Question: What is the ruling on celebrating the night of Isra and Mi’raj, the Prophet’s birthday, and New Year’s Eve, with evidence?
Sheikh Muqbil ibn Hadi al Wadi’i (ra):
Answer: It is an innovation, and the Messenger ﷺ said: “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours that which is not from it, it will be rejected.”
Let those who are present convey this to those who are absent: celebrating this is considered an innovation. It has not been established from the Prophet ﷺ, nor from the Companions, nor from the Tabi‘in. It was initiated by ‘Ubayd ibn Maymun al-Qaddah. It is also said that in the sixth century, some ignorant kings wanted to establish a celebration of the Prophet’s birthday ﷺ greater than the Christian celebration of their holiday. Abu Shama mentioned this and commended it, but he erred in commending this act, for it is indeed an innovation.
Likewise, Mother’s Day, Revolution Day, and similar celebrations are all ignorant practices that Allah has not authorised. The Messenger ﷺ said: “We, the Muslims, have two Eids: Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.”
Anything besides these is considered ignorant celebrations from which we disassociate ourselves. Muslims should adhere to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ.
This ruling applies even if the celebration of the Mawlid is free from the intermixing of men and women, the committing of immoral acts, or the inclusion of acts of shirk and other such practices. All these falsehoods can only be eradicated by spreading the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ.
