Tunisians celebrate the Mouled despite fatwas
2008-03-18
Tunisian families will continue to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed in 2008, in spite of numerous calls from religious scholars to end the practice. Some Muslim leaders have called observance of the holiday heresy.
By Jamel Arfaoui for Magharebia in Tunis – 18/03/08
 [Getty Images] Many Tunisian households are preparing to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammed, despite opposition to the tradition from well known Muslim scholars such as Egypt's Youssef al-Qaradawi. |
Preparations are underway in Tunisian households to celebrate the Mouled, or the Prophet Mohammed's birthday, in spite of renewed fatwas aired by many Gulf satellite TV channels specialising in Islamic issues.
Most opponents of the Mouled celebrations base their arguments on fatwas issued by Muslim scholars, such as Egyptian Youssef al-Qaradawi. In an appearance on the Aljazeera programme "Sharia and Life", al-Qaradawi called the Mouled celebration "an act of jahiliya [pre-Islamic ignorance]".
The most prominent fatwas decrying the celebrations were issued by Saudi religious scholars such as General Mufti Abdelaziz Ibn Baaz and Ibn Alothaimeen, the latter going so far as to say that marking the national day should be forbidden in the Kingdom.
Despite the modern controversy, the holiday has enjoyed a long tradition. According to historians, the Fatimids were the first people to celebrate the Mouled, carrying the practice to the Maghreb when they ruled the region in 1102.
Professor Iqbal Gharbi of the Tunisian Faculty of Shariah strongly criticised the call to forbid the celebration. Speaking with Magharebia, she described the people responsible for the fatwas as "enemies of joy".
The professor accused them of "creating the culture of death that denies happiness and joy and kills the instincts of life", saying they "try to cause an intellectual and doctrinal break between society and its psychological and cultural heritage, habits and customs."
For Gharbi, the Mouled celebration is an "important opportunity for the people to come together to hear about the life of Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon Him; to listen to praise; to give out food; to bolster solidarity and social fabric; and to bring happiness and joy to the hearts of this nation."
Although these celebrations may be a "novelty" never held during the Prophet's life, Gharbi said they are a good novelty. "Not all novelties are aberrances, as the extremists say. In this regard, we have a Prophetic tradition that says, 'He who starts a good practice in Islam and people observe it during and after his time, he will have the same reward as those who observed it and their rewards shall not decrease.'"
The debate among housewives in Tunisia is not whether Mouled celebrations are allowed or forbidden – it concerns instead the type of porridge, or asida, that they will prepare for their families.
There are families who still cling to the traditional flour asida, with butter or oil and sugar added. Others prefer variations of the recipe according to their budgets and desires. Some prepare it in the expensive Turkish way, with zaqouqou (pine cone, or black seeds from the east), or mixed nuts.
Nejiba Wartani told Magharebia that every year she reaches her wit's end. "My husband prefers the traditional asida, while my children prefer the modern version. Therefore, in the end, I cook two types."
Asked about the fatwas condemning the Mouled celebration, she said with astonishment, "Who issued such a fatwa? We have celebrated this occasion for a long time. I saw how my grandmother had been keen on celebrating it. If it had been a forbidden practice, it wouldn't have lasted until now. What is haram is known and clear. I doubt that millions of Muslims can't discern between halal and haram."
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MOHAMED Posted 2008-03-18
Praised be to God Almighty. Whether a human, a Jinn, angel or otherwise... Yes. In heaven as on earth, our master Mohamed, peace be upon him, is merciful to all creatures, as God Almighty said in His holy book. Everyone who celebrates the anniversary of the honourable prophet is blessed with the mercy of God Almighty and the blessings of our master, our beloved leader Mohamed, peace be upon him. He promised happiness in this world and in the afterlife he will win the realm of our master the messenger of God peace be on him... A blessed and happy Eid to all the Muslim nation, the nation of our beloved messenger, may the peace and prayer of God be upon him... Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you... My fellow Muslims, the Mouled (birth of the prophet) peace and prayer be upon him, is one of the greatest celebrations in the whole world and it is the first Eid of Muslims with the birth of our master and beloved Mohamed, peace and prayers of God be upon him. Because, without our master Mohamed, peace be on him, we wouldn’t have distinguished the path of the light of Islam from the path of darkness, ignorance and loss. The honourable Mouled is a mercy to all creatures of God without exception on that day. It is a great day, blessed by God.
