A re-appraisal of the Salafiyyah’s discourse on Mawlidu ’n- Nabiyy

Abstract

Mawlidu ’n-Nabiyy celebration is one of the most controversial issues among the Muslim scholars of various denominations. The issues  around its legitimacy or otherwise have generated different reactions from the scholars, especially of Salafiyyah enclave who usually  declared the celebration as a bid‘ah that has enabled various abnormalities into the practice of Islam, considering the origin, ways and  manners of its observation. Attempt is therefore made in this paper to appraise major issues that were raised by the Salafiyyah scholars  on Mawlid. This is imperative because the celebration has become a dividing factor with polemics across board which needs to either be  reduced if not totally eliminated. This paper adopted both analytical and historical methods. The former affords the opportunity to  analyse various relevant works, while the latter avails the paper the privilege to trace related historical facts. The findings of this paper revealed that the basis for declaration of the celebration as bid‘ah by the Salafiyyah scholars is unrealistic as there are reliable proofs that  established it in Islamic sources. Also, it is discovered that the Salafiyyah’s condemnation of the celebration is largely based on the  manner of its celebration. This is what makes them to adopt the principle of throwing away the baby with the bath water. The paper  concluded that Mawlid has credence from the Qur’an, Sunnah and the practices of the Salaf. It recommended that the celebration should  be adopted by all while all abuses should be holistically addressed by scholars.