Refuting some false claims of the celebrators of Al-Mawlid - Eight Claim

Eighth claim: Some scholars have recommended Al-Mawlid, and Muslims all around the world have celebrated it throughout history. Therefore, it must be celebrated based on the saying of Ibn Mas'ood, may Allah be pleased with him: "Anything which the Muslims collectively deem as good is good and anything which the Muslims collectively deem as bad is bad."

Refutation: If we are to understand from this statement of Ibn Mas'ood, may Allah be pleased with him, that 'collectively' means the consensus of the scholars of the Muslim nation, then this is of course the correct understanding, because they never collectively agreed on anything that was misguidance. However, the notion that the Muslim nation as a whole are united in celebrating Al-Mawlid is a fallacy, in fact the opposite is true. The struggle against this Bid'ah began from the very first day that it was initiated by the misguided Baatini (those with concealed beliefs) rulers. After that, in the seventh Hijri century, Sultan Irbil spread this misguidance even further. What made this Bid'ah spread as far and wide as it did was the fact that was propagated by the rulers, who hade complete control over their subjects.

The fact that many people in different countries take part in this Bid'ah can never be taken as evidence to justify it and make it Islamically permissible, because the truth is not related to the numbers who adhere to it. Allah says that which translates as: "And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah." (Al-An'aam: 116). Moreover, the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam described the victorious Muslim group which will supported by Allah and granted victory to be very small in number as stated in the book of Muslim.

If the people who propagate Al-Mawlid were to reflect on that saying of Ibn Mas'ood, may Allah be pleased with him, they would find that it is actually evidence against themselves. This is because the consensus mentioned refers to that of the companions of the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. This is the very reason why these people deliberately delete the beginning and misinterpret the end of the narration. For the sake of completion, here is the complete narration: Ibn Mas'ood, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "Allah looked into the hearts of the people and found that the heart of Muhammad sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was the finest, so he chose him to be his beloved and sent him with His Message. Then Allah looked into the hearts of everybody else and found that the hearts of Muhammad's companions were the finest (from the rest), so he made them succeed his Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and made them fight for the sake of His religion. Therefore, anything which the Muslims collectively deem to be good is good and anything which the Muslims collectively deem to be bad is bad." (Ahmad).

As-Sindi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: "It is obvious that the companions of the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam are the ones referred to as 'the Muslims' in this narration. Therefore, the consensus must be that of the companions and the consensus of others cannot be included, let alone the agreement of a single group of people on one opinion …"

When Ibn Mas'ood and Abu Moosaa Al-Ash'ari, may Allah be pleased with them both, condemned circles in which the name of Allah was mentioned collectively, they did so due to it going against the practice of the companions of the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and therefore being a bad practice. This is despite the fact that generally, mentioning the name of Allah is a recommended act of worship, but these circles were an innovative way of doing so. Ibn Mas'ood, may Allah be pleased with him, said to some of the people in these circles: "What is this that I see you all doing?" they replied: 'We are counting how many times we say Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaaha Illaa Allah and Subhaana Allah with these stones." He replied: "Woe to you! How fast it is that you lead yourselves to destruction, the companions of the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam are still many in number around you (to ask for religious instructions) and the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam just passed away (i.e. he has not been gone long enough for you to forget his teachings)." Then Ibn Mas'ood, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "I swear by Him in Whose hands my soul is, you are either following a way (which you think is) more guided than that of Muhammad sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, or you are initiating a way of misguidance." They replied: "But we only intended to do what is good." Ibn Mas'ood, may Allah be pleased with him, replied: "How often it is that those who intend to do good miss out on it.' It was never reported that any of the companions of the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam held an opinion opposite to that of Ibn Mas'ood and Abu Moosaa regarding the condemnation of those who gathered for the collective mentioning of Allah's name. If all the companions regarded that as evil, then what would they have thought of those who gather to read Qur’aan collectively during Al-Mawlid, which also includes other activities that are clear forms of Shirk?

source: alminbar.com