1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

15 Questions

Is celebrating our birthday by cutting cakes and blowing candles allowed in Islam?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

We can not say that it is forbidden in Islam to do so but we do not have in authentic Hadeeths any thing to encourage it. On the contrary, we have discouragements against habits taken from non Muslims.

Wassalam.
Why is there a difference of dates between Sunni and Shia scholars regarding the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and how can this be explained?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Dates of birth are taken from narrations. Even there are different dates of the birth in Sunni books. Some Sunni scholars like  ibn abdul Barr and al-Waaqidi . Al-Seira Al-Nabawiyyah by ibn Katheer said the Prophet was born on second of Rabaul Awwal ( not on the 12th)Ibn Abdul Barr in his book Al-Estee'aab. This has been mentioned in al-aseerah al-Nabawiyyah by ibn Katheer, v.1, p.199.

Some Sunni scholars said the Prophet was born on the eighth of Rabi,ul Awwal like Ibn Hazm and al-Zohri and al-Khawarizmi.

Other Sunni scholars said it was on the tenth of Rabi'ul Awwal like Ibn Dihyah and ibn Asaakir and al-Shi'bi.

Sime Sunni scholars narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) was born in month of Ramadan or month of Safar. So,bayou see many different Sunni narrations in this matter.

We,v the followers of Ahlul Bayt (AS) have taken the most authentic narrations from Ahlul Bayt (AS) which is 17 Rabi'ul Awwal.

Wassalam.
If Taraweeh is considered an innovation because it was not practiced by the Prophet (s), why do we celebrate the Prophet's birthday if he never did so in his lifetime?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Taraweeh is a Bid'ah بِدعَة and every Bid'ah is deviation and every deviation is in the hellfire as the famous Hadeeth narrated in Sunni books like Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and other books. Taraweeh created by Omar ibn al-Khattar as a new way of worship which was never allowed by the Prophet of Islam. Even Omar ibn Al-Khattab called it a Bid'ah as in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Hadeeth number 2010.

Celebrating the birth anniversary of the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) is expressing noble feelings in a happy occasion. Even the Prophet was celebrating his birthday on Monday by fasting as it is narrated from him. Allah told the Prophet (SAWA) to celebrate the birth of his daughter Fatima. (Sura Al-Kawthar).

Wassalam.
If Taraweeh is considered an innovation because it was not practiced by the Prophet (s), why do we celebrate the Prophet's birthday if he never did so in his lifetime?
Amina Inloes

A short answer is, bid'ah is most strongly rejected when it comes to formal acts of worship. Performing mustahabb prayers differently from how the Prophet (S) taught it is a difference in formal acts of worship and is therefore inappropriate. 

Although celebrating the Prophet's birthday can be considered devotional, it is not a shariah-prescribed act of worship like performing types of salat; it is more of a customary thing. 

I am sure others will give a long answer! :)