Religious scholars refute the necessity of a procession to observe Maulidur Rasul, the Muslim celebration to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.

"A procession is not strictly necessary to celebrate Maulidur Rasul; it is not even prescribed by religious doctrine," said former Muslim Scholar Association president Ahmad Awang.

However, he added that the "processions during Maulidur Rasul can be practiced by Muslims as long as they do not promote or cause activities which contradict the teachings of Islam."

He pointed out that in the late 70s, a fatwa (religious edict) was issued by the Johor Islamic authorities forbidding processions during Maulidur Rasul.

According to him, the edict was issued because the processions at the time involved men and women mixing freely and were "rubbing shoulders", which is unIslamic.

Ahmad, who is also a member of the PAS consultative council, added that the religious authorities of Kedah, Selangor and the Federal Territories followed suit with the ban, which was later relaxed.

Ex-Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin went a step further to suggest that no religion, not only Islam, should be allowed to conduct processions.

"Nowhere in the religious texts of any religion is there anything which makes it compulsory to use roads for religious rituals or events," he said.

"Roads are created for the easy transport and convenience of users and not for religious processions.

"Using roads for such religious activities would not only disrupt traffic and cause problems for road users, but can also promote disgruntlement among the adherents of the various faiths," added Asri.

However, Penang Gerakan Youth is against the proposal for a blanket ban.

"Many religious faiths require the necessity of processions. The Nine Emperor Gods processions require compulsory processions from the local temples to the sea. During Thaipusam, the procession of the religious chariots, Kavadi-bearers and devotees from the local temples to the main celebration temple is also a religious obligation," said Youth vice-chairperson H'ng Khoon Leng.

Different practises

Ahmad explained that the practice of celebrating Maulidur Rasul came from the need to remind Muslims of the greatness of the Prophet and the religion of Islam, which he has brought to Muslims.

"In the early days of Islam, it was not necessary, Muslims live with the knowledge of the Prophet's greatness, but now Muslims need to be reminded of it," he said.

However, Ahmad cautioned that the celebration is not a holy day as there is nothing in Islamic teachings and scriptures that called for it.

He conceded that some ‘rigid' Islamic scholars view the celebration as "bida'ah", or unnecessary unauthorised addition to Islamic teachings, which should not be practiced.

Perlis, he said, holds this view and does not celebrate the event.

The practice of celebrating Maulidur Rasul, said Ahmad, started in Egypt during the Syiah Fatimiyyah Empire and later emerged in other Sunni states such as Iraq and continued in modern Islamic states including Malaysia.

But the religious scholar said that such practices are permissible as in the Quran there is a passage that said that it is "encouraged for pious Muslims to commemorate events and persons which can promote faith and good deeds."

As for the processions to celebrate Maulidur Rasul, Ahmad said, this was only put into practice during the reign of Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi or Saladin, as he is known in the West.

At the time, he said, Saladin wanted to galvanise the public to portray not only the greatness of the Prophet but also the political strength of Islam especially in the face of the Christian Crusades against the holy lands of Palestine.

As a substitute for the procession, Ahmad said other activities can be held to observe the Prophet's birthday such as religious talks.