A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following commentary was originally by Dr. Jibril Fu’ad Haddad.   This is the explanation of the names of the Prophet Muhammad ( s.a.w. ), as set forth by Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) in his ar-Riyadh al-Aniqa fi Sharh Asma’ Khayr al-Khaliqah Swallallahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam , edited by the Lebanese ahadits scholar, Imam Abu Hajir Muhammad as-Sa’id ibn Basyuni Zaghlul ( r.a. ).   Imam as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) wrote, “It is my hope that Allah ( s.w.t. ) Accept this book, and that through this book, I will gain the Messenger’s ( s.a.w. ) intercession.   Perhaps it shall be that Allah ( s.w.t. ) Make it the seal of all my works, and Grant me what I have asked Him with longing regarding the Honourable One.   I have named it, ‘The Beautiful Gardens: Explanation of the Names of the Best of Creation.’”   One of the commentaries noted that the scholars have said tha...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) said, “The difference found in the four schools of fiqh in this ummah is a huge blessing and an enormous virtue.  It has a subtle, hidden wisdom the intelligent are able to grasp, but the ignorant are blind to it.  I have even heard some of them say, ‘The Prophet ( s.a.w. ) came with one law, so where did the four schools come from?’”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) wrote, in Jami’ asw-Swaghir , “Abstain from committing and hearing backbiting, and forbear from tattling and listening to it.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) wrote, in his al-Jami’ asw-Swaghir , “Fast is a hidden form of worship; no one can come to know about your fast until you tell it to others yourself.   Allah ( s.w.t. ) Likes hidden worship more.   A blessed hadits says, ‘Fasting is the door of worship.’”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Prophet Muhammad ( s.a.w. ) said, “My life is a great good for you; you will relate about me and it will be related to you.  And my death is a great good for you; your actions will be presented to me and if I see goodness, I will praise Allah ( s.w.t. ), and if see other than that, I will ask Forgiveness of Him.”   This hadits is cited, by Qadhi Abu al-Fadhl ‘Iyadh ibn ‘Amr al-Yahsubi ( r.a. ), in his ash-Shifa’ .  Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) wrote it in his Manahil asw-Swafa fi Takhrij Ahadits ash-Shifa’ , “ibn Abu ‘Usamah cited it, in his Musnad , from the hadits of Bakr ibn ‘Abdullah al-Mazni, and al-Bazzar from the hadits of ibn Mas’ud with a swahih chain.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) reported, regarding Imam Abu al-Qasim al-Junayd ibn Muhammad al-Baghdadi ( q.s. ), that “Imam Junayd al-Bagdadi said, ‘Love means intense inclination without expectancy’; that is, the heart inclines to the Lord, and His Commandments, which draws one closer to Him, without hoping for any Reward for it.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) related, from Imam Shams ad-Din Abu al-Khayr Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Jazari ( r.a. ), from his book, ‘Urf at-Ta’rif bi al-Mawlid ash-Sharif , “It has been authentically reported that the punishment of Abu Lahab is Lightened every Monday night because he freed Tsuwaybah when she gave her the glad news of the birth of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ).  Therefore, if Abu Lahab, the disbeliever, regarding whom a chapter of the Qur’an Censuring him was Revealed, is Rewarded in the Fire because of his joy in the night upon the birth of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), then what is the state of a Muslim, a monotheist from the ummah of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), who is happy at his birth and expends that which he can towards the Prophet’s ( s.a.w. ) honour in love for him?  By my life, his Reward will be from Allah the Generous, Who will Enter him into His Bounty, into the Ble...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) said, “Observing the Mawlid is not a contradiction against the Book, the sunnah , a narration or scholarly consensus and so it is not blameworthy, as stated by ash-Shafi’i.  It is from the excellent matters which was not begun during the first era.  Feeding food which is free from the committal of sins is excellent.  Therefore, this is allowed and is from the recommended innovated matters just as the sulthan of scholars, al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd al-Salam has also mentioned.  The original purpose behind gathering together is to manifest the blessing of the Mawlid .  This is something which is recommended and is a means of proximity because the birth of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) is the Greatest Blessing upon us and the shari’ah encourages the expression of gratitude for blessings.  This is what ibn al-Hajj has argued in al-Madkhal , sayin...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi, ( q.s. ) said, “I have derived the permissibility of Mawlid from another source of the sunnah ; narrated by Anas, that the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) slaughtered an ‘aqiqah for himself after he received the prophecy, although it has been mentioned that his grandfather ‘Abd al-Muththalib did that on the seventh day after he was born, and the ‘aqiqah cannot be repeated.  Thus, the reason for the Prophet’s ( s.a.w. ) action is to give thanks to Allah ( s.w.t. ) for Sending him as a Mercy to the worlds, and to give honour to his ummah , in the same way that he used to pray on himself.  It is recommended for us, therefore, that we also show thanks for his birth by meeting with our brothers, by feeding people, and other such good works and rejoicing.”

