NEWS: SHEIKH SHAFI’I SPEAKS ON MAWLID NABBIYY “It has no single authentic evidence in Islam” + Pockets Ogbeni Aregbesola’s Critics by Abdur rasheed Abubakar

As the world prepares to celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), seasoned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dhrikrullah Shafii has reiterated that the celebration has no basis in Islam. Sheikh Shafii did not mince word to tell the world the Islamic perspective on Mawlid Nabbiyy, which has become an annual event amongst some Muslims, particularly in Africa. While speaking at The Muslim Congress (TMC) monthly Adkhar held on Sunday, January 6, 2013 at the Dawah Centre, Oshodi Expressway, Ijesha, Lagos, the Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) maintained that there was no single authentic narration to substantiate the celebration, adding that, “neither did the Prophet himself (SAW), nor the rightly guided caliphs celebrated his birthday. The best three generations that followed theirs didn’t do it.” The earliest account of the observance of mawlid nabiyy can be found in 18th century mecca. Historically, this was the festival the Shia ruling class and the first official public celebrations occurred in Egypt towards the end of the 11th century. Gradually, it spread throughout the muslim world, with the first Sunni Muslim celebration taking place in 12th century in Syria, and exended to other part of the world including Nigeria where the Federal Government declares every 12th of Rabiul Awwal as public holiday. Sheikh Shafii therefore urged Muslims to use this year’s Mawlid Nabiyy public holiday to attend Palestine Solidarity Lecture organised by the Muslim Awareness International (MAI). The event, tagged: Aqsa Day, is scheduled to hold at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. He expressed the great dangers Israel portends to the world peace. (read the cover story for details) While speaking at the well attended monthly Adhkar, the erudite scholar also spoke on the State of the Nation including the recent firework outbreak in Lagos, President Goodluck Jonathan’s move towards self-succession come 2015, also cited the incumbent’s poster that was on circulation in Abuja metropolis and Osun State’s effort to dispel the allegation of turning Osun into Shariah state. He said the hypocritical critics of Ogbeni Aregbesola did not announce to the world when the Governor joined them in celebrating their New Year as he spent the whole night with them in Church, stressing that, “the governor also built and commissioned statue in Ile-Ife and introduction of Ifa into secondary school curriculum.”