How does one respond to those who cite Imam Al-Shafi‘i’s classification of innovation into innovation of guidance and innovation of misguidance, Yahya ibn Ya‘mur’s act of dotting the Mus'haf, and the interpretation of “that which is not from it” and “every innovation is misguidance” to justify celebrating the Prophet’s birthday?

Celebrating the Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid) is a misguided innovation (bid'ah dalalah) that was not practiced during the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, nor by his Companions, nor during the virtuous generations. The specious arguments presented to justify it can be refuted as follows:

1. Imam Al-Shafi'i's statement, "Innovation is of two types: praiseworthy and blameworthy," means that a praiseworthy innovation is one that has a basis in religious law (Shari'ah) and is called an innovation in the linguistic sense, not in the legal sense. The celebration of the Mawlid has no basis in religious law. 2. The Prophet's saying, peace and blessings be upon him, "Every innovation is misguidance," is general and applies to everything newly introduced into the religion that has no foundation in religious law. The claim that it is a general statement subject to specification is not acceptable if it aims to exclude what has been newly introduced into the religion without a legal basis, because this would nullify the principle that the default rule for acts of worship is restriction (tawqif). Moreover, the Companions' rejection of certain innovations in religion confirms that every newly introduced matter in religion is misguidance. 3. The dotting and vocalizing of the Mus'haf (Qur'an) are not innovations; rather, they fall under the category of unrestricted public interests (masalih mursalah).