Grand Mufti: the prohibition of celebrating the Prophet’s birthday is a disfavored zealotry

The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheikh Ali Goma, reiterated that celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad is one of the best acts and greatest in the sight of God because it is an expression of joy, happiness and love for Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Loving Prophet Muhammad is one of the bases of true faith as the Prophet said “ O by whom my soul is in His hands, no one believes until I become more beloved to him than his own father and son”. Sheikh Ali added that celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad is a sign of veneration which is a well established matter in Islamic law as God wanted to share with the whole world the eminent status of Prophet Muhammad and for this reason God made the Prophet’s name, place of revelation, place of immigration and place of his burial known for the whole world to express the prominent status that the Prophet enjoys in the sight of God. Therefore, the whole world is in constant happiness and endless joy for the advent of the blessed Prophet Muhammad.

Sheikh Ali emphasized that Muslims since the 4th and the 5th Centuries H were in the habit of celebrating the Prophet’s birthday and rejoicing his blessed advent to the world with all sorts of good deeds such as making feasts, feeding people, reciting the Quran, invoking dhikr and singing praising poetry; acts which were well documented by historians such as al Hafiz ibn Hajar, ibn al- Jawzi and ibn Kathir.

He ended his statement by saying that the gatherings of people to celebrate the noble birth of the Prophet is highly encouraged by the Shari’ah as his blessed advent is one of the greatest blessings upon the world. Also buying candies and sweets and distributing them among family relatives and neighbors is one of the favored and blessed acts which express people’s love for the birth of the noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).