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 encompasse...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) wrote, in Husn al-Maqswad fi Amal al-Mawlid , “The celebration of the Mawlid entails gathering with the people, reading a portion of the Qur’an, citing the narrations about the prophetic precursors to the Prophet’s ( s.a.w. ) mission and the wondrous signs that took place during his birth, and then eating a bit of food and leaving.  As I see it, this practice is a good innovation that merits Reward.  This is because it is an exaltation of the Prophet’s ( s.a.w. ) rank and a display of delight and happiness with his noble birth.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Shaykh Nur ad-Din Abu ‘Ubadah ‘Ali ibn Juma’ah said, “Imam as-Suyuthi refuted those who said, ‘We do not know of any proof for this Mawlid in the Book or the sunnah ,’ through his statement, ‘Denial of knowledge does not mean a denial of any clear proof.’”  He was referring to Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ).

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) wrote, in al-Hawi li al-Fatawi , “The Mawlid of Prophet ( s.a.w. ) is a great Blessing for us and his passing away is very saddening for us too.  However, shari’ah has ordered us to rejoice and thank Allah ( s.w.t. ) on Blessings; whereas on calamity, it has taught us to have patience while hiding it.  This is why shari’ah has told us to do ‘aqiqah on birth, which is a form of being happy and thankful to Allah ( s.w.t. ) for Giving us birth, but on death, there is no concept of sacrificing an animal and even lamenting is Forbidden.  Hence, in light of rulings prescribed by shari’ah , one should rejoice in Rabi’ al-Awwal on the birth of our Beloved Prophet ( s.a.w. ).”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) wrote, in al-Hawi li al-Fatawi , “The reality of Mawlid is that people gather to recite Qur’an to the extent that is easy, also to discuss narrations regarding Prophet ( s.a.w. ), the signs which took place on his birth; then dining is arranged for them and they return without adding anything more to this bid’at al-hasanah .  The one who arranges it gets tsawab due to honouring Prophet ( s.a.w. ) and showing gratitude on his birth.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Prophet Muhammad ( s.a.w. ) said, “My life is a great good for you; you will relate about me, and it will be related to you.  And my death is a great good for you; your actions will be presented to me,” meaning that it will be presented him in his grave, “and if I see goodness, I will praise Allah ( s.w.t. ), and if see other than that, I will ask Forgiveness of him.”   This hadits is cited by Qadhi Abu al-Fadhl ‘Iyadh ibn ‘Amr al-Yahsubi ( r.a. ), in his ash-Shifa’ .  Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) wrote, in his Manahil asw-Swafa fi Takhrij Ahadits ash-Shifa’ , “ibn Abu ‘Usamah cited it, in his Musnad , from the hadits of Bakr ibn ‘Abdullah al-Mazni; and al-Bazzar from the hadits of ibn Mas`ud with a swahih chain.”  And this is why we have the Mawlid .

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Shaykh Isma’il al-Haqqi al-Barusawi ( r.a. ) wrote, in Tafsir Ruh al-Bayan , “To celebrate the Mawlid is amongst the great tributes to the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), but the condition is that it should be clear of evil things.  Imam as-Suyuthi has said, ‘It is mustahab for us to be happy on the birth of our Prophet (s.a.w.).’”  He was referring to Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ).

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The hadhrah is permissible in all the madzahib .  There may be elements in a ruling where there is khilaf , such as the use of musical instruments mentioned below. These elements may be the general opinion within a madzhab or the opinion of certain scholars within a madzhab .   The hadhrah is a form of group dzikr where the attendees most often stand in a circle.  Depending on the particular Sufi order, it can contain elements such as singing, dancing, and music.  The ruling on an issue derives from its conceptualisation is a maxim of classical logic.  It means that before one can pass judgement on an issue, one has to properly understand it.  Whatever has been decisively proven as impermissible is not permitted, and whatever has been decisively proven as permissible is permitted.   If the hadhrah contains something impermissible, then attending it is forbidden.  Some Shafi’i scholars are of the opin...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is adapted from “Celebrating ‘Iyd al-Milad an-Nabi ”, by Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ).   The question under consideration is the verdict of the shari’ah on celebrating the birthday of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) in the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal.   From the point of view of the shari’ah , is this a praiseworthy action or a blameworthy one?   And do those who arrange such a celebration receive blessings or not?   The reply to this question is that the Milad , celebration of the birthday of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), is, in fact, such an occasion of happiness on which people assemble and recite the Qur’an to the extent that is easy.   Then they relate the prophecies concerning the appearance of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) that have been transmitted in ahadits and atsar , and the miraculous events and signs that took place on his birth.   Then food is se...