Imam Mahdi's Birthday, Portraits, (AS), and Behaarul Anwaar / Mustadrak Alwasaa'il?

Question

Salam brothers and sisters, I had a quick question for you guys if someone can explain it to me? This is for Shiis by the way! So, I know yesterday was the 15th of Sha'baan and the birthday of Imam Mahdi. May I ask why you celebrate his birthday? From what I know, the prophet never celebrated his birthday, in fact he discouraged it. He also forbade anyone to make portraits of him because people might worship him or make idolatry. My question is, why is Imam Mahdi's birthday celebrated? And I guess that leads me to asking another question, why are there portraits of Ali, Hassan, and Husain?

Some of my friends hang it on their wall at home and I, no offense, find it wrong because first, it's a picture and it's forbidden to draw portraits and what not, unless it's different in your perspective. From what some of them explain to me, it's wrong to do that but some people just do it like how some people take pictures, so is that the case?

Basically two questions, the birthday and the portrait issue if someone can fill me in on it.

Oh, one more thing! Regarding the adding of (as) Alaihi Assalaam at the end of their names? Why is that added that after the names? Traditionally it was added only after the names of the prophets and (ra) Radhiya Allahu 'Anhu / 'Anha after the companions of the prophet. Is it different in your traditions or is this something that was added on later?

And if anyone else knows, when was Behaarul Anwaar and Mustadrak Alwassa'il compiled? I have them in my living room but I'm too lazy to move now if someone would like to add on to this as well :) Which is more highly regarded than the other? For an example, Bukhari then Muslim for Sunnis.

Sorry about that, I ask lots of questions. Thank you and may the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you all.

Answer 1

i was going to answer the question sister but the answer of  (shiite muslim)  shocked me WOW  WOW WOW now Ali(RA) is higher than Isa(PBUH)

Ali(ra) is higher than a Prophet that Allah choose him !!

astaghfirullah !

this is the shias !

are they Muslims ?

is this Islam ?

i don't think so !

Answer 2

First of all the commemoration of the birthday of the Prophet (saw) is common amongst both sunnis and shias.

Secondly, the reason we commemorate the birth and martydom of the prophet (saw) and his ahlulbayt (as) is in order to honor them.  Furthermore it is an oppurtunity for us to gain nearness to Allah (swt) by remembering Him in our gatherings and by meeting and greeting our fellow bretheren.

Allah (swt) says in the Holy Quran referring to the Prophet (saw):

"Then those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him: they are the successful." (7:157)

Islam is a religion that encourages the commemoration of history and the remembarance of those close to Allah (swt).  For example the Quran repeatedly commands us to travel the world and study the lives of those who came before us:

"Say: "Travel through the earth and see what was the end of those before (you): Most of them worshipped others besides Allah."" (30:42)

Additionally, every Friday is considered an Eid for muslims and a day of celebration.

"O you who believe! when the call is made for prayer on Friday, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trading; that is better for you, if you know.

And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper."

As you can see we are encouraged to celebrate the praises of Allah (swt).  These commeorations are nothing other than honoring the greatest signs of Allah (swt) and engaging in His remembarace.

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As far as your question about portraits, the images are just supposed to be a symbolic representation of these individuals and our scholars forbid us from considering them to be their actual faces.  Either way majority of scholars do not encourage such portraits to my knowledge.

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Bihar ul Anwar is only a collection of hadiths by Allamah Majlisi.  He himself states in the introduction of the book that he merely wanted to preserve all the hadith that were out there and that they should be studied according to the standards of Ilm al Rijal which would determine their authenticity.

His intention was only to preserve and left the determining of authenticity of each hadith on a case by case basis based on the science of hadith.

To be honest I dont have much knowledge on mustadrak al wasail but can find out from someone who would.

Answer 3

Islam is a religion which does not promote celebrating the birth days of pious personalities.

if this would be any importance,prophet would have celebrated the birthdate of Prophts b4 him or atleast he would have ask muslims to celebrate his birtdate or

death anniversary.

Abu Bakr ,Umar Or Ali(ra) should have celebrated the birthdate of Prophet.

So there is no such thing in islam Like birthdates or death Anniversary

Answer 4

Your second Answer.

And at last i want your answer also.

Imam Ali (as) Was born in Kabba.

And when BIbi mariam came to kabba to give birth to hazrat Isa(as) Why she heard a sound that saying here is not maternity And when fatima bint asad came and the kabba wall breaks and she gives moula Ali (as) birth.

So who is better Ali Or ISa(as)

Although Isa was A Prophet Why bibi maryam heard the sound?

And

[Al-Imam Al-Mehdi (AS) was born on Friday, 15th of Sha'ban, 255 AH (1174 years ago) Was Prophet Alive On that date 255ah To celebrate his grand son's birthday ?

And imam mahdi is not Holy Prophet (saww) son He is his grand son.

He is son of  imam hassan al askary (as)

Answer 5

i would just like to know!!!

How they know it was his birthday?

Answer 6

Please answer my question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 7

mahdi,is a myth found in hadith books  

Answer 8

Rumaitha how could the Prophet celebrate His (Imam Mahdi's) birthday when He wasn't even born back then at the time of Prophet or ru talkin about the Prophet Himself? And you know how we celebrate the birth anniversaries of our Imams i.e by reading Qur'an, doing lectures, reading namaz and other ibaadats and praises to the Almighty Allah. Im more than positive that these r allowed in Islam, and yes, not to forget, also sending durood to Muhammad and Aal-e-Muhammad as well, which is MANDATORY upon every believing Muslim man and woman, to send the salawat not only on the Prophet (saww) but on the Ahlebait (as) as well.

And second, it's ok to draw portraits as long as they show respect and dignity.

And (as) means May Peace and Blessings be upon you, and what's wrong with sending blessings to someone? Honestly, i don't see no disturbances or any room for clarification here. It's simply and straight forward and it's NOT biddah!

Answer 9

Do they know its haram to make up things about Islam?

Answer 10

celebrating birthdays was never discouraged and only bcoz prophet didnt celebrate his birthday doesnt mean its wrong to...celebrating birthdays can make us remember our responsibilities against our religion....

abt portraits u r right...its something wrong if anybody does that...they shudnt keep it and in Iran its forbidden...

abt (AS) they r not companions to have (Ra)...the r imams and have the position of prophets...so the shud have (AS)

peace

Edit:@Salman:lol...what a question!how do u know when eide mab'ath is?or when prophet's birthday is?its called history i think...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Edit:no dear...having a high position,being a leader,being infallible etc doesnt make anyone a prophet...what makes a person a prophet is straight VAHY of Allah...the vahy that calls u a prophet...some ppl had vahy like Maryam(sa) but Allah didnt call them his messenger...and some ppl have the responsibilities without having any vahy from Allah....Imams(as) r leaders God chose but they dont recieve vahy so they r not prophets....

celebrating birthdays is not part of religion...is not still sth bad...I told u...bcoz prophet didnt do sth it doesnt mean its bad...there r manythings prophet didnt do in his time but we do in our time and r not sth bad...many manythings....

@Salman:we have history of our imams in our books and even some of ur history books as well.and thats enough for us...