue (Cairo, Egypt) in 1904.

6. It is stated in Seerah al-Halabiya that:

Muslims have been celebrating gatherings of Mawlid Sharif in major cities for long. [Seerah al-Halabiyah, Page 80]

7. Shaykh Yusuf bin Ismail an-Nabhani states:

Dwellers of Makkah visits Birthplace of Prophet (Peace be Upon him) on the eve of Mawlid an-Nabawi every year and arrange enormous gatherings. [Jawahir al-BiHar, Page 122]

8. In "Fuyudh al-Haramain", Shah Waliullah has pointed out,

"The birth of the Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) was celebrated by the people of Makkah who received blessings on account of it."

Mawlid an-Nabi (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) procession at Mogador (Essaouira, Morocco) in 1912.
 

9. The Al-Qibla Newspaper of Makkah al-Mukarrama witnesses:

On the eve of Mawlid an-Nabi SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam celebrations are observed in Makkah and dwellers of Makkah named this day as Youm al-Eid Mawlid ar-Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam. People cook delicious food. The governor of Makkah and Commander of Hijaz with their army visit birthplace of Prophet Peace be Upon Him and recites Qasa'id (praises) there. Rows of shining candles are positioned from Haram al-Makki to Birthplace and Shops and Houses on the way are also decorated. People recite Qasaid whole day at Birthplace. On the night of 11th Rabi al-Awwal after Isha, Mawlid Gathering is organized. From Maghrib prayer of 11th Rabi al Awwal to Asar Prayer of 12th Rabi al Awwal, after every prayer Salutations of 21 tanks is presented.

References:

1. Al-Qibla Paper – Makkah Mukarramah
2. Monthly Tariqat – Lahore, January 1917, Pages 2-3

The Invitation of Celebrating the Birth of Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam)
in Urdu and Gujrati Languages at Durban, South Africa (with Ottoman Tughra) on 16th May 1906.

10. Encyclopedia of Islam verifies:

On the Eve of Mawlid an-Nabi; whole Islamic world is observed to be rejoicing and celebrating it. And it is celebrated till now with utmost enthusiasm and integrity. [Encyclopedia of Islam, Vol. 21, Page 824, Published By: Punjab University, Lahore]

11. Ibn al-Jawzi in his book on Mawlid, says:

In Haramayn (i.e. Makkah Mukarrama and Madina Munawwarah), in Egypt, Yemen rather all of Arab world have been celebrating Mawlid for long. Upon sight of the moon in Rabi ul Awwal their happiness touches the limits and hence they make specific gatherings for Dhikr of Mawlid due to which they earn immense reward and Success. [Bayan al-Mawlid an-Nabwi, Page 58]

Mawlid an-Nabi (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) procession in Cairo, Egypt in 1911.
A deputation of one of the Muhammadan Orders on its way from Saluting the Shaykh el-Bekri.
 

12. Shah Waliullah Dhelvi mentions one of his all time wonderful experiences as: 

I took part in a gathering of Mawlid inside Makkah where people were sending Darood and Salam upon Prophet (Peace be upon him) and commemorating the incidents which took place during the time of the blessed birth (before and after) and those which were witnessed before He was appointed as a Nabi (such as Noor eliminating from Bibi Amina Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha, she seeing Noor, woman proposing to Sayyiduna Abdullah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho on sighting the Noor on his forehead etc...) suddenly I saw Noor to have enveloped one group of people, I don't claim that I saw this with my bodily eyes, nor do I claim that it was spiritual and Allah knows the best regarding these two, however upon concentration on these Anwaar a reality opened upon me that these Anwaar are of those Angels who take part in such gatherings, I also saw Mercy to be descending along with Anwaar of Angels. [Fuyudh al-Haramayn, Pages 80-81]

13. Shaykh al-Islam Imam Ibn Hajr al-Haytami (Alayhir Rahmah) writes:

The gatherings of Mawlid and Adhkaar which take place during our time, they are mostly confined to good deeds, for example in them, Sadaqat are given, Dhikr is done, Durood and Salam is sent upon the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and he is praised. [Fatawa al-Hadithiyyah, Page 202]

Prophet's (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) Birthday procession at Citadel Square (Cairo, Egypt) in 1915.

 

14. The 7th-century historians Shaykh Abu al-Abbas al-Azafi and his son Abu al-Qasim al-Azafi wrote in their Kitab al-Durr al-Munazzam:

Pious pilgrims and prominent travelers testified that, on the day of the Mawlid Sharif in Makkah al-Mukarrama, no activities are undertaken, and nothing is sold or bought, except by the people who are busy visiting the noble birthplace, and rush to it. On this day the Holy Ka'abah is opened and visited.

15. The famous eighth-century historian, Ibn Battuta relates in his Rihla that:

On every Jum'uah after the Salah and also on the birthday of the Beloved Prophet Alaihis Salat wa as-Salam, the door of the Holy Ka'abah is opened by the head of the Banu Shayba the doorkeepers of the Holy Ka'abah while on the Mawlid Shareef, the Shafi'i head judge of Makkah al-Mukarrama, Najm al-Din Muhammad ibn al-Imam Muhyi al-Din al-Tabari, distributed food to the descendants of the Beloved Prophet Alaihis Salat wa as-Salam and to the people of Makkah al-Mukarrama.

The Feast of the Mawlid at the pavilions of the Khedie's Ministers (Cairo, Egypt) in 1911.
 

16. The historian Shaykh Ibn Zahira from his Jami al-Latif fi Fadli Makkata wa-Ahliha; Shaykh al-Haytami from his book al-Mawlid al-Sharif al-Muazzam; and the historian Shaykh al-Nahrawali from al-Ilmam bi-Alam Bayt Allah al-Haram says:

Each year on the twelfth of Rabi al-Awwal Shareef, after Maghrib Salah, the four Qadhis of Makkah al-Mukarrama (representing the Four Sunni Schools) and large groups of people including the jurists and notables of Makkah al-Mukarrama, Shaykhayn, Zawiya teachers and students, magistrates and scholars, leave the Mosque and set out collectively for a visit to the Noble Birthplace of the Beloved Prophet Alaihes Salato Salaam, shouting out Dhikr and Tahlil.

The houses on the route are illuminated with numerous lanterns and large candles, and a great many people are out and about. They all wear special clothes and they take their children with them.

Inside the Noble Birthplace, a special sermon for the occasion of the birthday of the Beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam is delivered. Hereafter the Dua' for the (Ottoman) Sultan, the Ameer of Makkah al-Mukarramah, and the Shafi'i Qadhi is performed and all pray humbly.

Shortly before the 'Isha prayer, the whole party returns to the Great Mosque, which is almost overcrowded, and sit down in rows at Maqam Sayyiduna Ibrahim (Alayhis Salam). 

A similar description is given by Shaykh al-Diyar Bakri (d/960) in his Great Sirah entitled Ta'rikh al-Khamis fi Akhbari Anfasi Nafis.

The Ottoman flag is raised during Mawlid an-Nabi Celebrations in Benghazi - Libiya in 1896.

— — —
May we be sacrificed at this Merriment O blessed month of Rabi' al-Awwal!!
Your joys surpass thousands of 'Eids; All in the world are rejoicing, except Shaytan

 

--
Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com