Observing Saiyidul Aa’yaad Shareef – the most gracious Eid that is Eid-e-Meelaad-e-‘Habeebullah Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam is in no way a ‘Bidaat’ or a ‘New Inclusion in the Shariah’; the people saying so is mere revealing their ignorance.

In fact, Saiyidul Mursaleen, Imaamul Mursaleen, ‘Habeebullah, ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam himself observed Eid-e-Meelaad-e-‘Habeebullah Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam. The day of sacred Bilaadat Shareef is Yaomul Isnain or Monday. ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam used to keep saum (fast) on this very day to express his gratitude to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala. This clearly specifies that ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam used to observe Meelaad-e-Habeebi (Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam).
عَنْ حَضْرَتْ اَبِـيْ قَتَادَةَ رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَنْهُ بِـهٰذَا الْـحَدِيْثِ زَادَ قَالَ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اَرَاَيْتَ صَوْمَ يَوْمِ الْاِثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمِ الْـخَمِيْسِ قَالَ ‏فِيْهِ وُلِدْتُّ وَفِيْهِ اُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ الْقُرْاٰنُ.
Translation: Hazrat Abu Quataadah Ansaree Rwadiallahu Ta’ala Anhu relates, Noor-e-Mujassam, ‘Habeebullah, ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam was once asked about keeping Saum on Yaomul Isnainil Azeem Shareef (Monday) and on Yaomul Khwamis (Thursday). Noor- e -Mujassam, ‘Habeebullah, ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam replied: ” On this day (Yaomul Isnainil Azeem Shareef -Monday) I was sent down to the Earth and the same day the sacred Quran Shareef was revealed to me.” (Muslim Shareef: Hadith Shareef No- 2807; Abu Dawood Shareef: Hadith Shareef No- 2428; Sunane Qubra Li Baihaki Shareef: Hadith Shareef No- 8217; Ibne Khujaima Shareef: Hadith Shareef No- 2117; Musnad-e-Abi Awaana: Hadith Shareef No- 2926; Musnad-e-Ahmad Shareef: Hadith Shareef No- 22603)

This sacred Hadith Shareef clearly specifies that sacred Monday is the Day of Bilaadat Shareef of Saiyidul Mursaleen, Imamul Mursaleen, Khwatamun Nabeiyeen, Noor-e-Mujassam, ‘Habeebullah, ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam as well as the Day of formal Declaration of his Nubuwaat Mubarak (Sacred Prophethood). This sacred Hadith Shareef also indicates for keeping Saum on sacred Monday.

This also adequately proves that it is incumbent on us (Muslim Ummah) to observe the Day of Bilaadat Shareef and other such Special Days with due solemnity. Because of the fact that ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam himself kept Saum of gratitude on his Bilaadat Shareef. ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam observed his Bilaadat Shareef by himself.

Keeping Saum has been adjudged as a basis for the observance of Eid-e-Meelaad-e-‘Habeebullah Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam by the great Imaams of their ages – Imaam Hazrat Jalaluddin Suyuti Rwahmatullahi Alaihi and Imaam Hazrat Ibne Hazr Askalanee Rwahmatullahi Alaihi. The Authority says:

“The basis of the virtue of Space and Time are the ‘Ibadaat’ (Religious practices) as has been stipulated by Allah Rwabbul Aalameento be performed within that particular Space and Time. It is well known that Space and Time alone has no virtue of its own unless it is linked with some Ibadaat. Should you not ponder on the ‘specialties’ and ‘blessings’ which Allah Rwabbul Aalameenassociated with the month of Rabiul Awaal Shareef and Monday. Have you not noticed how virtuous it is to keep saum on Monday? This is because Monday is the Bilaadat Shareef of ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam. Therefore, we should portray due honour and respect to the sacred month of Rabiul Awaal Shareef and follow ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam used to do during this sacred month. ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam was accustomed to devote more in ibaadat and charity during the ‘Times’ having more virtues/merits.”

I (Imaam Jalaluddin Suyuti) have deduced an ‘Usul'(Guiding Principle) to justify Meelaad Shareef which goes as follows – Imaam Baihaquee Rahmatullahi Alaihi relates to Hazrat Anaas Rwadiallhu Ta’ala Anhu that ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam himself did his Akika (Ceremony of sacrificing a domestic animal for naming a new born Muslim child) after formal proclamation of Nubuwaat (Prophethood) whereas it was done by Hazrat Abdul Muttalib Alaihis Salam on the 7th Day of his sacred Bilaadat Shareef. While akika is not to be repeated yet it was done so. The reason ascribed here is to express gratitude to Allah Rwabbul Aalameenfor ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam being selected as ‘Rahmatallil Aalmeen’ (Blessing for the whole Universe). ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam repeated his Akika to make it supported by Shariah for his Ummah to express gratitude to Allah Rwabbul Aalameenon his sacred Bilaadat Shareef.

For instance, ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam used to recite Durood Shareef upon himself. That makes us responsible to bring the people in Meelaad Shareef, feed them and by other permissible means for expressing gratitude to Allah Subhanahu Ta’ala.

Hazrat Ibne Hazr Askalanee Rwahmatullahi Alaihi referred ‘keeping saum two days on the occasion of Ashura Shareef (10th of Muharram)’ as a basis for observing Eid-e-Meelaad-e-‘Habeebullah Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam. He pointed out that saum of Ashura Shareef are kept as a Symbol of Gratitude. One can express his gratitude to Allah Subhanahun Ta’ala for His Favours in various ways and means like keeping saum, performing salaat, reciting the sacred Kalamullah Shareef, almsgiving and so on. And ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam is the best of all the Favours of Allah Subhanahu Ta’ala. ( Husnul Makaasid Fi Amalil Mawleed 63; Alhabeelil Fatwa 105; Subulul Huda Warrwashad Volume-1,Page-366; Huzzatullahi Alal Aalmeen 237)

From the foregoing discussion, it is clearly proved that to express gratitude to Allah Rwabbul Aalameen by observing Eid-e-Meelaad-e-‘Habeebullah Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam for having ‘Hu’dur Pak Swallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam amongst us is in no way a Bidaat rather a special Sunnah Mubarak indeed.