2024-09-17 06:53:30
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This Saturday, September 14, 2024, corresponding to the 3rd Muslim month, marks the birth of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
In Guinea, this celebration of the birth of the most beloved of prophets is a source of ideological divergence in the Islamic world.
In order to know whether the celebration is accepted or not in Islam and the questions related to it, our editorial staff met with the Doctor of Islam, Ousmane Camara. For him, this practice is an innovation born centuries after the Prophet (PSL).
“The Prophet (PBUH), his birth was a mercy for humanity. So, after some time, some Muslims started celebrating the birth of the Prophet. When we say Maouloud in Arabic, it has two meanings: the place of birth and the date of birth. So, the word means both. But generally, when we say Maouloud, we do not take into account the place, but the date, in other words, the birthday of the Prophet (PBUH). That’s it, Maouloud. This celebration was innovated, invented in the fourth century after the Prophet (PBUH), that is to say, it is not at the time of the Prophet (PBUH), nor his successors, the four caliphs, Abu Bakr, Omar, Othmane, Ali, and the great ulama who came after. It was after the fourth century, Maouloud was innovated by Malik al-Muzaffar, which many great scholars mentioned in their works, as well as many festivals such as: the birth of Fatima, the birth of Ahsali Ali ibn Abi Talib. So, after that, the ulama of the Ummah (a Muslim scholar) had differences on the issue. Is what was invented correct, is it normal? So, can we follow? Others said yes, it is good, because it is the Prophet (PBUH) who granted particularities. His whole life is the blessing. His words, his actions, what he kills. So, there you have it, the Prophet (PBUH) is not like the others, so we can celebrate the birth of the Prophet (PBUH). Because it was really an event for all humanity on that day, “he explains. On the other hand: “While the other ulemas (a Muslim scholar) said no, it cannot be celebrated. And that it is formally forbidden because if it was permitted in Islam, the Prophet Mohammed (PSL) was going to do it. If he does not do it, or he did not do it, Abu Bakr, Omar, Othmane were going to do it. Or one of these Caliphs was going to do it or the ulemas who came after, were going to do it. But why did they not do it? Because it is not permitted in Islam. The 3rd wave wondered whether it is a worship recommended by Islam, by the Quran and Sunna, or is it a cultural event, like all the other events, which have been innovated in Islam, like embellishing mosques, building large schools, universities, like the competitions we are witnessing today. If that’s it, then it will be allowed with conditions,” he reasoned, thus omitting the categorical rejection of the practice. For Dr. Camara, the major problem remains the practices around it, which consist of making the celebration festive and lucrative. “We have never seen the Prophet (PSL) do it, nor his caliphs or scholars, nor the Koran, nor the hadiths, no explicit text or anything. So according to many elements, it is not an obligation. They love the Prophet (PSL) more than us, know Islam more than us, the rules of Islam more than us, but why did they not do it? Those who think that it is an obligation, they are exaggerating, it is not good in Islam,” he specified. Furthermore, it is forbidden to consider those who are in the mood to celebrate as kaffirs. “Those who think that it is formally forbidden, those who celebrate Maouloud, so it is as if they are kaffirs, that is to say that they are people who have left Islam, they have abandoned Islam because of that, that too, we are not with. Because it is an act that has been innovated, in Islam, like the national and international Koranic competition. If it is in this sense, then we cannot consider that those who do it, as they are kaffirs”, testimony of this religious. This Doctor of Islam did not fail to condemn certain acts among Muslim brothers and sisters during this vigil of Maouloud. “If they put forbidden things such as singing, dancing, or make it an opportunity to make money, or mix women, men, in any case, everything that is not allowed in Islam, if it enters into Maouloud, Maouloud becomes forbidden and breaks religious rules,” said Dr. Ousmane Camara. Meanwhile, many places are set up for this occasion for a night vigil until early morning all over Conakry.
May Cissé