Today is Holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi (PBUH)

Today is 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal, the holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi (PBUH), commemorating the birth and death anniversary of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), the greatest of the prophets and the supreme guide of humanity. He was born in 570 AD in the holy city of Makkah, the spiritual centre of the world. He is regarded not only as a guide for his followers but as an ideal and guide for all people, regardless of nationality, religion, race or tribe. The Holy Quran says: “We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds.” The Prophet (PBUH) was the greatest guide, teacher and exemplary model for humanity. Allah entrusted the Messenger (PBUH) with a special mission. The Quran states that He sent among the unlettered a Messenger who recites His verses to them, purifies them, and teaches them the Book and wisdom, although they had previously been in clear error. (Surah Al-Jumu’ah)

At a decisive turning point in human history, during one of its darkest periods, the Prophet (PBUH) brought the message of Almighty Allah. Through his powerful call, devoted efforts, highest moral principles and flawless character, he established within a remarkably short time a luminous and elevated way of life. He removed the darkness of ignorance, superstition, wrongdoing, sin and disbelief and created a new path based on peace, civilisation, security and human dignity. As the architect of a new civilisation enriched by faith, wisdom and human values, he became revered and celebrated not only in Arabia but across the world. As the messenger of Islam, the religion chosen by Almighty Allah, he did not merely shape the religious lives of people. There is scarcely any dimension of human existence untouched by his influence. He was simultaneously the founder of a religion, the builder of a nation and the creator of an unparalleled civilisation. He was the greatest of the prophets, Sayyidul Mursaleen and Khatam-un-Nabiyyin.

When the Messenger (PBUH) appeared, Makkah and the wider Arabian Peninsula were immersed in the darkness of Jahiliyyah. Idolatry, warfare, conflict, violence, disbelief, social injustice, superstition, discrimination and moral decline had reached devastating levels. Within a short period, he transformed a degraded and fallen people into a nation committed to truth, righteousness, humanity and belief in the oneness of Allah. He was not merely the bearer and implementer of Allah’s final scripture, the Holy Quran; his entire life was a living embodiment of the Quran. The salvation, peace, prosperity, security and well-being of humanity in this world and the hereafter can be achieved by following the Holy Quran and the life and teachings of the Prophet (PBUH). He said: “I have left behind two things. As long as you hold firmly to them, you will never go astray. They are the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”

For more than 1,400 years, Muslims have pursued their lives according to the teachings, ideals, example and guidance of the Prophet (PBUH). During this period, Muslims conquered vast territories, established empires and governed states. For long periods in history, they led the world in science, knowledge, technology, philosophy, education and culture. Modern civilisation owes an enormous debt to Islam and Muslims. Whatever is beautiful, beneficial and constructive in this civilisation has, in no small measure, been shaped by the ideals, teachings and guidance of the Prophet (PBUH). Islam’s contribution to peace, security, human rights and human development remains undeniable. At a time when people around the world are suffering from war, conflict, terrorism and unrest under the influence of materialistic philosophies detached from religion, and when the pursuit of power, wealth and pleasure is accelerating humanity’s own destruction, the teachings of Islam and the Prophet (PBUH) can provide the strongest protection.

The condition of today’s world is not far removed from the Age of Ignorance of 1,400 years ago. Unrest, war, inequality, injustice and immorality have spread across societies. The Prophet (PBUH) established a society free from exploitation, discrimination, injustice, corruption and wrongdoing. It was a compassionate, kind and humane society. Such a society does not exist in our country, nor anywhere else in the world. We speak about following the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH), but we rarely speak about the Sunnah of building a peaceful and humane society. This is regrettable. We are living through a period in which we are increasingly moving away from the Prophet’s (PBUH) way of life. Discussion and study of his ideals and life have almost disappeared. In the past, schools, colleges, educational institutions and social organisations in our country regularly observed Eid-e-Miladunnabi (PBUH) and organised discussions on the life and teachings of the Prophet (PBUH). Such programmes provided children and young people with guidance for their lives.

Today, many of these initiatives have virtually disappeared. Some people now describe the observance of Eid-e-Miladunnabi (PBUH) as bid’ah and label those who organise it as practitioners of bid’ah. Yet there is no objection to events such as the Bishwa Ijtema, annual religious gatherings, the established six-point Tabligh programme, thanksgiving gatherings, Quran recitation and memorisation competitions, Khatm-e-Bukhari gatherings, Quran memorisation completion ceremonies, book-launch events, Seeratunnabi gatherings, Seerat Olympiads, Seerat competitions, Azmat-e-Sahaba gatherings, scheduled madrasa classes and Shano-e-Risalat gatherings. There is no reason to object to these programmes. Scholars representing various schools of thought around the world, particularly Qawmi, La-Madhhabi and Ahl-e-Hadith scholars in Bangladesh, organise such events. Yet no one asks why these activities did not exist during the time of the Prophet (PBUH). Therefore, it is not reasonable to declare something misguided simply because it is newly introduced.

The fundamental purposes of these programmes include Quranic education, Hadith studies, discussion of the Prophet’s life, dissemination of religious knowledge, moral guidance, promoting the welfare of Muslims and encouraging good deeds. These objectives have a basis in Islamic law. The modern technological age has created enormous opportunities to disseminate Islam, its ideals, philosophy and teachings, as well as the messages of the Holy Quran and Hadith. Islamic scholars around the world are using these opportunities to spread Islamic teachings. There is no reason to object to this. Likewise, observing Eid-e-Miladunnabi (PBUH) can be regarded as a constructive means of studying and promoting the ideals of the Prophet (PBUH) and the philosophy of Islam. Those who turn its observance into a dispute by calling it bid’ah are engaging in an unnecessary controversy.

Yet we are witnessing how Israel is killing Muslims, while some countries in the Muslim world remain largely silent instead of issuing strong protests. In various African countries, conflicts are being encouraged and directly supported by creating divisions among Muslims. Muslims are killing fellow Muslims. At the same time, unnecessary ideological disputes are creating confusion and division among Muslims. There is an increasing tendency to impose one ideology on others. In the effort to establish Salafi ideology, the beliefs of Muslims outside that tradition are being labelled as bid’ah, creating further suspicion and division. It was this group that helped contribute to the fragmentation of the powerful Ottoman Empire that Muslims once possessed. The same group opposes the observance of Eid-e-Miladunnabi (PBUH), creating and perpetuating controversy among Muslims.