إدريس عبدالله
_4 _November _2016هـ الموافق 4-11-2016م, 01:00 AM
DESCRIPTION OF BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL FROM ITS INCEPTION TILL DATE. 1.AL-Muqqare’s Description.
Al-Muqree, while describing the birthday festival said:”the Fatimid caliph used to sit for the birthday festival and would prepare banquets and meals. Food items such as sugar, honey, almond and flour are placed in temples and other places. These meals are also shared among those coming to the festival and the reciters who are present and the poor. Monies are also shared to the people of( the village of) Qarraafa. Judges, Scholars and students all receive their share. The Caliph will then ride alongside the Judges and the Ministers to the Mosque of Azhar on the 12th of Rabi-ul Awwal. The Reciters would then recite the Qur’an, those who give sermons would deliver sermons. Similar to this is how the birthday of Ali, Hasan , Husain, Faatima(may Allah be please with them) and the Caliph are celebrated”.(see: Al-Khutat:2:332)
2. Description of Ibn Khalkaan(Died 681H). but for the birthday of Mazfar; the one that people claimed was the one who invented the Birthday festival though is not true, Ibn Khalkaan mentioned in his birthday festival things that depict drumming and dancing, wastage of the wealth of the Muslims. He said:”the people of the society heard good about his(Mazfar) faith and opinion about it(birthday festival) and so every year, people of the nearby communities such as Bagdaad, Al-Mawsil, the Arabian Peninsula ,Sinjaar and other non-arabian communities including the Fuqahaa’(the Jurist),the sufis , preachers, the reciters of Qur’an and the poets used to visit the caliph(Mazfar). They keep trooping into the caliphs palace from Muharram till the beginning of Rabi-ul Awwal. Mazfaruddeen would then raised domes of wood. Every dome consist of four or five layers and he would construct about twenty of them. He then would reserved one for himself and one each for the senior governors of his country. When the1st day of the month of Safr arrives, these domes were then beautified with different colors and adornments. Then, in each dome would be a group of singers, fancy makers and people who perform amusement with musical instruments. Not a single dome would be left except haven been filled with singers. Life become uncomfortable for people staying nearby due to the disturbances erupting out of the noise of the singers and people are left with no other business other than merging to witness the occasion. The domes were built from the entrance of the castle to the gate of his ravine. Mazfaruddeen comes every day after the Asr salaah and would stay on each dome from the first to the last. He would listen to the singers in each dome and enjoy with the fancy makers and would then spend the night in his ravine. He would then listen to the audience and ride prior the dawn prayers after which he would return to the castle before Zuhr prayers. Such was the way he does until the eve of the birthday festival…. "
3. Description of Ibn Al-Haaj.(Died:737H)
He mentioned very bad and obnoxious things that were done in the Mawled(Birthday) festival. These ranges from dancing, singing and fun(making). He also mentioned other things and criticize the deeds of women during the birthday festivals and its evil effect…..(see:his book.”the Introduction”2/2-10)
4. Description of the Historian (Al-Jabarati)(Died:1237H).
He described to us the festivals that were celebrated during his era, as mentioned in his book: the miraculous antiquities (ajaa’ibil Aathaar). He said: it is announced for the beautification of the market places with different provisions in order to magnify the Mawled of the Prophet Muhammad [salla llaahu alaihi wasallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)].if Wednesday comes such announcement is repeated and a command is issued for sweeping and cleaning all places. Due to this, people would then give much attention and much effort is exerted towards that regard.
5. Description of Mawled in the 20th century.
But for the Mawled of this days, it doesn’t defer so much from what has been described previously. One, who follows the documentaries of countries that broadcast the Mawled festival and others, would found that, they are celebrated alongside singing and dancing, fun making, waste of time and waste of the wealth of the Muslims.
O' slaves of Allah, do you think this birthday festival which is accompanied by dancing, playing , and wastage of time and wealth would be approved by the Prophet of Allah [salla llaahu alaihi wasallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)] and loved by him. ?
Al-Muqree, while describing the birthday festival said:”the Fatimid caliph used to sit for the birthday festival and would prepare banquets and meals. Food items such as sugar, honey, almond and flour are placed in temples and other places. These meals are also shared among those coming to the festival and the reciters who are present and the poor. Monies are also shared to the people of( the village of) Qarraafa. Judges, Scholars and students all receive their share. The Caliph will then ride alongside the Judges and the Ministers to the Mosque of Azhar on the 12th of Rabi-ul Awwal. The Reciters would then recite the Qur’an, those who give sermons would deliver sermons. Similar to this is how the birthday of Ali, Hasan , Husain, Faatima(may Allah be please with them) and the Caliph are celebrated”.(see: Al-Khutat:2:332)
2. Description of Ibn Khalkaan(Died 681H). but for the birthday of Mazfar; the one that people claimed was the one who invented the Birthday festival though is not true, Ibn Khalkaan mentioned in his birthday festival things that depict drumming and dancing, wastage of the wealth of the Muslims. He said:”the people of the society heard good about his(Mazfar) faith and opinion about it(birthday festival) and so every year, people of the nearby communities such as Bagdaad, Al-Mawsil, the Arabian Peninsula ,Sinjaar and other non-arabian communities including the Fuqahaa’(the Jurist),the sufis , preachers, the reciters of Qur’an and the poets used to visit the caliph(Mazfar). They keep trooping into the caliphs palace from Muharram till the beginning of Rabi-ul Awwal. Mazfaruddeen would then raised domes of wood. Every dome consist of four or five layers and he would construct about twenty of them. He then would reserved one for himself and one each for the senior governors of his country. When the1st day of the month of Safr arrives, these domes were then beautified with different colors and adornments. Then, in each dome would be a group of singers, fancy makers and people who perform amusement with musical instruments. Not a single dome would be left except haven been filled with singers. Life become uncomfortable for people staying nearby due to the disturbances erupting out of the noise of the singers and people are left with no other business other than merging to witness the occasion. The domes were built from the entrance of the castle to the gate of his ravine. Mazfaruddeen comes every day after the Asr salaah and would stay on each dome from the first to the last. He would listen to the singers in each dome and enjoy with the fancy makers and would then spend the night in his ravine. He would then listen to the audience and ride prior the dawn prayers after which he would return to the castle before Zuhr prayers. Such was the way he does until the eve of the birthday festival…. "
3. Description of Ibn Al-Haaj.(Died:737H)
He mentioned very bad and obnoxious things that were done in the Mawled(Birthday) festival. These ranges from dancing, singing and fun(making). He also mentioned other things and criticize the deeds of women during the birthday festivals and its evil effect…..(see:his book.”the Introduction”2/2-10)
4. Description of the Historian (Al-Jabarati)(Died:1237H).
He described to us the festivals that were celebrated during his era, as mentioned in his book: the miraculous antiquities (ajaa’ibil Aathaar). He said: it is announced for the beautification of the market places with different provisions in order to magnify the Mawled of the Prophet Muhammad [salla llaahu alaihi wasallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)].if Wednesday comes such announcement is repeated and a command is issued for sweeping and cleaning all places. Due to this, people would then give much attention and much effort is exerted towards that regard.
5. Description of Mawled in the 20th century.
But for the Mawled of this days, it doesn’t defer so much from what has been described previously. One, who follows the documentaries of countries that broadcast the Mawled festival and others, would found that, they are celebrated alongside singing and dancing, fun making, waste of time and waste of the wealth of the Muslims.
O' slaves of Allah, do you think this birthday festival which is accompanied by dancing, playing , and wastage of time and wealth would be approved by the Prophet of Allah [salla llaahu alaihi wasallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)] and loved by him. ?