Rasia Nayeem Hashmi
Hyderabad: Milad-un-Nabi or the birthday of Prophet (PBUH) will be celebrated on Sunday.
The big question hovering in many minds is that would the Muslims celebrate the Prophet’s birth anniversary against the backdrop of Saturday’s Babri Masjid-Ram Janambhoomi verdict of Supreme Court, with the pomp gusto as they have been doing since several years in Hyderabad? Or it would be a subdued affair as several of them feel that it has gone against them?
That we would know tomorrow.
But the public display of celebration, as being witnessed during Milad-un Nabi is a recent phenomenon. Such pompous display is prevalent only in India and Pakistan.
Earlier it was limited to public meetings where virtues of Prophet (peace be upon him) were recounted.
The celebrations have taken a new turn and the devotees organise processions, shout slogans, do bike stunts and play loud music causing a lot of inconvenience to the fellow citizens.
According to Islamic scholars, this way of celebrating Prophet’s birthday is against the spirit of Islam and his teachings.
There are also Muslims who opt peaceful means of celebrations like illuminating mosques, organising public meetings, conducting blood donation camps, distributing food, soft drinks and water among people.
Rejecting the concept of the celebration itself, Shaheda Tarannum, a student of teachings of Quran and Sunnah says, the present-day celebration of Milad un Nabi is clearly an innovation (bidah) in Islam which is unacceptable. Quoting the Quran she said, “This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you Islam (as your religion).”
Echoing her thoughts, Prof Sameena Faheem, head of the department of English of a reputed college, claims, first of all, there’s no authenticity of 12th of Rabi Al Awwal being the date of Prophet’s (PBUH) birthday. “If we want to commemorate anyway, we can recall the remarkable favours he had done to mankind and follow his instructions.”
Alimah Umme Ebraheem, who has done a course in Traditional Islamic Education, says, “Let’s celebrate Milad (birth) by reintroducing his Sunnah (ways) in our homes. Not by the ways that are completely opposite to his teachings. Show the world what Islam is by our manners and our lifestyle,”
Medico Sidra Tahreem feels that the best way to celebrate Milad is to revive at least one Sunnah of Prophet (PBUH),
“Prophet (PBUH) encouraged us to spend our money for the benefit of mankind, walk at a medium pace, speak softly and not to put others in trouble.” Safoora Fatima Khan, a student of English literature said.
But ironically, the way Milad-un-Nabi is celebrated is exactly the opposite of what the Muslims have been taught. “If his companions did not celebrate while they had all the means to do so then who are we to create innovations in Islamic festivals?” she asked.