by Asma bint Shameem
QUESTION
Should we do something ‘SPECIAL’ when the month of Rabi’ al -Awwal arrives, like congratulate each other?
or bake a cake?
or distribute sweets, etc?
Are there a special duaas or any ‘wazeefah’ to be read or dhikr to be said this month?
How about making the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal a “mercy day”?
Or “help the poor” day?
Note that I’m aware that celebrating the Mawlid of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam is not from the Sunnah.
ANSWER
There’s NO PROOF of reading any special duaas or ‘wazeefahs’ or specific dhikr in the month of Rabi al-Awwal from the Qur’aan or authentic Sunnah.
Similarly, there’s no need congratulate one another or cook or bake anything or do anything ‘out of the ordinary’ when the month of Rabi al-Awwal arrives.
Also there’s NO need to designate the 12th of Rabi’ al -Awwal as “mercy day” or “help the poor” day or “ANY” kind of day.
ANY thing ‘special’ or ‘different’ that we will do on this day or during this month that is OUT OF THE ORDINARY, is included in ‘celebrating’ it.
And there’s NO PROOF of ANY of that from the Sharee’ah.
The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam himself, NOR the Sahaabah, NOR the Tabi’een, NOR the four Imaams, NOR any of the ulama EVER “picked out” the month of Rabi al-Awwal or the 12th of this month for ANY “special ibaadah” ANY “special dhikr” or ANY thing “out of the ordinary”.
The month of Rabi al-Awwal was a REGULAR, NORMAL, ORDINARY month in the lives of the Sahaabah.
There was NOTHING “different” for them during it.
Our best role models are the Sahaabah, correct?
And their actions are our guide.
Then ask yourself this:
Did the Sahaabah ever celebrate the month of Rabi al-Awwal?
Did they congratulate each other when it arrived? Or distribute sweets or cakes?
Did they do any special dhikr or duaas or sadaqah?
Did they make the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal a “compassion” day?
Or a “mercy” day?
Or a “help the poor day” after the death of the Prophet ﷺ ?
No!
They did NOT.
They didn’t treat this month any ‘different’ from the rest of their months.
They didn’t consider the 12th any different than the day before or the day after.
NO ‘extra’ ibaadaat or special ‘dhikr’ was done.
NO ‘special’ foods were prepared.
No sweets were distributed.
NO specific gatherings were held.
And no one congratulated each other.
What the Sahaabah DID in the month of Rabi al-Awwal was something they did EVERY SINGLE DAY of their lives.
And that was to OBEY the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam and IMPLEMENT his teachings, WHEREVER they went, in WHATEVER they did, every single day of the year.
They LIVED their ENTIRE LIVES according to the Sunnah.
And NOT just ONE day or one month.
They FOLLOWED his teachings the WHOLE YEAR AROUND.
They OBEYED him and DID NOT INNOVATE NEW WAYS of ibaadah.
They TRULY LOVED the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam.
He was their BELOVED.
And they PROVED it with their ACTIONS and not just by lip service.
Their AKHLAAQ reflected the Akhlaaq of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam in ALL their dealings, and with everyone, ALL YEAR ROUND, not just one day or one month of the year.
They helped the poor and gave sadaqah all throughout the year, not just one specific month.
They studied his Seerah and taught their families ALL YEAR LONG, and not just one month of the year.
They praised him, honored and served him, sent peace and blessings on him ALL of their lives, not just during the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal or on the 12th.
THAT is TRUE LOVE. .
THAT is TRUE HONORING.
So come on!
Let us ‘celebrate’ our beloved Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam in the REAL SENSE of the word.
Let us praise him and honor him and respect him, by FOLLOWING his teachings and STAYING AWAY from that which he himself did NOT practice or teach, “EVERY SINGLE DAY” of our lives.
And NOT just in the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal or on the 12th.
🍃 Someone asked Shaykh Saleh al-Fawzaan if he could read the seerah of the Prophet ﷺ specifically on the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal without “celebrating” his birthday.
The Shaykh said:
“No. Do not do that. This will count as bid’ah. So do not do that.”
🍃 And Shaykh al-Albaani said regarding holding “seerah conferences” in the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal:
“It is not from Islaam what is said today [of the statement], “the ends justify the means” because this principle is not an Islaamic principle. Some of the Muslims have been influenced by this.
So you find them falling into and mixing rulings that are not legislated claiming it leads to benefit.
So many from the Islamists today seize the opportunity of Mawlid an-Nabawiyyah.
They give speeches and remind [them].
Participating with them in that are some Salafis claiming it is an opportunity to seize and exploit to convey the Da’wah to these people. So like this, we do not see it allowed due to what is in it from participating in the festivals that are not legislated”.
(al-Masaail al-‘ilmiyyah wa Fatawaa ash-Shar’iah Fatawaa Shaikh al-‘Allamah Muhammad Nasruddin al-Albani fi Madinah wal-‘Emaraat pg.157)
Wa Sallallahu ‘Alaa Nabiyinaa Muhammad
And Allaah knows best.
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