TO REGARD A MUSTAHABB OR A PERMISSIBLE ACT AS COMPULSORY IS BID’AH SAY-YIAH– EVIL INNOVATION



The Islamic Law Books state unambiguously that to regard something which is either Mubah (permissible) or Mustahabbb (preferable and meritorious) as Waajib (compulsory) is in fact Bid’ah Say-yiah or an evil innovation which has to be shunned. To assign anything to a category other than prescribed for it by the Shariah is tantamount to rejection of the Law of Allah, for Allah has assigned to an act, e.g. to the category of Mustahabb and the servants of Allah give it a different classification. For example, should someone argue that because Salaat is a high form of Ibaadat we shall perform four rakaats Fardh in Fajr instead of the ordained two; the washing of limbs in Wudhu thrice is Sunnat, but we shall now make it Waajib, etc., then needless to say such transgressions will be Bid’ah Say-yiah and the perpetrator of these will be condemned as he is rejecting the stipulations and classifications assigned by Allah Ta’ala to the various Islamic rules and laws. Similar is the case of the innovators of the Moulood functions. Nowhere has Allah Ta’ala commanded this practice; our Nabi (صلى الله عايه وسالم ) did not instruct or advise the Sahaabah about this custom; the Sahaabah after the demise of our Nabi ( ) did not introduce this custom; the great Imaams of Islamic Law like Imaam Abu Hanifah, Imaam Malik, Imaam Shaafi and Imaam Ahmad Bin Hambal did not practise this custom, nor did they advise anyone about it. Yet today this customary Meelaad celebration is regarded as an integral part – a compulsory part of the Deen. Those who indulge in this practice of Meelaad generally regard this function to be more important than even the compulsory Salaats.

The very fact that those who organize and participate in these functions degrade and revile those who do not take part in them is ample proof that these functions are regarded as compulsory. In many places in India we see blood flowing because some refuse to take part in these functions. Those who do not participate in Meelaad customs are branded as Kaafirs and Heretics. Yet it is not permissible to brand even one who neglects his compulsory Salaats as a Kaafir. The attitude and the actions of those who are in the forefront of this custom clearly indicate that this practice is regarded as compulsory. This is a notoriety and a great falsehood committed against the Deen of Allah, for Allah Ta’ala and His Holy Messenger (صلى الله عايه وسالم ) did not accord the customary Meelaad function anyIslamic status. In fact it was non-existent for centuries after Rasulullah ( ) as mentioned previously. Besides this aspect there are many other evils attendant to the customary Meelaad functions which we shall discuss, Insha’Allah, in the ensuing pages.