The Unanimous Stance Of The Deobandi Akabir – Mawlid/ Milad/Moulood

The unanimous stance of the Deobandi Akaabir is represented by the following excerpts found in the very same section of the book from which the new fast growing breed of bidati ‘deobandis’ selectively quote from in order to justify their inclinations to the Barelwis:

“The customary act of Moulod ( or new terminology such as Seerah Jalsa) is bid’ah and haraam. Speak about Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) no one forbids this. But do so as was practised during Quroon-e-Thalaathah (Khairul Quroon). Neither were there moulood functions nor qiyaam (standing) when Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is mentioned.

Hadhrat Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi رحمه الله cites Mujaddid Hadhrat Ashraf -e-Thanwi  رحمه الله as saying:

“Qutb Rabbaani Sayyid Ahmad Sarhindi Mujaddid Alf-e-Thaani states in his Maktubaat: “If the Sufis of the age act justly and view the weakness of Islam and the prevalence of falsehood, it will be incumbent on them not to follow their shuyookh in acts besides the Sunnah, and that they should not regard fabricated acts as their Deen with the excuse that it was the amal of their shuyookh, for verily, following the Sunnah is the only Way and the repository of goodness and barakaat. In following anything other than the Sunnah is danger upon danger. And, it is on the Messenger to only deliver the Message.”

In response to a questioner who had mentioned: “I have heard that your Shaikh, Haaji Imdaadullah رحمه الله  would also listens to moulood.”, Hadhrat Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi رحمه الله said:

“Refer to Baraani-e-Qaatiah for a detailed elaboration of moulood gatherings. Hujjat cannot be made with the statements and acts of the Mashaaikh. On the contrary, Hujjat is with the statements and acts of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the statements of the Mujtahideen (rahmatullah alayhim).Hadhrat Naseeruddeen Chiraagh Dehlwi (quddisa sirruhu) said that when someone would cite as Hujjat an act of his Shaikh, Sultaan Nizaamuddeen (quddisa sirruhu), he (Hadhrat Naseeruddeen) would say: ‘The action of the Shaikh is not Hujjat.’ Hadhrat Sultaanul Auliya approved of this response.” (Fataawa Rashidiyyah, page 111) 

Further on, he says:

“Since this function (of moulid) had not existed during the era of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) nor during the ages of the Taabi’een and Tabe Taabi’een and the age of the Aimmah Mujtahideen it is bid’ah.”

All of us have been commanded to follow the Salaf-e-Saaliheen. We have not been commanded to follow the Khalaf (the later era Ulama whom the deviates quote for giving credibility to bid’ah). Allaamah Ibnul Haaj who was among the very senior authorities (of the Shariah) says in Madkhal: “From among the many bid’aat which have been innovated, with the belief that it is from among the great acts of ibaadaat and the projection of the shi-aar of Islam, is moulood which they do in the month of Rabiul Awwal. It is a conglomeration of bid’ah and acts of haraam……Even if it (the moulid) is without these evils and only food is served with the intention of moulid, and brothers are invited to participate, and the function is free from all the (haraam) mentioned earlier, then too it is bid’ah merely on the basis of the intention (that the function is moulid), for verily, it is an accretion in the Deen. It is not of the acts of the Salaf of the past. It has not been narrated that any of them had intended moulid. We follow the Salaf.

Thus, for us is permissible only that which was permissible for them.”…

Maulana Abdur Rahmaan Al-Maghribi Al-Hanafi, says in hi Fataawa: “Verily, moulid is bid’ah. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), the Khulafa-e-Raashideen and the Aimmah Mujtahideen neither advocated it not practised it.” …Maulana Naseeruddeen Al-Adwi Ash-Shaafi’, in response to a question said: “It should not be practised because it has not been narrated from the Salaf-e-Saalih. It was innovated after the era of Quroon-e-Thalaathah in a wicked age. We do not follow the Khalaf (those of the later eras) in matters which the Salaf had abstained from. Following them is adequate. What then is the need for innovation?”

…Shaikhul Hanaabilah Sharfuddeen (rahmatullah alayh) said: “The function of moulid (celebrating the birthday) of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), which some of the wealthy practise every year, along with its evil acts, it by itself is a bid’ah which was innovated by one who follows his lust, and who does not know what Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has commanded.” (Al-Qaulul Mu’tamad)…Qaadhi Shuhaabuddeen Daulatabaadi (rahmatullah alayh) says in his Fataawa Tuhfatul Qudhaat when asked about maulid: “It should not be held because it is an innovation, and every innovation is dhalaalah, and every dhalaalah will be in the Fire.

That what the juhhaal (ignoramuses) do in the beginning of every Rabiul Awwal is baseless. They stand when the birth of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is mentioned, and they think that his Rooh (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is present. Their thinking is baatil. In fact this belief is shirk. The Aimmah have prohibited such acts.” (Extracts from Faraawa Rashidiyyah)