Sufi strand points out that the Prophet's birth anniversary is celebrated world over
The Deobandi and Sufi sects of Islam are again on a collision course — this time on holding birthday bashes. In response to a specific question last week, Darul Uloom Deoband issued a fatwa against celebrating birthdays, saying it was a western practice that had no sanction in Islam. Darul Uloom Vice-Chancellor Abul Qasim Naumani pointed out that the seminary did not celebrate even the Prophet's birth anniversary.
Reacting sharply to the fatwa, the All-India Ulama & Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) — a Sufi strand that recently took on the Deobandi branch, accusing it of propagating hard-line Wahabism — said there was no bar in Islam on celebrating birthdays. Indeed, the Prophet's birth anniversary was celebrated the world over with as many as 54 countries, including India, observing the day as a national holiday. The two notable exceptions were Saudi Arabia and Israel, the AIUMB said.
“The fatwa is proof that Deoband would like to impose the foreign ideology of Saudi Arabia and Wahabism on India,” said AIUMB general secretary Maulana Syed Mohammad Ashraf Kichauchhawi.
Far from seeing it as un-Islamic, Indian Muslims had always celebrated the birth of the Prophet by taking out “‘Julus-e-Mohammadi' (processions), lighting candles and celebrating Milaad across the country,” the Maulana said.
The celebrations were valid, because the “birth of the Holy Prophet is the greatest favour of Allah Almighty on humanity. That is why the Muslim community celebrates the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet with traditional zeal and zest on the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal,” he said.
Maulana Kichaucchawi cited chapter and verse from the Koran and ‘Sunnah' to buttress his claim. “The Holy Koran singles out the birthday as an important event. In ‘Surah Maryam,' Allah tala [God] commands us to send salaam on the day Sayyidina Yahya was born.”
Opinion divided
Muslim intellectual opinion seemed divided on the issue, though by and large there was no support for the ‘fatwa'. Ateeque Ansari, coordinator of the Varanasi-based Committee of Arabic Madrassas, said Islam was emphatic in defining ‘farz' (duty) and ‘haraam' (wrong). “‘Farz' has to be observed at all times and ‘haraam' has to be avoided at all times.”
However, a birthday came in neither category, and had to do more with culture than religion: “It is definitely not anti-Islamic but it is clear from the life and times of the Prophet that he himself never participated in any birthday celebrations.”
Mr. Ansari saw the issue as an “unnecessary complication arising from people asking for ‘fatwas' and Deoband deciding to give ‘fatwas.' Is this important? Why are they creating confusion?”
Deoband resident Badr Kazmi was caustic. “This is a complete non-issue. People didn't wear stitched clothes 1400 years ago. So do we go back to doing that? The idea behind celebrating the Prophet's birthday is to remind people to see him as a role model. This is not wrong. But it has nothing to do with religion or fatwas.”
Editor of Nai Duniya Shahid Siddiqui refused to be drawn into the Deoband-Sufi discussion, arguing that both strands were of comparatively recent origin. While a large section of Muslims did celebrate the Prophet's birth anniversary, for Muslims in general the death anniversary was far more important. “What is really celebrated is Urs — the day of one's reunion with God.” Mr. Siddiqui said he was not against birthday celebrations but he did see the practice “as a very recent, western-inspired phenomenon.”
There is no place for Milad-un-Nabi in Islam, period. Muslims in sub-continent have for long been following traditions that they practised before accepting Islam, it's like your Jayantis that are being practised by various religious and caste groups in India. I know our beloved Sufi followers will be hurt by this, but what else is Milad-Un-Nabi? By the way, where did this third "EID" emerge from? All we know from Qur'an and Hadith is that there are only two EID's (Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha). The third one is an innovation and has no place in Islam. I and and an majority of 2 billion muslims don't celebrate Milad-un-Nabi nevertheless we have same if not more love for the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), who was sent as a blessing for mankind and whose teachings will be the only guiding force for all times to come.
These so called Wahhabi who proclaim themselves to be the guardian of so called new Muslim order represents only a handful of people, By issuing fatwas they want to remain in limelight so that everybody thinks they are real head of the Muslim community.I totally reject their policy.They have made changes in religious books, hadees and have altered them according to their convenience.
I would like to thank the editor for publishing this articles at least we have now got some platform to speak up againts these wahhabis.
I support Nauman Mohammed K.'s comment given here. They are highly learned scholars and it should not be criticized like this. Suddenly, the sufi group is finding them wrong? They are existing since so long in India. Today its birthday, tomorrow they will come up with anniversary and start celebrating that also. Secondly, yes, they have made fatwas a joke, due to some idiotic journalists!
Even though its not a controversial issue but is made to appear so by the media. Any person of some understanding of Islam can deduce the opinion about the place of celebrating birthday in Islam. There are many other issues of the World which needs much more attention than this and need to be put on the front page. Naive reader as we are comment also on such kind of news which is not at all news. I would appreciate if "The Hindu" newspaper will maintain its legacy of publishing materials for the educated( and not only literate). And please at least don't put it on front page. Thanks.
This is a very good article. Because it talks about Indian Culture and REligion versus someone putting pressure from outside such as Saudi Arabia. Indian of all regions should be proud to adapt, refine, adjust, evolve REligions as they see best.
