Do You Have to Celebrate Mawlid? What Scholars Say 

It’s a fair question, and the answer is refreshingly simple: no, celebrating Mawlid al-Nabi isn’t obligatory but that’s exactly what makes it so appealing to the huge number of Muslims worldwide who choose to mark it anyway, purely out of love. 

Not Required, But Widely Loved 

Unlike the five daily prayers, fasting in Ramadan, or zakat, no scholar classifies Mawlid as a religious obligation (fard or wajib). What’s striking, though, is how many Muslims across the world choose to celebrate it regardless, not from duty, but from genuine affection for the Prophet ﷺ. That voluntary, joyful embrace is arguably what makes Mawlid so meaningful: it’s a celebration people choose, again and again, year after year, purely because they want to. 

Where Scholars Land 

• Recommended and rewarded: The majority historical position, held by scholars across the Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanafi schools, views formal Mawlid observance as praiseworthy and spiritually beneficial. 

• Permissible: A smaller group sees no explicit prohibition, without actively encouraging it either. 

• Discouraged: A minority, mainly within Salafi scholarship, prefers to avoid formal celebration, favouring seerah study without a dedicated occasion. 

None of these positions treat Mawlid as compulsory but the weight of scholarly opinion leans firmly toward it being not just allowed, but genuinely encouraged. 

Why “Not Obligatory” Doesn’t Mean “Not Worthwhile” 

Plenty of beloved Islamic practices fall outside strict obligation; voluntary charity, extra night prayers, sending abundant salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ, yet Muslims pursue them enthusiastically because of the reward and closeness to Allah they bring. Mawlid fits naturally into this same category: optional, but spiritually rich, and embraced precisely because it isn’t a chore. 

A Season Worth Choosing 

If your family is deciding how to approach Mawlid, it’s worth recognising that choosing to celebrate places you alongside centuries of scholars and communities who saw real value in doing so. Starting with something simple, reading Seerah books for kids together; is a meaningful, low-pressure way to begin. 

Choose to make Mawlid part of your family’s year. Explore our Seerah books for kids and start a tradition that centuries of Muslim families before you have cherished. 

Shaykh Asim Awan

Author

LLB, BA Islamic Scholar, Solicitor & Senior Partner

Graduate of Hijaz College, Maulana Asim completed his LLB at the University of London while he was studying at Hijaz College, attaining an MA Islamic Law and Theology in 2009. He is a qualified solicitor working in Birmingham. He is a Hafiz of the Quran and has been teaching Islamic theology since his graduation. He is also the curriculum convener for the Hijaz Diploma course and a key member of the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal. He is happily married and a father of three beautiful children.