September 4, 2025 | Mecca, Saudi Arabia
The Imams of the two holiest mosques in Islam — the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina — have declared that the celebration of Mawlid, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is an innovation without basis in Islam.
Delivering their sermons this week, prominent scholars including Sheikh Al Hudaify and Sheikh Al Khayyat urged Muslims to adhere strictly to the Quran and authentic Sunnah, stressing that neither the Prophet himself nor his companions ever marked the occasion.
They described the practice as a bid’ah (innovation), warning that introducing unauthorized rituals could divert the faithful from the true essence of worship and obedience to Allah’s commandments. According to them, true love for the Prophet should be reflected in following his teachings, living righteously, and performing acts of worship consistently.
The remarks have once again stirred discussions across the Muslim world. While Saudi Arabia and some other nations refrain from observing Mawlid in line with this interpretation, countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, and Nigeria continue to celebrate the Prophet’s birth with prayers, processions, lectures, and charitable programmes.
The latest pronouncement from Mecca and Medina further underscores Saudi Arabia’s conservative stance on religious practice and its insistence on preserving what it regards as the original spirit of Islam.
