ahmad al magtani
Kulo Nuwun
Celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) (1)
11/03/2008
Rasulullah SAW had basically never commemorated his birth. We have so far never found a hadits/religious text explaining that on every 12 Rabi'ul Awwal, Rasulullah celebrated the commemoration of his birth. Even since his death, we have again never found his disciples (sahabat), tabi'in and tabi'in tabi'in celebrating it.
According to Imam As-Suyuthi, it is said that the first king celebrating the birth of Rasulullah SAW with a great commemoration festival is Al Mudhaffar Abu Sa'id Kukburi ibn Zainuddin Ali ibn Baktakin. He spent more than 300 thousand (dinar) sincerely to finance the festival. The festival was solely aimed at turbo-charging the fighting spirit by reciting poetry and story depicting the birth of Rasulullah SAW.
Among the most popular works is the work written by Sheikh Al Banzanji telling the story of the Prophet's birth in the form of natsar (prose) and nadzam (poetry). On account of its popular we has till now heard the work of Barzanji during the commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Since then there have been festivals commemorating the birth of Rasulullah SAW in many Muslim countries. The purpose is to whip up the fighting spirit and Muslims unity in facing enemies' attacks. Then the form of celebrating and commemorating the birth of Rasullullah tends to develop and has variation.
In Indonesia especially in pesantrens (Islamic boarding schools), clerics have formerly recited both poetry and lyrics without being completed by religious sermon. Then there are ideas of celebrating the birth of Rasulullah SAW as such a medium of preaching and Islamic teachings. Finally, the religious sermon can be considered as one of main programs of the momentum as well as the attraction shown by santris (pesantren's pupils). Even some Muslim organizations have tried to use the momentum not only to celebrate and commemorate it but also to do meaningful activities such as social service, helping the poor, Islamic products expo, Islamic show and many other activities dealing closely with people problems.
Let us back to the views of celebrating the birth of Rasulullah SAW, is it considered as bidah (heresy) or not?
Ulema have generally regarded the commemoration (of the birth of Rasulullah SAW) is bidah (heresy) for formerly it had never been commanded by Rasulullah SAW and conducted by his disciples. But it is again and again considered as such a bidah hasanah (good innovation). For instance the Prophet SAW had ever celebrated his birth and the acceptance of revelation by fasting in every his day of birth. So in each Monday the Prophet SAW had always been fasting to celebrate his birth and acceptance of revelation.
عَنْ أَبِيْ قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ الْإِثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ” : فِيْهِ وُلِدْتُ وَفِيْهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيَّ . رواه مسلم
“Narrated from Abi Qatadah al Anshory (r.a) Indeed Rasulullah SAW has ever been asked about fasting on Monday. Rasulullah said: In the day I was born and the revelation was revealed to me,” (HR. Muslim).
We are advised to be proud of the blessing and mercy given to us by Allah SWT including the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW seeding blessing for the universe. Allah said:
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُواْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
There is a hadits narrated by Al Bukhori. It explains that on every Monday, Abu Lahab's torture in the hell is lightened if compared to other days. It is caused by the fact that he was very proud of the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW till he freed his slaver named Tsuwaibatuh Al-Aslamiyah.
If Abu Lahab who is non-Muslim and the Qur'an has clearly condemned but his torture is lightened due to his proud over the birth of Rasulullah SAW, then how about the Muslims whose the same feeling over the birth of Rasulullah SAW?
HM Cholil Nafis MA
Vice Chairman of Problems Deliberation Committee (LBM) of PBNU(Nahdlatul Ulama Indonesia)
11/03/2008
Rasulullah SAW had basically never commemorated his birth. We have so far never found a hadits/religious text explaining that on every 12 Rabi'ul Awwal, Rasulullah celebrated the commemoration of his birth. Even since his death, we have again never found his disciples (sahabat), tabi'in and tabi'in tabi'in celebrating it.
According to Imam As-Suyuthi, it is said that the first king celebrating the birth of Rasulullah SAW with a great commemoration festival is Al Mudhaffar Abu Sa'id Kukburi ibn Zainuddin Ali ibn Baktakin. He spent more than 300 thousand (dinar) sincerely to finance the festival. The festival was solely aimed at turbo-charging the fighting spirit by reciting poetry and story depicting the birth of Rasulullah SAW.
Among the most popular works is the work written by Sheikh Al Banzanji telling the story of the Prophet's birth in the form of natsar (prose) and nadzam (poetry). On account of its popular we has till now heard the work of Barzanji during the commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Since then there have been festivals commemorating the birth of Rasulullah SAW in many Muslim countries. The purpose is to whip up the fighting spirit and Muslims unity in facing enemies' attacks. Then the form of celebrating and commemorating the birth of Rasullullah tends to develop and has variation.
In Indonesia especially in pesantrens (Islamic boarding schools), clerics have formerly recited both poetry and lyrics without being completed by religious sermon. Then there are ideas of celebrating the birth of Rasulullah SAW as such a medium of preaching and Islamic teachings. Finally, the religious sermon can be considered as one of main programs of the momentum as well as the attraction shown by santris (pesantren's pupils). Even some Muslim organizations have tried to use the momentum not only to celebrate and commemorate it but also to do meaningful activities such as social service, helping the poor, Islamic products expo, Islamic show and many other activities dealing closely with people problems.
Let us back to the views of celebrating the birth of Rasulullah SAW, is it considered as bidah (heresy) or not?
Ulema have generally regarded the commemoration (of the birth of Rasulullah SAW) is bidah (heresy) for formerly it had never been commanded by Rasulullah SAW and conducted by his disciples. But it is again and again considered as such a bidah hasanah (good innovation). For instance the Prophet SAW had ever celebrated his birth and the acceptance of revelation by fasting in every his day of birth. So in each Monday the Prophet SAW had always been fasting to celebrate his birth and acceptance of revelation.
عَنْ أَبِيْ قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ الْإِثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ” : فِيْهِ وُلِدْتُ وَفِيْهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيَّ . رواه مسلم
“Narrated from Abi Qatadah al Anshory (r.a) Indeed Rasulullah SAW has ever been asked about fasting on Monday. Rasulullah said: In the day I was born and the revelation was revealed to me,” (HR. Muslim).
We are advised to be proud of the blessing and mercy given to us by Allah SWT including the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW seeding blessing for the universe. Allah said:
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُواْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
There is a hadits narrated by Al Bukhori. It explains that on every Monday, Abu Lahab's torture in the hell is lightened if compared to other days. It is caused by the fact that he was very proud of the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW till he freed his slaver named Tsuwaibatuh Al-Aslamiyah.
If Abu Lahab who is non-Muslim and the Qur'an has clearly condemned but his torture is lightened due to his proud over the birth of Rasulullah SAW, then how about the Muslims whose the same feeling over the birth of Rasulullah SAW?
HM Cholil Nafis MA
Vice Chairman of Problems Deliberation Committee (LBM) of PBNU(Nahdlatul Ulama Indonesia)
