Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, Imam and Khateeb of Masjid al-Haram, has cautioned Muslims worldwide against innovations in religion, particularly the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday (Mawlid), describing it as a practice with no basis in the Sunnah and one that opens the door to misguidance.
Delivering his Friday sermon titled “A Clarification on the Ruling of Celebrating (Mawlid)” at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Sheikh Sudais stressed that Islam obliges believers to follow the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and forbids introducing matters contrary to the faith.”
Quoting the Qur’an, he said: “O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger.”
He reminded the congregation of the Prophet’s ﷺ warning: “Beware of newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is a bid‘ah, and every bid‘ah is misguidance.”
He added another prophetic tradition: “Whoever lives among you will see many differences, so hold on to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs after me. Hold on to it tightly with your molar teeth. And beware of newly invented matters.”
The imam highlighted that the righteous predecessors strongly cautioned against religious innovations. He cited Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud’s advice: “Follow and do not innovate, for you have been sufficed. Hold fast to the old way, for it is enough for you.” Similarly, Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was quoted as saying: “Every innovation is misguidance, even if people see it as good.”
According to Sheikh Sudais, bid‘ah (innovation) alters the religion, distorts the truth, and replaces authentic practice with fabrications. “It takes root in hearts and spreads among people, weakening their bond with Allah and leading them astray,” he warned.
He emphasized that one of the most widespread innovations today is the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday, which neither the Prophet ﷺ himself, his companions, nor the rightly guided caliphs ever observed.
The sermon further criticized certain practices associated with Mawlid, such as “mixing of genders, extravagance, raising voices with singing and poetry, and using frivolous words.”
Citing Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, Sheikh Sudais said: “If a season is taken as a religious season without basis in the Shariah, like celebrating nights of Rabi‘ al-Awwal which they call ‘the Prophet’s birthday,’ it is an innovation that was never practiced by the pious predecessors. Gathering for the Mawlid contains no religious benefit but rather resembles Christian practices.”
Condemning the modern form of such gatherings, he said: “The truth is that Mawlid celebrations today have become gatherings of dancing, eating, unlawful mixing, and invitations to misguidance. People claim to love the Prophet ﷺ while engaging in innovations he never commanded.”
He clarified that genuine devotion to the Prophet ﷺ lies in obedience to his teachings, not in innovations. “True love of the Prophet ﷺ is not by innovating, but by following his Sunnah. Allah said: ‘Say, if you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.’”
Reiterating his central message, Sheikh Sudais stated: “There is no benefit in innovations; rather, they are misguidance. Whoever calls to them is reviving falsehood and extinguishing the light of the truth. The authentic texts clearly forbid such gatherings, which only open doors of misguidance and ignorance.”
Concluding his sermon, he issued a call to the Muslim Ummah: “Fear Allah regarding yourselves. Abandon these innovations and misguidances. Hold fast to the Sunnah of your Prophet. Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange, so glad tidings to the strangers.”
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