The Mawlid in Shari’ah

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

A question was raised to Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi (q.s.) as to whether observing the Mawlid in the month Rabi’ al-Awwal is praiseworthy or not, whether it is a Rewardable action and what is its ruling in the shari’ah. 

He responded, in his Husn al-Maqswad fi ‘Amal al-Mawlid, “The answer that I have is that observing the Mawlid is an action within which people gather together for the recitation of the Qur’an, to narrate transmitted reports regarding the beginning of the affair of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and the wonderful signs which occurred during the birth, and then after this to feed others, after which people leave.  This action, without any increase above this, is a good innovation which will bring a Reward for the one who does it because of the veneration of the rank of the Prophet (s.a.w.), the manifestation of happiness, and the joy which the noble birth encompasses.”