Remal Posted 2008-03-19
I discovered Magharebia for the first time today and I would like to congratulate you for the richness and diversity of your articles, especially for our region of the Maghreb. I would just like to add to what the respectable Miss Najoba Wartani said in regards to the traditions of the Maghreb. The phrase truly pleased me: “If this were a prohibited practice, then it would not have lasted until today.” Our tolerance here in religious matters here in the Maghreb is envied. We have joy in our genes. We are the most sociable of people, living well and living respectfully. As for these so-called “ulema” from the Middle East decidedly prohibiting the celebration the Mouled over a dinner with our family or loved ones, they would do better to pay attention to their own problems and complexes. Only God knows how many of them there are. But, frankly, in the end, we don't have the same values! Long live the people of the Maghreb! We are proud of our Islam and our traditions! -Ahcene from Algeria
basraoui Posted 2008-03-19
This is an excellent article because it is anti-obscurantist. But, the article would gain some effectiveness if it were to take account of two minor remarks: first, you are writing “Mohamed” and not “Mahomet”!!!??? Second, put the adjectives “Islamic” and “Islamist” in quotes in your articles, and when you cite obscurantist movements or people who are obscurantists, replace the former with “igramist” or “igramic”, coming from the word igrame for “crime”. This best reflects the reality of things. And, yes, this means saying that a stance must be taken, which, in a case this serious, I think it is both necessary and indispensable to do. Sincerely
إبراهيم Posted 2008-03-19
It is better for these respectable scholars to take care of other issues such as offending the dear prophet and let people celebrate this occasion which is dear to the Islamic nation and the day on which God Almighty announced the good event of the prophet.
nadine Posted 2008-03-19
My children and I are celebrating Mouloud El-Nabaoui like we do every year: I am making dishes that my family will eat. This is not forbidden. Killing poor innocent people is not forbidden. Neither is the celebration of our ancestor’s traditions. Everyone knows that God alone is there to correct the people. Happy holidays everyone! I hope that it will be the same every year for the Muslim people.
محمد Posted 2008-03-19
Even though I am not a scholar, traditions have to be forsaken in front of scholars otherwise we will go astray, because Islam calls for the tradition, except things banned expressly by God. We want a group of scholars whose opinion will be followed in these times. We should be trained to respect present scholars even if their ideas can be wrong in the future or if they were considered so in the past. Doctrine cannot be countered by tradition because it surpasses it. And God alone knows.
emir Posted 2008-03-19
I just have one remark for Remal: you should have said: “these ulema from the Middle Ages” instead of “from the Middle East”. In any case, they both mean the same things; they complete each other, that is!!! May they leave us alone and pay attention to their own ignorance, unemployment, wars and oil. We are a unique people and we do what we like. These orientals can go to Hell! They are soiling our lives with their “fatwas” and their television channels, which incite us to hatred, terrorism and closed-mindedness. We have the joy of living, we are open to the entire world and we love other peoples, and, above all else, we do not have any oil! :O)
Boughmiga Posted 2008-03-19
Fatwas are beginning to interfere in our current religious affairs. They even manage to encourage my work colleague to breastfeed, so that her colleagues no longer consider her a woman, but a wet nurse. Recently, during a gathering following the death of a colleague, I found myself sitting around a big plate of couscous and lamb with two bearded people. One came from a country in the Gulf and the other from Europe. Strangely, the two of them spoke the same language and declared the same attitude towards our local religious festivals. This showed me that North Africa is targeted for its ancestral religious values. Irrevocably, our countries refuse to radicalise our religion, let alone our religious traditions. Desertification, which looks to be turning our reality into a gruesome cemetery, is incompatible with the wisdom of Islam and the Muslims in the Maghreb.
