How do we respond to the specious arguments of those who permit celebrating the Prophet’s birthday (Mawlid al-Nabawi), especially since they cite the words of Imam Al-Suyuti, who held that expressing joy at his birth in this month is better than expressing sorrow at his death, and the words of those who believe that the celebration is permissible under the conditions that it is free from forbidden acts and intended to commemorate his noble qualities, and that it is not legally required as an obligation or a recommendation? And is the issue of Mawlid a matter of creed or jurisprudence, and what is our stance towards those who disagree on this issue?

The birth of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is one of the great blessings. However, it is not known that Muslims celebrated his birthday in the early eras. The best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. If celebrating the Mawlid were legislated, the Companions would have preceded us in it. The claim that celebrating the Mawlid is permissible, provided one does not believe it is a religious requirement, is not realized, because those who celebrate it believe it is an act of drawing closer to Allah. This makes it an additional innovation (bid'ah idafiyyah), and the principle concerning acts of worship is that they are prescriptive (tawqif).

The issue of celebrating the Mawlid is among the juristic branches (furu' fiqhiyyah), not the fundamentals of creed (aqidah). Dealing with those who differ should be by clarifying the truth, offering advice, and debating with kindness, while noting that innovations vary, and it is not correct to label everyone who commits a practical innovation as an "innovator" (mubtadi').