Someone asked this question: What is allowed to do and what is forbidden when we celebrate the Prophet’s birthday?”
Short Answer
We are permitted to commemorate the Prophet’s birthday by offering charity and performing optional good deeds. We must never exceed the limits by equating the Prophet (peace be upon him) with Allah.
The Do’s on Prophet Muhammad’s birthday
We are permitted to commemorate the Prophet’s birthday by offering charity and performing optional good deeds that are always permissible in Islam.
However, it would be even better to seize the opportunity to educate ourselves and others about the great benefactor, the Messenger of mercy and to express love for him by following in his footsteps.
Saying salawat (prayers) and nasheeds in praise of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) are noble deeds.
Sending salawat on the Prophet (peace be upon him) has been enjoined in the Qur’an. Praising the Prophet (peace be upon him) is also an established tradition that we inherited from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), thus, no one can consider it to be a bad bida’ah (an innovation) in religion.
The Dont’s on Prophet Muhammad’s birthday
Having said this, however, I must also make it clear that we must never exceed the limits by equating the Prophet (peace be upon him) with Allah.
This would be the case if we were to attribute divine powers to him or to take him as an intermediary in worship.
Our love of the Prophet (peace be upon him) must be expressed without any taint of shirk (disbelief).
In fact, celebrating the great life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) will go a long way in uniting Muslims together on the event that all of them will be proud of.
So, there is indeed a great benefit in these times, especially because Muslims require a unifying event.
There is nothing more important for humanity than the coming of the mercy of the worlds. May Allah fill our hearts with love for His Messenger (peace be upon him).
