The Message of Eid-e-Milad un-Nabi: ‘Acquire Knowledge And Impart It To The People’
By Dr. M.I.H. Farooqi, New Age Islam
29 October
2020
(30th November – Birth Day of Prophet Muhammad)
Muslims
throughout India celebrate Prophet Muhammad's Birthday popularly known as Eid-e-Milad
un-Nabi every year on 12th Day of the Month of Rabiul Awwal (3rd month of the
year according to Islamic Lunar Calendar).
This day changes in Gregorian Calendar (based on solar Year). Thus this
year (2020) Prophet's Birthday falls on 30th October.
Eid-e-Milad un-Nabi is different from Eid al
Fitr and Eid al Adha. Eid Al Fitr is celebrating the end of fasting during the
whole month of Ramazan and Eid al Azha is celebrated to honour the willingness
of Hazrat Ibrahim to sacrifice his son
Hazrat Ismael as an act of obedience to
God's command.
On the occasion of Eid e Milad un Nabi, large
meetings are organized where the Sirah (the life of the Prophet) is revisited
and Islamic Scholars remind the Ummah (Community) about the teachings of the
Prophet for their benefit in this world and hereafter. These meetings,
popularly known as Milad or Mahfil e Milad continue with small
gatherings throughout the month of Rabi ul Awwal.
In view of the fact that presently Muslims of
India lag behind in Education (knowledge), main cause of their sufferings, it
is high time that Muslim Scholars should exhort Muslims to acquire knowledge as
directed by the Prophet. Knowledge (Arabic - Ilm, singular; Uloom - plural) and
intellectual weakness is the main cause for the decadence of Muslims in India
and, therefore, only acquisition of Knowledge can solve existing problems of
Indian Muslims.
There are a large number of Prophetic
Traditions (Sayings) that encourage Muslims to acquire all types of knowledge
from any corner of the world. The Hadith literature (Sayings of the Prophet) is
also full of references to the value of knowledge. Some such sayings of the
Prophet are as follows:
"Seeking knowledge is obligatory for every
Muslim (men or women)"
'Knowledgeable man is more formidable against
the Satan'"
"Seek knowledge though it may be as far as
China"
"The ink of the Scholar (Knowledgeable
person)is more holy than the blood of the martyr."
"If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge,
Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will
lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge"
"Whoever takes a path upon which to obtain
knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him.
"The superiority of the learned man over
the devout is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the
rest of the stars".
"O Allah, I ask Thee for Beneficial
Knowledge, acceptable action, and good provision"
"Wisdom is the lost property of a Muslim;
hence collect it from whoever you find it with"
"An hour's contemplation and study of
Allah's creation is better than a year
of prayers.''
"Knowledge from which no benefit is
derived is like a treasure out of which nothing is spent in the cause of
God."
"Acquire knowledge and impart it to the
people." -
'The best thing that a man can leave behind is
knowledge which is acted upon after his death.'
"Give freedom to the prisoner (of war) if
he teaches four Muslims to read and write" (Order of Prophet during early
period of Islam)
The only
legacy of the scholars is knowledge, so whoever takes from it, then he has
indeed taken the most able share.
"Who goes seeking knowledge, then he is in
Allah's cause until he returns."
"When a person dies, his deeds are cut off
except for three: Continuing charity (Sadaqa), knowledge that others benefited
from (Urdu- Ilm Nafe), and a righteous son who supplicates for him."
"The best of charity is when Muslim man
gains knowledge, then he teaches it to his brothers (others)."
These Prophetic Sayings (Traditions) echoed
throughout the history of Islam and encouraged Muslims to seek knowledge. For a
believer, life should be a
"learning journey from cradle to grave". Muslims prospered for almost
ten centuries because they followed these injunctions. The rise of Muslims to
the zenith of civilization was due to their thirst of worldly knowledge. Their decline started when they considered
religious knowledge as the only obligation for them and then abandoned the path
of modernization. Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi, well known Islamic Scholar of
twentieth Century, in his book on the conflict between Islam and the West,
rightly observed "Humanity greatly suffered because of severing the ties
of Knowledge (Science) with religion and this separation has caused great harm
to Islamic Society."
Now the
best way of celebrating Prophet Birthday ( Milad un Nabi) is to appeal to
Muslims to acquire knowledge with electric speed for the resolution of all
their problems. Eid Milad un Nabi
(Prophet’s Birthday) is best occasion for Muslims to "Say to
Allah":" Oh My Lord! Increase
me in knowledge.'" (Qur'an, Sura 20, Verse 115)
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Dr. M.I.H. Farooqi (Dr. Mohammed
Iqtedar Husain Farooqi) Is An Eminent Scientist Who Has Done Commendable
Researches On Plant Products Of Commercial And Medicinal Value. He Retired As A
Deputy Director (Scientist F ), National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow,
A Premier Institute Of India Dealing In Plant Sciences.
New
Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism