al-Radd al-Qawi ala al-Rifai wa al-Majhul wa Ibn Alawi wa Bayan Akhtaihim fi al-Mawlid al-Nabawi
- Author died
- 1413 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Liwā’ lil-Nashr wa-al-Tawzī‘
al-Radd al-Qawi ala al-Rifai wa al-Majhul wa Ibn Alawi wa Bayan Akhtaihim fi al-Mawlid al-Nabawi (The Strong Refutation of al-Rifa'i, the Anonymous Writer, and Ibn 'Alawi, and Clarification of Their Errors Regarding the Prophet's Birthday) is a polemical book written by the Saudi Hanbali scholar Hammud ibn Abdullah al-Tuwayjiri (d. 1413 AH / 1992 CE) to argue against the permissibility of celebrating the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid) and to address related legal and social questions .
Background and Composition
The primary impetus for the work was an article written by Yusuf ibn Hashim al-Rifa'i and published in the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Siyasah across two issues—issue 4859 on 12 Rabi' al-Awwal 1402 AH and issue 4870 on 23 Rabi' al-Awwal 1402 AH . Al-Rifa'i's article criticized a fatwa by Shaykh Abd al-Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz that prohibited observing the Mawlid, while also arguing against those who prohibited women from driving cars . In addition to addressing al-Rifa'i, al-Tuwayjiri expanded his treatise to refute an unnamed author ("the anonymous writer") and Muhammad ibn Alawi al-Maliki, directly critiquing arguments from al-Maliki's book al-Dhakha'ir al-Muhammadiyyah (The Muhammadan Treasures) .
Al-Tuwayjiri finished drafting the book on Wednesday, 13 Jumada al-Akhirah 1402 AH, and completed writing the final manuscript copy on the night of Wednesday, 22 Shawwal 1402 AH .
Structure and Content
The treatise is organized around two main subjects: the theological and legal ruling on celebrating the Prophet's birthday, and contemporary social questions raised in al-Rifa'i's article .
In the section concerning the Mawlid, al-Tuwayjiri maintains that the celebration is an unlawful religious innovation (bid'ah) that was first introduced near the end of the sixth century or the beginning of the seventh century AH by the ruler of Irbil . He presents evidence from the Quran and hadith prohibiting innovations in religious matters, rejecting the notion of a "good innovation" (bid'ah hasanah) in ritual worship . He also critiques specific customs observed during Mawlid gatherings, including the practice of standing up when the birth of the Prophet is recounted, the use of musical instruments, singing, and the mixing of men and women .
The second part of the book addresses al-Rifa'i's claims regarding women driving cars and the employment of non-Muslims . Al-Tuwayjiri refutes al-Rifa'i's assertion that the legal principle of "blocking the means to harm" (sadd al-dhara'i') is outdated for these matters, citing discussions on the foundational importance of the principle from the works of Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah and Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi .
Publication
The work was published in a single volume consisting of 267 pages by Dar al-Liwa in Riyadh in 1403 AH / 1983 CE .
Answer updated