[muslim786]

Assalamulikum WR WB,

In recent times there have been claims that the noble Imam was against Mawlid. This is totally untrue. It should be enough that the vast majority of Shaykhs of the Naqshbandi-Mujadidi order celebrate and have celebrated the Mawlid. However, some quotes with their proper context shall clearly show what the views of Imam-i-Rabbani (rah) were.

Imam-i Rabbani Mujaddid-i-Alf-i Thani Shaykh Ahmed Sirhindi (rah), popularly known as Imam-i-Rabbani among sunni muslims ( Ahle Sunnah Wal Jammah )[ Died 1034 Ah] was a great Sufi Shaykh of the Naqshbandi order and a follower of Hanafi school of Fiqh. The followers of his branch have now come to be known as Naqshbandi-Mujadidi.

He writes in his Maktub [Persian , daftar awwal , hissa panjam, Urdu, Vol 2, letter no 273 which is addressed to Mirza Husamuddeen Ahmed] :

"There is a reason for not doing these things in this [Naqshbandi] tariqah] with regard to Sam’a [audition], Raqs [whirling under the state of love for Haqq], Mawlid and poetry recitation [ Shair khawni] for the people of this tariqah and the people of this tariqah have achieved high status while not doing all these things.. Those who are in this [Naqshbandi ] tariqah should refrain from opposing this tariqah.

Hazrat Khawja Naqshband [ quddus sirrahu] has said

"I do not do this thing nor do I stop people/ criticize people those who do"

[Imam-i- Rabbani says ] which means

"since this thing is not done in our tariqa [ Nqashbandi ] so I do not do it and since it is practiced by mashaykh of other silsila, I do not deny it also" ..

Please note here the prohibition is about sama and raqs and not the mawlid, since mawlid is not something to specific to any sufi tariqah but rather something found in all.

It should be noted that, Khwaja Khurd (rah) who was the son and khalifah of Baqi Billah (rah) himself used to celeberate "urs" and evidence for other Naqshbandi Shaykhs celebrating Mawlid and Urs can be found here:

http://www.marifah.n...h...30&start=30

At another place Imam-i-Rabbani [rah] writes [ Persian Daftar som, Hissah Hashtam, Urdu, volume 3 letter 72, which is addressed to Mirza Husamuddeen Ahmed] In answering a question which was addressed to Imam Rabbani, Imam-i-Rabbani writes:

"And then you have asked concerning Mawlid. "

Imam Rabbani replies:

"What harm is there in reciting quran, naa’t [ song in praise of prophet] and manqabat [ song praising Awaliya Allah] in beautiful voice . WHAT IS PROPHIBITED IS to change the words/ pronunciation of Quran , to recite quran as if some one is singing a song and to clap which is not allowed even in the sessions of Poetry"

"If Mawlid is done in this manner that no mistake in quran recitation occurs and no mistake and careless ness occur in reciting qasida, then what is the harm in it ? My friend, strict measure is to be taken to close the door [ of careless ness] , otherwise there is a famous saying that small things results in big matter"

[end of letter]

Some people have misunderstood the extract shown above by attributing part of the reply by Imam - i - Rabbani as being a part of the question that was asked. It can be seen that Imam-i-Rabbani is replying to the question which was asked to him in a letter which he received. That is why he mentions in his answer "WHAT IS PROPHIBITED IS……"

So basically Imam-i-Rabbani has nothing against the mawlid. The above is the full response of Imam-i-Rabbani (rah) and this can be seen from the scans provided in the post below.

Many thanks go to a dear brother of ours for translating the quotes.

Walikum As Salaam

[muslim786]

Assalamulikum WR WB,

Here are the orignal persian scans for the quotes used above. Scans 1 & 2 are for the first quote and scans 3 & 4 for the second quote.

 1.JPG (281.49K)
Number of downloads: 13
 2.JPG (293.37K)
Number of downloads: 6
 3.JPG (261.84K)
Number of downloads: 4
 4.JPG (269.36K)
Number of downloads: 6

Walikum As Salaam

[muslim786]

Assalamulikum WR WB,

A brother elsewhere has posted the following which shows the true views of Imam-i-Rabbani:

Quote

here is the correct translation of the maktub/letter [see the image below]:

and then you have asked about reciting the mawlid. if it is only recitation of the holy qur'an or praise of the prophet or awliya [na'at, manqibat] in a good voice, what is wrong with it? [1]

that which is prohibited is to alter the letters of the qur'an.[2] and to convert the recitation such that it is according to the rules of singing and to recite [the qur'an] like songs and to accompany [such recitation] with the clapping of hands - which is anyway not permitted even when reciting ordinary poetry [3]

if one recites the mawlid such that words of the qur'an are not altered [4] and recite odes which are not according to the conditions aforementioned [5], and even that is accompanied by good intention, where is any obstacle [in it being permitted]? [6]

my master!

a thought occurs to this poor man that if we do not close this door totally, those given to their desires will not restrain themselves. if you permit them little, this will grow into more. it is a well-known saying that 'little gives way to more'. [7]

wa's salam.

---------------------------------------------

1. the idiom means: there is nothing wrong with it.

2. to recite the qur'an in tunes such that they alter the correct pronunciation of the verses.

3. clapping hands and singing is not permissible for ordinary poetry too; as for qur'an, it is all the more prohibited.

4. such that tajwid of qur'an is maintained.

5. no clapping of hands etc.,

6. imam rabbani quddisa sirruh, clearly says that there is no obstacle (rukawaT) if the mawlid is recited properly.

