The most blessed birth in Islamic history took place on the 12th night of Rabi' al-Awwal in the Year of the Elephant in Mecca. This birth was not just of a child; it was the arrival of the guide of all humanity. This sermon explores the meaning of Mawlid an-Nabi, the place of the Prophet's birth in the Quran, the position of love for the Prophet in iman, and what to do on this blessed night.
"Sent as a Mercy to the Worlds"
The Quran summarizes the Prophet's (peace be upon him) mission in a single verse:
— Al-Anbiya' 21:107We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.
"A mercy to the worlds" — not only to Muslims but to all the worlds; not only to that era but until the Day of Judgment; not only to humans but to all of creation. The verse shows the all-encompassing scope of his (peace be upon him) being.
In Surah at-Tawbah, Allah describes the nature of the Messenger's mercy upon his ummah:
— At-Tawbah 9:128There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; he is concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.
The Prophet's (peace be upon him) concern for his ummah was a love heavier than his own hardship. The scene of his death, on which he repeated "ummati, ummati" (my ummah, my ummah), is the proof of this love.
Love for the Prophet Is a Condition of Iman
The Prophet (peace be upon him) sets a condition of iman in a hadith:
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Iman, no. 15None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his children, and all people.
The hadith sets the order of the believer's loves: first Allah, then the Prophet, then parents and children, then other people. Without love for the Prophet, iman is not complete.
How is love for the Prophet shown? The classical tradition emphasizes three practices:
- Following his Sunnah: living as he lived, imitating his character.
- Sending salawat: saying "sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam" wherever his name is mentioned.
- Learning and transmitting his life: reading sirah, narrating, passing it to children.
The History and Discussion of Mawlid
The Mawlid was not celebrated as a festival in the era of the Prophet or the Four Caliphs. The Muslims of the first century did not specifically revive this night.
The tradition of celebrating Mawlid began in the Fatimid era (6th century AH); in the Sunni world it spread with the great Mawlid celebrations of the Erbil ruler Muzaffar al-Din Kokburi in the 12th century. Süleyman Çelebi's Mevlid (15th century) shaped the spiritual atmosphere of this night in Anatolia.
Among Islamic scholars there are three views on how to revive this night:
- The broad celebration view: As long as it is not a bid'ah against the Sunnah, remembering the Prophet's birth and thanking Allah is a virtue (the position of the majority).
- The cautious view: Celebrating it as a festival is bid'ah; but the salah, Quran, and salawat done that night are acts of worship that can be done any time.
- The rejecting view: If the Salaf did not do it, we should not (some Salafi interpretations).
The widespread practice in Turkey is the middle way: the night is not an official festival, but mosques fill, mawlid recitations are held, the Quran is recited, and du'as are made.
What Is Done on This Night?
For the believer who wishes to revive Mawlid spiritually:
1. Salawat ash-Sharifa: the most important act on this night. Allah and the angels send salah upon the Prophet; the believers join in. Reciting 100 salawat after 'Isha is simple but blessed.
2. Reading sirah: reading a portion of the Prophet's life. A birth story, a hijra narrative, a Badr account — whichever, turning the pages about the Prophet is meaningful tonight.
3. Telling stories to children: narrating the Prophet's birth, childhood, and youth to children. These stories plant the seed of love for the Prophet in their hearts.
4. Reciting or listening to a Mawlid poem: Süleyman Çelebi's Mevlid is a classical masterpiece of devotional poetry. Listening at the mosque or reading at home fits this night.
5. Doing good: helping someone in need, a sadaqah, a visit to a relative. This is already the Prophet's sunnah — the most beautiful way to keep his memory alive is to live his character.
The Prophet's State — The Greatest Gift
The Prophet's (peace be upon him) state itself was the greatest teaching. When 'A'isha was asked, "What was the Messenger of Allah's character?" her answer was very brief: "His character was the Quran" — Sahih Muslim, Salat al-Musafirin, no. 746.
That is: a person who lives every command of the Quran and avoids every prohibition is like a living Quran. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was this living Quran. The true meaning of Mawlid is hidden here: to celebrate him is to imitate his character.
Living Mawlid With VAAZ
The VAAZ app's du'a archive categorizes salawat ash-sharifa and du'as related to the Prophet. The hadith archive presents thousands of narrations from the Prophet's sirah, filtered by topic. The Quran reader includes the recitations of surahs read on this night — Ya-Sin, al-Mulk, al-Waqi'ah.
To examine the importance of salawat on Friday, see A Sermon on Jumu'ah; to draw nearer to the Prophet's character through reading the Quran, see Quran Reading Guide.
Mawlid an-Nabi is the expression of gratitude for the birth of our Prophet. Even though the night is not an official festival, in the believer's heart it should be different from every other night. To be the ummah of the Prophet sent as "a mercy to the worlds" — to know the worth of this blessing, to send salawat, to hold to his sunnah — this is the true feast of Mawlid.
References
- The Qur'an, Al-Anbiya' 21:107, Diyanet translation.
- The Qur'an, At-Tawbah 9:128, Diyanet translation.
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith No. 15.
- Sahih Muslim, Kitab as-Salat al-Musafirin, Hadith No. 746.