This is a good start and really helps NATIONAL INTEGRATION. Remember we are Indians first, not Muslims, Hindus, Christians, etc.
The Deoband is Importing hardcore wahabi Ideology followed by Saudi
Arabia. Indian Muslims along with all other Muslims of the world
celebrates Birth as an auspicious occassion given to them by the
Creator.
The Fatwas of Deoband are followed by very tiny minority of India and
generally Muslims reject them.
And Mind you that Deoband does not give Fatwa by mentioning this is for Wahabis or this is for Sufis like that. The ill-educated people among muslim devide it by sects. Deoband is the highest and most respected Madarsa in India. It has given some of the finest Muftis and Maulvis to our Country. It is disheartening that some of our Muslim brothers taunting and abusing them here. The Fatwas are given in the light of Quran and Hadees sharif and not by history of muslims or mankind. We should atleast respect the Scholars as they are highly learned islamic Scholars. You accept their fatwa or you don't its up to you. In today's world, Fatwa has become a joke and topics of chat due to the media hype and biased journalism.
Everyone should be vocal in their support for the Sufis. The Saudi Arabian version of Islam is best if it stays in Saudi Arabia. We should support Sufism as it does not go about attacking what is wrong in other religions and how to kill the infidel, the Sufis' just focus on GOD!
Everyone is saying that what Mohammad Sahab or his successors didn't do is un-Islamica nd shouldn't be done. Mohammad Sahab didn't used mobile phones, please stop using them.
Some persons are making fuss out of nothing. In Islam, any action that has been not performed by the Prophet (PBUH) or his Disciples(Sahabas) is unislamic. Birthday celebrations (cake cutting, candle blowing, etc.,) is not in Islam by far, its purely a western culture. As far as Meelad-un-nabi (Prophet's birthday) it was not celebrated even by Prophet's Disciples(Sahabas) then who are we today's Muslim to take the Shariat in our own hands and change according to our tastes? In the above article, Maulana Kichaucchawi's understanding of Quran is wrong, Allah says in Quran that Birthday is an important "Event", where did He said in quran to celebrate birthday?? and sending "Salaam" doesn't mean celebration, it's just prayer, Calling an event "Important" doesn't mean that it must be celebrated. A moderate muslim like me can understand the Quran so much, its Sad to see that the Maulana Kichaucchawi's understanding and translation of Quran is so poor despite having a "Maulana" title.
The hard core extremism is in full play in Pakistan. Revered Sufi shrines in Pakistan have already been bombed by religious fanatics indoctrinated in Wahhabism. India has already its woes of extremism as the neighbor of Pakistan which is going through this turmoil. Deobandis should feel their national responsibility and should refrain from saying anything which stokes the fire of religious extremism in India.
Deoband is clarifying the issues related to Muslim's belief and practises. It has rightly pointed out that celeberation of Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) birthday is not islamic. It has taken it from the original source of Islam. If the later people started this celeberation and 54 countries are celeberating are not the authentic source to describe a function as an Islamic event. To qoute from Quran for this function is absolutely nonsense. About John (Sayyidena Yahya) Quran in Surah Maryam 19, verse 15 says that "And Peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive." Any functions related to Islam should be directly taken from authentic sources of islam and not from the other people's culture as it involves piety.
I dont understand why a tiny issue like bday celebrations has to be analyzed in this detail and a complete article written on it? Just because it has to do with islam and people would be interested to read it? I dont understand why these people give fatwas to every tiny issue and create a fool out of themselves? I dont understand why these sects within my religion fight in public when none of them represent Islam or muslim world wide? Please dont treat them as representatives of islam, the prophet never solved problems accusing the other party in public, when you can't solve your differences peacefully in private then how can you even talk about representing the muslim community?
Shias's should not be agitated by deoband fatwas. I am sure it will not and should not apply to them. As an orthodox Sunni institution it anyway does not recognize shia's
The Sufis need all the support that all of us can give them. They democratised religion amongst the Muslims just as the Bhakti movement did amongst the Hindus. Through the idea that each of us must comuunicate with God directly and in this very life. And, almost as a corollary, that our conscience is the final arbiter for each of us; not some self-proclaimed "religious leader". No wonder the Sufis took to the Bhakti tradition with such fervour and no wonder Sufi Dargas are frequented by all sects.
The sufis claim that Birthday of Prophet is celeberated in 54 countries. Most of these countries are ruled by dictators, Kings, Shaikhs who have kept the masses in ignorance. Islam is simple religion and avoids unneccesary hoopla associated with Birthdays. it included rich, poor and all sections of society. That money can be used for charitable purpose rather than hoopla celeberations.
All these talks of Deobandi and Wahabiasm is shear nonsense. Celebrating birth days has nothing to do with Islam. Can Maulana Ashraf tell me if our beloved prophet and or any of his noble companions celebrated birth days? For a Muslim to be on the right path is to follow in the foot-steps of prophet (SAW). Try to practice what he did or preached i.e. his Sunnah. Singing praises is not the proper way to go about. Moreover, our beloved prophet(SAW)neither belonged to a so-called Wahabi,Sufi,Shia,Sunni or any-other sect. He was a true Muslim so should we try to be. We should try be a good Muslim by following in his footsteps. Singing praises is not the proper way to go.
It is unfortunate that foreign money is being used to destablise the religious harmony of the country by propagating the hard line Wahabi ideology.
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