Mawlid in Islam: Why Sunni Scholars Still Disagree

Recently, a sister reached out to me with a request to write a blog post about Mawlid. While she didn’t specify her reasons, I assumed that her curiosity stemmed from the prevalence of Mawlid congregation in her community and around the world, and with the discomfort some people feel about it. Additionally, she seemed interested in understanding why Mawlid is sometimes labeled as a Bid’ah (innovation).

Every year, as the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal approaches, Muslims around the world prepare for what’s commonly known as Mawlid—the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ birthday. Streets light up, poems are recited, children dress up religiously, and masjids echo with praises. But just as hearts warm with reverence, debates heat up too.

“Bid’ah!” some declare, “It’s a blameworthy innovation.”

Others respond: “It’s love. How can remembering the Prophet ﷺ ever be wrong?”

So is Mawlid a blameworthy religious innovation or a permissible commemoration built from individually lawful acts such as seerah, salawat, charity and teaching?

Recognised Sunni scholars have answered that question differently. This article should explain both arguments rather than decide the dispute by rhetoric.

A Quick History Lesson

The earliest known public congregation of Mawlid trace back to the Fatimid dynasty in the 10th century CE (Shia rulers of Egypt). Later, Sunni rulers—like Sultan Al-Muzaffar in 12th-century Iraq—organized engaging events, including food distribution, poetry, and lectures. But here’s the twist: the Companions, Tābiʿīn, and early generations never celebrated the Prophet’s birthday as a religious event.

So does that automatically make it wrong?

Let’s not jump the gun.

Innovation: The Scary Word

Muslim scholars do not all use the word bidah in exactly the same technical way. Some use broader classifications that distinguish praiseworthy and blameworthy innovations. Others reserve religious bidah for acts introduced into worship without sufficient basis. That difference in methodology sits behind much of the Mawlid debate.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever introduces into this matter of ours (Islam) that which is not from it, it is rejected.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Now here’s the nuance: Scholars like Imam al-Shafi‘i made a distinction between “good innovations” (bid’ah ḥasanah) and “bad innovations” (bid’ah sayyi’ah). He famously said:

“Anything that contradicts the Qur’an, Sunnah, or Ijma‘ is a reprehensible innovation. But if it aligns with them, it is not blameworthy.”

Examples such as compiling the Quran into a single codex, building minarets or organising congregational Taraweeh are often used in wider discussions about innovation. But they do not by themselves settle Mawlid, because scholars disagree over whether these examples are new means serving an established practice or new religious observances in their own right.

So Where Does Mawlid Fall?

Let’s be honest: Mawlid was not congregated by the Prophet ﷺ, his Companions, or the early scholars. That’s a historical fact.

But ask yourself: Why do people congregate it today?

Is it to imitate Christian Christmas?
To introduce a new ritual into Islam?
To claim the Prophet was divine?

Supporters usually understand Mawlid as an organised opportunity to remember the Prophet ﷺ through seerah, salawat, Quran, charity and teaching rather than as a new obligatory act.

Egypt’s Dar al Ifta is one clear example of the permissive position and describes commemorating the Prophet’s birth as permissible and meritorious when expressed through lawful acts.

Read the Dar al Ifta position

Restrictive scholars answer that good intentions and individually lawful activities do not automatically justify fixing them to an annual religious commemoration that the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions did not establish.

Read a restrictive position on Mawlid

Real Talk: Can Love Go Wrong?

Imagine it’s your mother’s birthday. You give her a gift, not because she asked, but because you love her. You write her a poem, not because it’s in the will, but because your heart overflows.

Now someone says, “This wasn’t done before. It’s not part of the family manual!”

Would you stop? Of course not.

Love expresses itself in different ways across time. And as long as that expression doesn’t violate core values, it can even enhance the bond.

Same goes for Mawlid.

If it inspires people to learn about the Prophet ﷺ, hear his seerah, send salawat, and increase love—how is that blameworthy?

But… Let’s Be Fair

Even scholars who permit Mawlid would not justify fabricated stories, beliefs that exaggerate the Prophet ﷺ beyond Islamic limits, wasteful extravagance or other prohibited conduct. And scholars who reject Mawlid generally still encourage seerah, salawat, charity and teaching throughout the year.

Scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah, often cited in opposition to Mawlid, said:

“Some people make the Prophet’s birthday a festival… and reward for this may be granted due to good intention, but not because of the innovation itself.”

That’s a surprisingly nuanced take.

Let’s analyze the process of Mawlid in Europe, US, Singapore, and Malaysia as examples. Click here to watch this clip to understand the process, first.

Conclusion: A Recognised Scholarly Disagreement

Mawlid cannot accurately be labelled universally halal, universally haram or simply mubah without acknowledging the fiqh disagreement.

One recognised Sunni position permits or recommends lawful Mawlid commemorations because they gather already established acts of devotion and gratitude.

Another recognised Sunni position rejects the annual commemoration because the Prophet ﷺ, his Companions and the earliest generations did not establish it as a religious occasion.

A general reader can follow trusted scholarship on either side without turning Mawlid into a test of whether another Muslim loves the Prophet ﷺ.

Final Thought

If we spent half as much energy studying the life of the Prophet ﷺ as we do debating his birthday, we’d all be better Muslims.

Love for the Prophet ﷺ is not measured by whether someone attends or avoids Mawlid. It is measured more broadly through faith, obedience, salawat, learning his Sunnah and following his character.

References

• Celebrating the mawlid (birth) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in our community
• You Brought the Light – Muslim Kids Club – Sydney Mawlid 2018 – YouTube
• To Mawlid or Not to Mawlid? Bidah Explained