kada Posted 2008-03-20
Blessed Mouloud to all Muslims, especially Algerians. To hell with those who issue banning fatwas.
rachid Posted 2008-03-20
In the name of God most gracious most merciful. Peace and prayer upon the most honourable of all creatures. The worst affliction is that people leave the words of the successors of prophets and apostles behind their backs and deride them. They are fanatics for the opinions of the common people and call for pre-Islamic ignorance. May God rest the soul of the person who said “God says, His apostle said, and you say that my sheikh said so”. Oh clever people things which lead to the Haram (banned) are Haram. It is known that the Mouloud celebration bears many religious mistakes. So beware of contradicting scholars.
Anonymous Posted 2008-03-20
The Sahara issue is considered as a question of ignorance for Moroccans because both peoples are Arab. We wish the independence of the Sahraoui people.
kermal Posted 2008-03-20
If this continues as such, they are definitely going to end up declaring that “life” is illegal one day!!! May God protect us from their excesses.
BEN JEMAA Posted 2008-03-20
Hello, This is my strong reaction to reading your article about Mouled in Tunisia and the Fatwa given out by the so-called “ulema” and “intellectuals” (those were the terms used in your article, although, from my perspective they are very far from this). The tragedy is that this body of Imams or ulema no longer comes from the elite Muslim children and students. That is: those being the most brilliant and having what we would today call the highest IQ and academic potential to go to the most promising universities. Consequently, those people who had the least success in their primary and secondary educations, are the same ones who are oriented towards theological studies. Of course, the Muslim elite of a few decades ago, of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, were very naturally directed towards the study of qualifying what is “right and wrong” in the more elevated areas of medicine, engineering, research and management. In any event, the elite no longer found themselves in the theological currents. This is a serious mistake, the consequences of which we are paying for today. Indeed, we are paying for the consequences of this, because, effectively, their place was taken by the worst of them. These regressive minds, closing in upon themselves with their dogmas, are shooting us down today. They persist in modernising our religions, which would otherwise be so beautiful. What evil is there in celebrating the joy of our prophets’ birth? To whom did Assida do wrong? Why are our children not to evoke the name of God and His Prophet in a joyous air during the family reunion at this culinary tradition of more than a hundred years? Why do they want to deprive us of our nice traditions? It is a shame we have come to this.
العباسي Posted 2008-03-21
God Almighty says “do not put question those things which if declared, might trouble you”. Because things originate with permission, and banning is an exception. It should be with a text from the Qur'an or the Hadith, or the jurisprudence of scholars by deducing religious rules that the the methods are unanimously approved. There are just few like ‘Al Kias’ (comparison) for example. I ask the scholars who issue fatwas banning the celebration of the honourable anniversary of prophet: "is there a text in the Qur'an or in the Hadith banning that or is the ban originating from their personal jurisprudence; if it is so, won’t they enlighten the minds of Muslims with causes and references on which they based their banning fatwas. I ask the respectable scholars to show to Muslims the damages that can be caused to the people who celebrate this great and eternal event because religious rules turn around interests whether or not they exist. I also ask the respectable scholars to consider the condition of Muslims in the issues of their life and the issues of their religion. Allah guides whom He pleases to the right path.
Dalfouze Aziz Posted 2008-03-22
These fatwas just prevent Muslims from giving thanks to God Almighty and, on the same token, from being filled up over and over again with their humanity by giving their prayers and respects to the prophet Sidna Mohammed, his family and his companions for having shown them the right path and having saved their souls. These fatwas are thus complete heresy. It is to give thanks to God that we celebrate the Prophet’s birthday in a sign of recognition. May Mr. Karadoui and all the others refresh their ideas and put them in tune with the evolution of man, who, in celebrating this event, recognises the good which which the Almighty filled them.