7. anybody without prejudice can clearly see that imam rabbani is criticizing the wrong way of celebrating mawlid and those who turn qur'an into singing.

The above was in response to the following quote, which has also been dealt with in the first post of this thread:

Quote

Further, shaykh Ahmad al-Sirhindi also rejects the mawlid in Letter 72 of the third volume in his Maktubat; at its conclusion he writes:

"This poorling is of the opinion that unless this practice is completely given up, the interested persons would not cease taking advantage of it. If the practise is declared lawful, it would gradually lead to finding justification for other innovations also. Even a small mistake becomes a prelude to grave errors."

Walikum As Salaam

[salman]

salamu `alaykum sidi

Jazakallah for this clarification.

One thing that all of us should keep in mind is that one scholars ijtihad and view does not negate another scholars. Whether or not Imam Sirhindi allowed the milad is, in the long run, inconsequential in so far as trying to "prove" the licitness of one position over another. The most it does is reaffirm what we already are well aware of: the mawlid is a fiqhi issue and like the majority of such issues is differed upon.

This is something people constantly are forgetful of, and when it becomes a question of guidance and misguidance it becomes all the worse since people then bring forth such quotes to apparently show the misguidance of others. Short memory spans make us constantly forget that surfing for scholarly positions that affirm what we believe does not entail the complete negation of the position that we are seeking, through such quotations, to reject as invalid.

If we keep this mind, we could engage in more beneficial proof and methodological based discussions rather than barrages of scholarly quotes, which usually lead to endless, circular arguments.

Wasalam
Salman

[muslim786]

Assalamulikum WR WB,

Brothers please do not hijack this thread. It was only meant to be a clarification on the quote from Imam-i-Rabbani that is all. If anyone wants to discuss anything else please open up another thread.
Brother Ali please open up another thread. I have deleted all irrelvant posts from this thread.

walikum as salaam.

[faqir]

Quote

Mujaddid never proscribed Milad. The Mujaddid quote in the above post from the Maktubat has been put out of context. I'm writing annotated translations from the maktubat and when the enlarged version of my last book will be re-issued, it would clarify the Mujaddidi position on mawluds. Now I'm quoting an excerpt from my book below.

Please also refer to my website www.sufipeace.org for materials on the Mujaddid. If you're looking for a great Mujaddidi sheikh, I can also refer you to my own sheikh.

Now Im quoting from my book below. The materials within quote are direct translations from the Maktubat-i Imam-u Rabbani. Volume III, maktub 72, page 157, lines 8-14 in the Amritsari edition.

Mawluds
While previously, the Mujaddid forbade singing as it violated the
sharia, now he is forbidding it as a violation of the Naqshbandi
tariqa. He argues that it would be introducing a new alien practice
in this tariqa and that is as bad as introducing such practices in the
sharia.
Did the Mujaddid forbid all mawluds? No! It should be noted
Mujaddid is not condemning all mawlud celebrations, instead only
those celebrations where singing withmusical instruments takes place,
as it violates the sharia, and those where singing songs are performed
as practices of this Tariqa, as that violates the Naqshbandi
Tariqa. The ulama have generally approved singing naats and qasidas
when sung with voice only and without musical instruments.
Elsewhere in the Maktubat, the Mujaddid discusses more on what
types of mawluds are permitted and what types are not. There, he
responds to a question posed by a disciple,

"In the matter of recitation of the Mawlud, you have
asked, “Regarding reciting the Koran with a melodious
voice and reciting qasidas in praise and eulogy of the
prophet (qasa’id-i na‘at va manqabat), what stricture is
there?”"

In answer, the Mujaddid describes the practices that are forbidden in
mawlud.

"What is forbidden is the mispronunciation and changing
of the sounds of the Koran. Also forbidden is the
addition [to the recitation, the practice] of taking into
account the musical modes. And [also disallowed is the
recitation that is] outside of the way of a normal voice
(tardid-i sawt) but instead the way of singing sweetly;
And [also forbidden is hand clapping- practices like this
are not allowed even in poetry- [recitation]."

Now the Mujaddid discusses the strictures that regulate the proper
forms of the mawlud.

"If you recite in such a way that no phonetic corruption
in the proper [method of pronunciation] of the Koran
takes place; and when the qasidas are recited, the abovementioned
prohibitions are not broken and additionally
[they are recited] with the right intention [i.e., to become
closer to God, instead of having fun] then they
may be permitted.'

Then the Mujaddid voices his apprehension that if mawluds are celebrated
at all, they would ultimately lead to deviations.

"Sir! The idea comes to my mind that until this door is
completely closed, idiots [who practice deviant forms
of mawlid] will not be stopped. If you permit a little of
it, that will lead to more of it [being practiced]. A little
will increase to a lot! It is a well-known saying.23 [A
3.72, 157.8-14]"

Now remember that the Mujaddid approves of mawluds when done
in the sunna format. He now only voices his apprehensions that
even proper forms of mawluds will degenerate into deviant forms of
mawluds.

link to post

link to brother's website

[Revan]

As-Salamu 'Alaykum,

But:

Quote

Sir! The idea comes to my mind that until this door is
completely closed, idiots [who practice deviant forms
of mawlid] will not be stopped. If you permit a little of
it, that will lead to more of it [being practiced]. A little
will increase to a lot! It is a well-known saying.

So he allows it, but is not pleased with it, like it usually the case how Imam Rabbani handles any kind of Bid'a, even Bid'a Hasana.