7/30/2019 Jashn-i Juluus-i Eid-i Meelaad an-Nabi (Sm)

1/4

Jashn-i Julus-i Eid-i Miladun-Nabi (sallallaahu alaiyhi wa sallam):The Unfading Tradition of the Prophet of Islam

[Dedicated to the fond memories of our Shaykh Hadratul Allama Shah SufiSayyid A.Z.M. Shehabuddin Khaled al-Qadiri al-Chishti Rahmatullaahi alaiyh,Ahalla Darbar Sharif, Chittagong]

In the name of Allah, the most gracious and benevolentPraises be to the Apostle of Allah

At the very outset, we would like to say that there is no excuse for calling theHoly Eid-i Miladun-Nabi

(sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam), that is, the birthday of our Prophet (peace beupon him), 'Nabi Dibosh' or Prophet's day. This is because, the word has norelevance whatsoever with the Wiladati.e. advent of the Prophet in this world.He himself has permitted us to observe the auspicious day. In the Hadith book'Muslim Shareef', and also in 'Mishkatul Masabih', chapter of Fasting, it is statedthat our Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast on Mondays. When he wasasked as to why he fasted on that particular day, he replied, 'Fiihi wulidtu wafiihi uunzila a'laiya', meaning 'I was born on a Monday and Divine Revelationscame to me on a Monday, too.' The above Hadith elucidates that the Apostle ofAllah used to observe his own Wiladat/birthday. Henceforth, observance of theday is a Sunnah or tradition of the Prophet. As he himself has related the daywith his birthday, so trying to term it as 'Nabi Dibosh' or 'Seeratun-Nabi' isdetrimental to the Prophet's Sunnah.

The word 'Jashn', according to Lughat-i Kishwary(dictionary), means gladness,happiness etc. Julus is the plural ofJalsa, which means 'to sit', as perGiyathulLughat(dictionary). Namaazorsalaat(ritual prayer) is thejulus of Allah's dhikr(remembrance) that is performed by sitting in one place. Hajj(pilgrimage) is thejulus of Allah's dhikrthat cannot be performed in one sitting, but has to beperformed by visiting many places. Amina, the mother of our Prophet (peace beupon him), describes the events at the time of her son's birth as follows: "Waalmalaaikatu tatanazzalu a'laiya afwaajaa; rafa'uu aswaatahum bis-salaati was-salaami a'lar-rasuulil mukarram", meaning "At the time of his (Prophet's) birth,

7/30/2019 Jashn-i Juluus-i Eid-i Meelaad an-Nabi (Sm)

2/4

the angels descended upon my house from the Heavens in crowds and theywere loudly reciting salaatand salaam (praises) for the Prophet" (ImamShihabuddin Ahmad ibn Hajar Haytami Shafi'i's bookA'n Ni'matul Kubraa, page66) . According to the narration, the angels also performed julus i.e. joyouscelebrations in a procession.

Eid means gladness, joyfulness, and Miiladun-Nabi means the holy birth of ourProphet (peace be upon him). The term 'Jashn-i Julus-i Eid-i Miiladun-Nabi'signifies expressing joy and gratitude at the advent of the Apostle of Allah inthis world by walking in religious processions, and also holding mawlidandother religious functions. This is indeed a very good opportunity to express ouradoration of the Prophet. Allah declares in the Holy Koran, Surah Ibraahiim,verse 5, "Wa dhakkir-hum bi ayyaamillaah", meaning "And remind them of thedays of Allah" (Imam Ahmad Reza Khan's commentary 'KanzulIimaan', Englishtranslation). As we all know, days and nights are all created by Allah Almightyalone. So what are the special days that have been referred to here in this

ayah? Commentators of the highest eminence on the Koran, e.g. HadratAbdullah ibn Abbas, HadratUbai' ibn Ka'ab, HadratMujahid and HadratQatada,Allah's mercy be upon them, have opined that the 'days of Allah' quoted in theHoly Book signify such special days when Allah bestowed special grants andrewards to His votaries (Tafseer-i Ibn-i Jarir Tabari, Tafseer-i Khaza'in andTafseer-i Madarik). Since Allah has declared in the Koran that our Prophet(peace be upon him) is His greatest 'Mercy' for all the Worlds of His Creation,therefore, the day when he was born is undoubtedly a 'day of Allah'. It shouldbe observed in a befitting manner - in such a way that conforms to the Divine

Command.

Allah also says in Surah Yunus, verse 58 of the Koran, "Qul bi-fadlillaahi wa bi-rahmatihii fa bidhaalikafal-yafrahuu", meaning "Say: In the Bounty of Allah andin His Mercy, in that let them rejoice" (Yusuf Ali's translation). The word 'fal-yafrahuu' (Let them rejoice) in the said Koranic verse is an imperative verb(amr) and it means people should rejoice; it is a Divine Command. The words'bi-fadlillaah' (Allah's Bounty) and 'bi-rahmatihii' (His Mercy), actually, signifyHis Apostle (peace be upon him) and his holy birth. Allah refers to His 'Bounty'

in Surah Al-i Imraan, verse 164, "Laqad mannallaahu a'lal mu'miniina idh-ba'athu fiihim rasuulam-min anfusihim", meaning "Allah did confer a greatfavor on the Believers when He sent among them an Apostle from amongthemselves" (Yusuf Ali's translation). He also refers to His 'Mercy' in the SurahAnbiyaa, ayah 107, "Wa maa arsalnaaka illaa rahmatal-lil a'alamiin", meaning"We sent thee (Prophet) not, but as a Mercy for all creatures." Henceforth, it isproved beyond the shadow of any doubt that observance of Holy Eid-i Miladun-Nabi, the day when the greatest Mercy of Allah, i.e. the Prophet, descendedupon Earth, is compatible with the Sharia.

