As the Prophet Muhammad’s Mawlid approaches, many Muslims ask whether buying traditional Mawlid dolls and sweets to celebrate the Prophet’s birthday is considered Haram or a religious innovation (bid‘ah).

Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta has explained that buying sweets and exchanging them as gifts during the Mawlid is among the customs people use to express happiness on this occasion. According to its explanation, there is no religious prohibition against such practices when they are associated with permissible intentions.

Is Buying a Mawlid Doll Haram?

Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta stated that buying Mawlid sweets and exchanging them as gifts is not Haram and is not considered a blameworthy innovation in itself.

Gift-giving is permissible in principle, and there is no evidence prohibiting it or restricting it to a particular time.

When giving sweets is accompanied by good intentions, such as bringing happiness to family members, maintaining family ties, and expressing joy at the Prophet’s birth, the practice may become recommended.

Therefore, buying Mawlid sweets or giving them to relatives and friends is permissible, according to Dar Al-Ifta’s explanation.

Ruling on Buying and Gifting Mawlid Dolls

Dar Al-Ifta explained that buying sweets and exchanging gifts during the Mawlid is part of customary practices among people.

Gift-giving itself is a permissible practice. When it is intended to bring happiness to family members, strengthen family relationships, or express joy at the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ birth, it can be considered a recommended act.

The traditional Mawlid doll, as a cultural symbol associated with the celebration, should not automatically be considered Haram simply because it was not known during the Prophet’s lifetime, provided that it does not contain anything independently prohibited.

Are Mawlid Sweets a Religious Innovation?

Dar Al-Ifta explained that it is not accurate to claim that everything the Prophet ﷺ did not personally do is automatically a prohibited religious innovation.

Scholars have discussed different definitions of bid‘ah and distinguished between practices that contradict Islamic principles and practices that have a permissible basis.

Accordingly, buying sweets or exchanging gifts does not automatically become a prohibited innovation simply because the practice did not exist in exactly this form during the Prophet’s lifetime.

Dar Al-Ifta: Expressing Joy at the Mawlid

Dar Al-Ifta has stated that commemorating the Prophet’s Mawlid may include gathering for remembrance of Allah, sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, reciting the Quran, giving charity, feeding people, and expressing love and happiness at his birth.

The important consideration is that these activities should remain within the boundaries of Islamic teachings and should not involve prohibited practices.

Ruling on Eating Mawlid Sweets

Eating Mawlid sweets is permissible in principle, because they are ordinary food items and their association with the Mawlid does not make them prohibited.

Families may also share sweets with their children and relatives as a way of bringing happiness to them, provided that there is no prohibited behavior or excessive extravagance involved.

Why Are Mawlid Sweets Popular in Egypt?

Mawlid sweets have become one of the most recognizable Egyptian customs associated with the Prophet’s Mawlid.

Many Egyptian families purchase different types of sweets and exchange them with relatives and friends during the occasion.

The practice is generally connected with family gatherings, maintaining kinship ties, and bringing happiness to children and loved ones. In this context, sweets function as a means of expressing joy, rather than as an independent act of worship.

Ruling on Buying and Gifting Mawlid Sweets

Former Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawki Allam stated that buying Mawlid sweets and exchanging them as gifts is Islamically permissible and can fall under the broader principle of bringing ease and happiness to one’s family on this occasion.

Therefore, there is no inherent prohibition against purchasing or gifting Mawlid sweets as long as the practice remains free of anything contrary to Islamic teachings.

Conclusion

Buying a traditional Mawlid doll or Mawlid sweets and exchanging them as gifts is not inherently Haram or a blameworthy religious innovation, according to the explanation attributed to Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta.

The celebration should remain free from prohibited practices and excessive spending, while emphasizing permissible expressions of joy, family ties, charity, feeding others, and love for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Is buying a Mawlid doll Haram?

No. Buying a traditional Mawlid doll is not inherently Haram, provided it does not contain anything prohibited.

Are Mawlid sweets considered bid‘ah?

Buying, eating, and gifting sweets are customary practices and are not automatically considered prohibited bid‘ah simply because they were not practiced in the same form by earlier generations.

Can Muslims exchange Mawlid sweets as gifts?

Yes. Gift-giving is permissible, and it may be encouraged when intended to strengthen family ties and bring happiness.

Is celebrating the Prophet’s Mawlid permissible?

Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta considers commemorating the Mawlid permissible through practices such as remembrance, charity, feeding people, and expressing love and joy for the Prophet ﷺ.