Question
The Masjid in my area celebrates Mawlid every year and does Mawlid Al-Habib every month. Is it still alright to attend the Masjid and just not go to these events? Or should I just go elsewhere?
Answer
There is so harm in attending such a Masjid where innovations take place, while staying away from their innovations and events, due to the generality of the Verse, ‘Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness’ [5:2], and the generality of the Prophet’s Hadith: ‘Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.’ [Muslim 49a]
However, if innovations which reach the level of disbelief are conducted there, it is not permissible to enter this Masjid, let alone perform any act of worship in it. The evidence for this is the Hadith of Maymunah bin Kardam, who said: ‘I went out with my father to see the Hajj performed by the Messenger of Allah. I saw the Messenger of Allah. I fixed my eyes on him. My father came near him while he was riding his she-camel. He had a whip like the whip of scribes. I heard the Bedouin and the people say: ‘The whip, the whip.’ My father came near him and held his foot. She said: ‘He admitted his Prophethood and stood and listened to him.’ He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have made a vow that if a son is born to me, I shall slaughter a number of sheep at the end of Buwanah in the dale of hill.’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Does it contain any idol?’ He said: ‘No.’ Then he said: ‘Fulfil your vow that you have taken for Allah.’ [Abu Dawud 3314; Sahih]