Allah also declares in the Koran, Surah Inshirah, verse 4, "Wa rafa'anaa lakadhikraka", meaning "And We have exalted for you your remembrance" (ImamAhmad Reza Khan's Tafsir-i Kanzul Imaan, English version). In this ayah it is

7/30/2019 Jashn-i Juluus-i Eid-i Meelaad an-Nabi (Sm)

3/4

made crystal-clear that Allah wishes His votaries to perform dhikr(remembrance) of His Prophet (peace be upon him). It is His Divine decree.Thus, it is incumbent upon us, the votaries of Allah, to mark the day ofEid-iMilaadun-Nabiwith the Prophet's dhikrin the form ofMilad-qiyaam (reciting ofpraises and eulogies in respect of the Prophet while standing up) and Jashn-iJulus (religious procession), Waaz-nasiihat(delivering of sermons) and feedingthe poor with Tabarruk(blessed food).

The Jashn-i Julus or religious procession, brought out by the Muslimcommunity to observe the day with due solemnity, is a very blessed rite inIslam. This a'mal (good deed) is a tradition passed on to us by the Sahaba al-Kiram (blessed companions of the Prophet). In the Hadith bookAl-Bukhari, it isnarrated that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) made Hijrat, that is,migrated to Medina from Mecca, the Ansaar Sahaba, i.e. helper companions andresidents of Medina, came in a procession to Saniyatul Wida'a, at the outskirtsof the city, to welcome the Apostle of Allah. In the Hadith book MuslimShareef

(Hadith on Hijratchapter, second part), it is narrated by Barah (may Allah bepleased with him) that during the said migration of the Prophet, the male andfemale residents of Medina climbed up on to the rooftops of their houses, whilesmall boys and servants spread out in the streets and lanes of the city and werechanting slogans - "Yunaaduuna yaa Muhammad (sallallaahu alaiyhi wasallaam); yaa Rasuul-Allaah", meaning "O the Prophet (peace be upon him)."The blessed companions of the Prophet, in their joy for having him in theirmidst, brought outjulus; and we are doing the same for having in our midst theProphet as the 'Rahmatul-lil-a'alamiin', i.e. "Allah's Mercy for all creatures".

Now we will cite the statements of the four renowned caliphs of Islam in favorof Holy Eid-i Milaadun-Nabi. Our Prophet said about them, "O my people! TheSunnah (beliefs and traditions) of my righteous caliphs are ordained upon you."Henceforth, their sayings are also a source of, an evidence for, the Sharia.HadratAbu Bakr Siddiq, the 1st caliph, said, "Man anfaqa dirhaman a'la qira'atimawlidin-Nabiyya (sallallaahualaiyhi wa sallama) kaana rafiiqii fiil jannah",meaning "The person who spends a dirham (ancient Arabian currency) on therecitation of the mawlid(that is, dhikr of the Prophet), shall be my friend in

Heaven" (Imam Shihabuddin Ahmad ibn Hajar Haytami Shafi'i al-Makki's book'Al-Ni'matul Kubraa', page 7). HadratUmar Faruq, the second caliph, said, "Mana'zzama mawlidan-Nabiyya (sallallaahu alaiyhi wa sallama) faqad ahyaal-Islaam", meaning "The person who respects the mawlid, certainly gives life to(i.e. revives) Islam" (Ibid, page 7). HadratUthman Dhunnuraiyn, the 3rd caliph,said, "Man anfaqa dirhaman a'la qira'ati mawlidin-Nabiyya (sallallaahu alaiyhiwa sallama) fa-ka-annamaa shahida ghazwata badrin wa hunaiynin", meaning"The person who spends a dirham on the recitation of the mawlid, shall be likethe one who participated in the wars ofBadrand Hunaiyn" (Ibid, pages 7-8).

HadratAli Murtada, the fourth caliph, said, "Man a'zzama mawlidan-Nabiyya(sallallaahu alaiyhi wa sallama) wa kaana sababan li-qira'atihii laa yakhrujuminad-dunyaa illaa bil-iimaani wa yadkhulul-jannata bi-ghaiyri hisaabin",meaning "The person who respects the mawlid, for him it will become a meansfor leaving this world with (perfect) faith and entering Heaven without being

7/30/2019 Jashn-i Juluus-i Eid-i Meelaad an-Nabi (Sm)

4/4

held into account" (Ibid, page 8).

[This article was first published in Bengali at a press conference ofAnjuman-iAsadiyya NuriyyaShehabiyya for commemorating Holy Eid-i Miladun-Nabiinthe year 1993. It was later published in 'Faysala,' a magazine of the organization

in December,1996.]