Status of Seerah Programs in Rabiul-Awwal

عِتْبَانَ بْنِ مَالِكٍ - رضي الله عنه - أَنَّهُ قَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إنَّ السُّيُولَ لَتَحُولُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ مَسْجِدِ قَوْمِي , فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنِي فَتُصَلِّيَ فِي مَكَان مِنْ بَيْتِي أَتَّخِذُهُ مَسْجِدًا , فَقَالَ : سَنَفْعَلُ , فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ قَالَ : أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ ؟ فَأَشَرْت إلَى نَاحِيَةٍ مِنْ الْبَيْتِ , فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَصَفَفْنَا خَلْفَهُ , فَصَلَّى بِنَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ

http://www.thejamiat.co.za/images/shariahs/Shariah%20vol%202%20No%206.pdf view inline

MEELAAD AND SEERATUN NABI JALSAHS
By Allaamah Yusuf Binnoori Saheb (Rahmatullahi Alaih)

In all truth when the original soul of a nation de-parts then it strives to hoodwink the world with excuses fit for a child. Thus the whole year round the Shariah and Sunnah of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) are treated like how a villain and enemy treats them and then a night is set aside for Meelaad gathering and Seraah Jalsah to trumpet the „love‟ for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Is there greater hypocrisy than this? The History of Islam bears witness that as long as Muslims were fortunate of being given the taufeeq of following the Shariah, the entire Ummah was a paragon of the Shariah and every Muslim‟s life, appearance, actions and accomplishments were embodiments of the Shariah of Islam, the love for the Rasool and explicit following of the Sunnah. At that time there was neither the need for the Seerah gatherings in vogue and nor any reason for Meelaadun Nabi. Thus one will never find in the era of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiyallahu anhu) or in the era of Hazrat Umar Faarooq (Radhiyallahu anhu) or in the era of Hazrat Uth-maan (Radhiyallahu anhu) any gathering enacted for Meelaadun Nabi [and Seeratun Nabi]. Were the people of Khairul Quroon devoid of love for the Rasool (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)? Were the hearts of Muslims in the ages attested as the noblest of all ages, void of love for Allah Ta‟ala and Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)? Was there no fervour in them to follow the Sunnah? These blessed epochs were unmatched in love for the Rasool, following of the Sunnah, Imaani vigour and strength in Faith. In fact, you will not find Seerah Jalsahs and Meelaad gatherings in any gathering of all the Sahaabah, all the Taabi‟een, the Aimmah Mujtahideen, the Fuqaha of the Um-mah, the illustrious Muhadditheen, the Awliya of Allah and the Mashaaikh of Tasawwuf. A full six centuries down the long corridor of Islam‟s history there is no trace of Seeratur Rasool or Meelaadun Nabi. With the end of the sixth century Hijri, the governor of Arbil inaugurated this Seerat „remembrance‟. Thousands of gold coins were dis-tributed to the poor and needy, clothes were distributed, food was prepared and in this way the custom of Isaal-e-Thawaab for the holy soul of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was started. But in the centuries that followed, these acts were even discontinued and only the gathering of Meelaad was held. Nonetheless, this state of affairs was on a small scale.

When the turn of the worst of ages came then Islam ceased to remain the Deen of the nation. Their „deen‟ became nationalism and, very hypocritically, an outward show of Islam commenced. Beliefs became corrupted; Islamic practice was effaced; hearts became empty of the love for the Rasool; the concept of following the Shariah escaped minds; the vigour of Imaan died down in hearts; and thus as a proclamation of Islam once a year a celebration of Islam was deemed adequate. This is also precisely the case with remembrance of the Qur‟aan-e-Kareem. Practising on the Qur‟aan is considered unnecessary. Some customary burning of lamps and adorning of homes and the Masaajid are practised. Hundreds of thousands of rupees are spent on waste. For the sake of Allah, how can this be righteousness?

Asslamo Allaikum All,

Our dear respected and beloved Shaykh (Mufti) Taqi Usmani (HA) also considers these Seerah gatherings permissable provided that no rules of Shariah are broken and"I think" Shaykh (Mufti) Rafi Usmani (HA) describes in his talk at Ebrahim College (London) where he describes that a year or two after the creation of Pakistan his father (Shaykh (Mufti) Shaf'i Usmani (RA)) and some Shia and Barelwee Ulamah used to ride in the same car to attend these

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku3KcJfjQXk

So there are Ulama who permit this and for those who don't the incident quoted by Shaykh (Mufti) Rafi Usmani (HA) is not a good encouragement.

Jazakullah Khairun

Asslamo Allaikum,

Apparently not only this program about the virtues of Rabiul-Awwal is full of rewards but passing the message also incurs reward

Rabiul-Awaal