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Birth of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), the Supreme Festival | Letters and Treaties by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) | Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)'s Last Sermon
Birth of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), the Supreme Festival
The birthday of the Holy prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is an important day of Allah. The importance of this day can be asteriated from the Quran. With regard to Hazrat Yahya (Youhna), Allah states, “So peace be upon him the day he was born the day he departed and the day on the day he will rise again”[1].
The holy prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) came into this material world on Monday. As a mark of gratitude for this day, he used to fast every Monday. A sahih Hadith reports, “the Messenger of Allah was asked about fasting on Monday”, he replied, ”I was born on it and the revelation commenced on the same day”.
According to some traditions, the date of birth of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) is 12 Rabi al-Awal, (569/571 CE)[2], a date corroborated by proofs dating back almost four thousand years [3]. Hence Monday, 12 Rabi al-Awal, is especially connected to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w)[4]. Therefore because due to the connection to him, its celebration is a mean of attaining moral and spiritual elevation.
Allah declares, “Indeed Allah bestowed a favor upon the believers when he raised up a Prophet in their midst”[5]. Favors are conferred so that they may be remembered and never forgotten. Moreover, Allah has also declared, “say, in the bounty of Allah and in His mercy in this, then, let them rejoice”[6]. The implication of these ayat then, is that Allah has commanded us to commemorate and celebrate the joyful beginning of the Prophet's mission.
Hazrat Isa (Jesus), said to Allah, “O our Sustainer, send us a table spread with food (maida) from heaven, that it may be an eid (feast day) for us, for the first of us and for the last of us”[7]. Ponder over this: if Hazrat Isa (Jesus), can celebrate a eid (feast day) on the account of the coming down of a table spread with food, should we not then celebrate the day when Allah sent the very heart and essence of the bounty? Allah declared the night on which the Holy Quran was sent to human kind to better then a thousand months [8]. Imagine then the greatness of the night on which the living Quran, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) came down! If the nigh of power (Laylat al-Qadr) can be celebrated annually, then why should the night on which the pride of creation was born not be celebrated each year.
Allah states, “Speak of the bounty of the Lord” [9]. Imam Bukhari states that the Holy Prophet is the greatest bounty of Allah; hence he should become the object of the most publicity. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w) spoke about blessed birth from the pulpit [10]. On his instructions some of the noble companions also described and publicized the Holy prophet (s.a.w)'s most excellent qualities. In the year 9 AH/1630 C.E on the occasion of returning from the battle of Tabuk, Hazrat Abbas (r.a), his real uncle, recited a poem on the birth of Holy Prophet (s.a.w), in his presence. On another occasion, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) himself put the platform (minber) on which Hazrat Hassan bin Sabit stood and sand an ode in his praise, for which the Messenger of Allah, blessed him with a special prayer. All these true incidents are recorded in the books of hadith.
References:
[1] Maryam, 19:15
[2] Ibn Hisham, ak-Sira, al Nabawiyy. Volume 1.1, page 158
[3] Bhagwata Purana, Askanda, 12. Chapter 2, shloka 18
[4] Sahih Muslim (Beirut, 1972), volume 11, page 820
[5] Al-Imran 3:164
[6] Yunus 10:58
[7] Al-Ma-ida 5:11
[8] Al-Qadr 97:3
[9] Al-Duha 93:11
[10] Tirmizi volume 2, page 201.
Written by Muhammad Shakeel Siddiqui (Lecturer)