Balaghal Ula Bika-Malihi, Kashafadduja Bi-Jamalihi

A.K.M. Fazlur Rahman Munshi

Hujur (S.) Visited the Birthplace of Hazrat Isa (AS) and Expressed Happiness by Fasting on His Own Birthday

It has been narrated from Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) that while describing his Mi’raj journey, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.) said that Jibril (AS) told him at a place called Baitul Lahm, “Descend from the Buraq and offer prayer.” He descended and performed the prayer. Jibril (AS) then asked, “Do you know where you have prayed? You have prayed at Baitul Lahm, the place where Hazrat Isa (AS) was born.”

This blessed hadith indicates that just as Friday attained its virtue and honour because Hazrat Adam (AS) was created on that day; a form of honour associated with time– Baitul Lahm attained spatial honour because it was the birthplace of Hazrat Isa (AS). This is why the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.) was asked to offer prayer there. The hadith therefore establishes the significance and honour attached to the birthplace of a prophet.

For this reason, devotees of the Messenger honour and visit Mawlid-un-Nabi (S.), the blessed place where the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.) was born. For a long period, the people of Makkah maintained the practice of organising a procession from the Prophet’s birthplace on the occasion of Jashn-e-Milad-un-Nabi (S.). Moreover, if a place connected to the birth of the Prophet is made blessed, commemorated and preserved as a reminder– something established and acknowledged through the Hadith of the Prophet– then why should the day and moment of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.) not be regarded as worthy of honour, remembrance and celebration as an Eid?

References:
(a) Sunan an-Nasa’i, Kitab al-Salat, Bab Fard al-Salat, Vol. 1, p. 222, Hadith No. 450.
(b) Tirmidhi, Musnad al-Shamiyin, Vol. 1, p. 194, Hadith No. 341. The following works, however, narrate the above hadith from Hazrat Shaddad bin Aws (RA):
(c) al-Bazzar, al-Bahr al-Zakhkhar (al-Musnad), Vol. 8, p. 410, Hadith No. 3484.
(d) al-Tabarani, al-Mu’jam al-Kabir, Vol. 7, p. 283, Hadith No. 7142.
(e) al-Haythami, Majma’ al-Zawa’id wa Manba’ al-Fawa’id, Vol. 1, p. 73.
(f) Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Fath al-Bari, Vol. 7, p. 283, Hadith No. 7142.
(g) Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Fath al-Bari, Vol. 7, p. 199.

Alongside the aforementioned Shariah-based evidence concerning the observance of Milad, another question arises: Did the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.) himself provide any specific guidance or instruction regarding his birthday?
The answer is yes. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.) himself instructed and encouraged his Companions to express gratitude to Allah on the occasion of his birth. He himself fasted on the day of his birth as an expression of gratitude and thankfulness to Allah. This blessed practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.) is established by the narration cited below.