What is the ruling on buying sweets for the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid al-Nabawi)?

Buying sweets with the intention of celebrating the Mawlid (Prophet's Birthday) is a forbidden innovation (bid'ah); because it is an addition to the religion and was not done by the Salaf (pious predecessors), and the intention affects customs. As for merely buying without this intention, and without participating in other manifestations of celebration, it is permissible and entails no sin. Some scholars have explicitly stated the permissibility of buying from the markets of polytheists during their holidays. It is permissible to attend their markets for the purpose of buying, as long as it does not involve assisting in a wrongdoing or disobedience, and without entering their places of worship. However, a Muslim selling them what they use to assist in their forbidden holiday is prohibited.