Is It Allowed To Celebrate The Mawlid Of Sayyida Zaynab?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

Is it permissible to attend the annual Mawlid of Sayyida Zaynab held in Rajab in Cairo?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Summarised Answer

Yes, it is permissible to attend the Mawlid of Sayyida Zaynab (Allah be pleased with her), provided that no unlawful actions occur, and no un-Islamic beliefs are attached to the celebration. As with the general ruling on Mawlid gatherings, if the event involves the remembrance of Allah, praise of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and reflection on the lives of the righteous without violating Sacred Law, then it is not only permissible but potentially praiseworthy, within limits, and Allah knows best.

Context and Detail

Celebrating the lives of the righteous, such as Sayyida Zaynab (Allah be pleased with her), can increase love for the Prophet’s family and inspire them with their noble character. When free from actions and beliefs that contradict the Quran and Sunna, such gatherings fall within the wide scope of permissible and commendable cultural expressions in Islam.

However, it remains essential that these events do not involve unlawful conduct, such as prohibited intermixing, unlawful music, or exaggerated claims about the status of the righteous that verge on being unlawful. These may render the gathering impermissible.

Allah Most High says:

“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and transgression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.” [Quran, 5:2]

A Necessary Framework

While such gatherings are generally permissible, it is critical for a believer to prioritise what Allah has made a priority. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said in a hadith qudsi:

“Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I shall be at war with him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the obligations I have imposed on him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask (something) of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it.” [Bukhari]

Accordingly, one must ensure they begin by avoiding all that is unlawful, firmly adhering to the obligatory commands, and then beautifying one’s practice with the Sunna. Once these foundations are in place, additional acts, such as Mawlid gatherings, should be approached as supplementary and framed within the comprehensive balance of this prophetic guidance. Cultural and customary practices must never take precedence over the essentials of the religion.

Conclusion

You may attend the Mawlid of Sayyida Zaynab in Cairo if it is held in accordance with the Sacred Law and free from impermissible elements. Make your intention to seek nearness to Allah through the love of the Prophet’s household, while always keeping your religious priorities aligned with divine guidance.

And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town. He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.