عمر ايت داود Posted 2008-03-22
The people of Akinane celebrate the eve of the Mouled of the prophet in the mosque and in the early morning, adults and youngsters on their way to the old school in Taltkmoute which was a place of learning but now it is a place where men and women are mingled.0 There are strange traditions, and it is also visited by people carrying flour, barley, butter, hens and goats to the saint who died along time ago and still receive food and drink while in the tomb.
شوقي Posted 2008-03-24
Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you. We in Tunisia have been celebrating the anniversary of the prophet for nearly one thousand years. We also celebrate Achoura. We love and respect religious scholars. But unfortunately, things become mixed up for some brothers in the Arab Gulf. Not everyone who wears a turban, grows his beard out, sets up a channel and accumulates money is a scholar and learned in religion. Our religion is a religion of ease, not one of difficulty. Our beloved prophet peace and prayer of God upon him and upon his family and all his companions was sent to all human beings and not just the Gulf people.
شعيب Posted 2009-03-01
Fear God, fear God, you are all charmed unknowingly but following whims and traditions as Ibn Al Qayim said. The worst enemy of messengers is traditions. God has dispraised in many verses following whims.
farah Posted 2009-03-02
that's right the mouled is a specially evenement but here in maghreb we don't celebrate the anniversary as a religious evenement ! ! unfortantly,we use a explosifs .. .we must be more educated .
نبيل Posted 2009-03-06
The messenger of God, peace and prayer of God be upon him, said: “Beware of innovated things in religion, as every innovated things is heresy; every heresy is misguidance, and every misguidance drives its author to hell”. My brothers/my sisters: There is nothing such as “good” and “bad” innovation in religion. It was not proved that the messenger of God, peace and prayer be upon him, or anyone of his companions, God bless them, celebrated Mouled (birth of the prophet). So beware of such celebrations.
محمد حبيب Posted 2009-03-06
We are not surprised at those who say that celebrating the honourable Mouled (birth of the prophet) is heresy or illegitimate because they have no taste and no heart. Love for Al Mostafa (the prophet) is in our hearts. As regards their people, I am not surprised by their attitude as they do not know the value of the beloved (prophet). “Oh Lord, pray and bless him”. On the day on which the beloved prophet was born (this story exists in the biography of the prophet), a female slave came running from the house of the prophet to bring good news to her master, Abou Al Hakam (alias Abou Jahl), the uncle of our master the prophet, saying that Abdoullah (father of the prophet) had a baby. Abou Jahl was so happy with this baby to the point that he affranchised this slave? Why did he do this? From his joy for this new-born. However, God endowed him with a grace. He alleviates his punishment every Monday because he was happy for the birth of the messenger beloved by God. My brother believers, our country Tunisia has been celebrating this good tradition for a long time. We say today that celebrations are organised in the prominent Azaitouna mosque, and you know how great this mosque is. Its Imams bless this celebrations and work on observing this good tradition which is built on the love for Al Mostafa, his tradition and biography and of course for his honourable self, peace and prayers of God be upon him. If you love Al Mostafa, you express with your family joy and happiness. Al Mostafa will thus love you. If you are loved by Al Mostafa, God will love you. Therefore, it is our duty to be happy with this great newborn, wear good attires, cook Assida (a pudding), bring joy to our kids. We should not listen to this rubbish of Ouahabbi group which has no heart nor soul.
anissa Posted 2009-03-09
yes, i agree el mouloud should be celebrated.. like it use to be in the past. candels and dishes to eat, keeps the tradition alive. there is no reason why we should stop! now! so happy el'mouloud everyone!! & keep the traditon ALIVE!.
mansour Posted 2009-04-08
we have to keep up with our traditions espetially happy ones din yusr not osr be happy and visit your old relatives
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