fahmina institute Cirebon

Monday 571 M was the day the final Prophet, Muhammad, whose coming had been long awaited by Arabians, was born. The day is celebrated differently in all over the world.  Annemarie Schimmel, reported that custom of celebrating Mohammed’s birthday on a large scale (Maulid) first appeared in Egypt during the time of Fathimiyah (969 - 1171 M). That celebration was attended by scholars and ulama (Islamic scholars) who heard lectures about the history of the Prophet. In northern Iraq, the preparation for Maulid began early in the month of Muharram.  Huts were set up for guests who came from out of town.

 

In Turkey, mosques are decorated with lamps. In Egypt, the leader of Mamluk holds a big ceremony to celebrate Maulid in the courtyard of Cairo's castle (Read: Annemarie, And Muhammad Is God's Courier). In many other Muslim countries, the day is celebrated by lighting torches and parading around the city. Nearly all Muslims abide by this tradition, but not devotees of Ibnu Taimiyah.   An orthodox Islamic figure, Ibnu Taimiyah saw the Maulid celebration as bid' ah (not allowed to be performed), and excessive. This view was perpetuated with the enthusiasm by the well-known Saudi radical ulama, Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab (1703 – 1791). His followers continue to spread the teaching that "Maulid is a deviant religious practice”. This view is rejected by Muslims all over the world.

In Indonesia, Maulid celebrations are held in mosques, majlis ta ’ lim and pesantren (Islamic Boarding Schools) with a variety of ceremonies, from masal circumcisions to various races. The 12th night of Maulid is the climax of celebrations.  Usually people take turns to read sirah nabawiyah (the history of the Prophet from the time he was born until his death), in form of prose and sometimes song. The history of the Prophet history is performed in the form of poetry. One of the poems, Maulid Nabi pbuh was written by Syeikh Barzanji. The glorious Mauludan tradition is usually attended by hundreds or thousands of people in palaces throughout Java. Since the ministry of religious affairs was officiated by NU’s figure, K.H. Wahid Hasyim, Maulid has been a national day and celebrated in the state palace. In recent years, this event has been held in Istiqlal Mosque and has been attended by the President.  

Syeikh Al Barzanji, who is from the Mâlikî' madzab (Islamic school of thought), deliberately wrote simple but captivating poems to convey meaning more easily to the community about the Prophet Muhammad’s birth.  This poems are performed while standing out of respect for the Prophet who is imagined as being in attendance;

O beloved Prophet, be at peace
O beloved messenger, be at peace
O beloved, be at peace
May you forever flourish.
    
A full moon has risen among us
A moon to lay to rest all moons
Never have I seen the like of your beauty
O praise your radiant face
 
You are the sun, you are the moon
You are the light upon the brightness
You are a jewel of priceless worth
You are the light in every heart
     
O beloved, beloved Muhammad
O beloved, the handsome betrothed
O beloved, the unswerving, the illustrious
O beloved, imam of two kiblat.

Besides al-Barzanji, al-Bushairi's poem; “Qasîdah Burdah ” is also usually performed. Ibnu al Jauzi, an ulama from the Hambali school, describes beautifully the glorious moment of Muhammad’s birth. He said: “While Muhammad came into the world, angels spread the news with booming voices. Jibrîl came with a joyful voice ‘Arasy trembled. Angels from heaven came out to spread perfume. When Muhammad came into the world, Aminah, his mother, saw a ray of light shining onto the Bosra palace. Angels stood all around it and spread out their wings”.  

Celebrating Maulid is worldwide Islamic tradition with a long history. It is not at all in opposition to Islamic teaching. If it were deviant, it surely would not have become Islamic tradition and it is indeed naive for someone to accuse it of being bid’ah (looking on it as a deviant practice) just because Prophet never performed it or because it was not practiced at the time of the Prophet. This view is truly narrow minded and if it were to be accepted widely, Islamic civilization would stop, then die out. Therefore efforts by some people to put a stop to this tradition are equivalent to destroying human civilisation.

"Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.". (Q.S. alAhzab [33] 56).[]

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