Question: What is the ruling on celebrating the night of Israa wal-Mi’raaj, Mawlid-Nabawi, and New Year’s along with the evidence?

Answer: “Innovation. The Messenger (ﷺ) said:

من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد

If anyone introduces in our matter something which does not belong to it, will be rejected

[Bukhari and Muslim]

So let the one who is present convey to the one who is absent that celebrating this is considered an innovation. It is not established from the Prophet (ﷺ) nor any of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) nor the Tabi’een. The one who established it was Ubaid ibn Maymoon al-Qadaah and it was said it occurred in the sixth century from some ignorant kings who wanted to established the birthday of the Prophet (ﷺ) greater than the birthday of the birthday of the Christians. This was mentioned by Abu Shaamah and he is thanked for it. Abu Shaamah was mistaken; however, for thanking those who did this [celebration]. Verily it is considered an innovation. Likewise, the mother’s day, the festival of the revolution, all of these are festivals of Jahliyyah for which Allah has sent down no authority. The Messenger (ﷺ) said that we Muslims have two Eids: Eidul-Adha and Eid-fitr.

What is besides that is considered festivals of Jahiliyyah which we free ourselves from. It is necessary for the Muslims to follow the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger (ﷺ). This is if Mawlid is free from free-mixing between men and women, the committing of fahisha, and free from Shirk and other than that. All of this is falsehood. It will not melt away except by the spread of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)”.

[https://www.muqbel.net/fatwa.php?fatwa_id=889]

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan

Abu Sulaymaan