10 Ways to Honor the Prophet Muhammad in His Birthday
Every Muslim prepares during the month
of Rabi` Al-Awwal to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) the final messenger and the master of all humanity.
Muslims’ celebrations of this blessed occasion vary in form and substance
from one country to another, amid practices that may involve actions that are
religiously impermissible and that do not conform to the Book of Allah and the
Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
How to Commemorate the
Prophet’s Birth
These lines summarize for you the 10
best permissible ways to commemorate the Prophet’s birth and revive this great
occasion, which holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims around the
world.
1. Obey the Prophet and
Follow His Sunnah
The first way to honor the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) is to obey him and follow his Sunnah,
as Allah, the Most High, says, {So be mindful of
Allah, settle your affairs, and obey Allah and His Messenger if you are ˹true˺ believers.} [Al-Anfal 8:1]
The Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) also said: “All my followers will
enter Paradise except those who refuse.” They said, “O Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon
him)! Who will refuse?” He
said, “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me is the one
who refuses (to enter it).” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
2. Show Love and
Appreciation for the Prophet Muhammad
Another way to honor the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) is to express love and appreciation for him through
both words and actions.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) said: “There are three qualities
whoever has them, will taste the sweetness of Iman: To love Allah and His
Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) more than anyone else; to love a slave
(of Allah) only for (the sake of) Allah; and to abhor returning to infidelity
after Allah has saved him from it as he would abhor to be thrown into the fire
(of Hell).” (Reported by Al-Bukhari
and Muslim)
He also said: “None of you is a believer until I am dearer to him than
his child, his father, and the whole of mankind.” (Reported by
Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
3. Frequently Send
Blessings Upon the Prophet
One of the greatest ways to honor the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is to frequently invoke blessings upon him.
Allah, the Most High, says, {Indeed, Allah showers His blessings upon the Prophet,
and His angels pray for him. O
believers! Invoke Allah’s blessings upon him, and salute him with worthy
greetings of peace.} [Al-Ahzab 33:56]
The Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) also said: “For everyone who invokes a
blessing on me will receive ten blessings from Allah.” (Reported by Muslim)
4. Study the Life and
Biography of the Prophet
Study the life of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and learn about his history from his birth until his
death.
Gain a thorough understanding of the
details of his migration and his battles. Reflect upon the hardships and trials
he endured, contemplate his noble character, and memorize his authentic
sayings.
5. Follow the Prophet’s
Example of Generosity and Charity
Muslims can also honor the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) by following his example of generosity and giving.
Give charity to the poor and those in
need, do good by helping orphans and the needy, and express your love for the
Prophet through acts of kindness, generosity, and giving.
6. Organize Lectures and
Educational Programs About His Life
Organize seminars and lectures addressing the life of the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) explaining his teachings and clarifying his Sunnah.
Competitions about his life and
teachings can also be organized, along with publishing books that present his
methodology and noble character.
7. Share the Prophet’s
Message Around the World
Translate his sayings and teachings
into the languages of the world and convey his message
to every corner of the earth.
Smartphones and social media can also
be used to commemorate his birth, highlight his greatness as one of the
greatest figures in human history, and present the example of the man through
whom people were brought from darkness into light.
8. Defend the Prophet
Against Attacks and Insults
Another way to honor the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) is to defend him against attacks by those who insult
him and by atheists, such as those responsible for producing offensive images
of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Their crimes should be exposed, and
the falsehood of their claims against the man whom Allah, the Most High,
described by saying: {And you are truly ˹a man˺ of outstanding character.} [Al-Qalam
68:4]
9. Seek Beneficial
Knowledge and Serve Humanity
Learn beneficial knowledge
and acquire a substantial share of religious knowledge.
Deepen your understanding of the Quran
and the Sunnah, and seek knowledge in order to serve Islam and Muslims.
Every Muslim should also strive for
excellence in his or her profession and craft, using their skills to contribute
goodness to humanity.
10.
Do Not Designate a Specific Day to
Celebrate the Prophet’s Birth
A specific day should not be
designated for celebrating the birth of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) because this is not
part of the religion. Rather, it is an introduced religious innovation.
Sheikh Ibn Baz said that these
celebrations of religious occasions, in addition to being innovations, may also
involve other prohibited practices, such as the mixing of men and women and the
use of songs and musical instruments.
As for honoring the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) this should take place every day and every hour by
following his example and adhering to his Sunnah.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) said: “The dearest and the closest of
you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who are the best in
behaviour.” (Reported by Ahmad)
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