Beating the Duff and taking the day off on the Mawlid occasion

Q 2: People here celebrate the Mawlid (the Prophet’s birthday). Students beat tambourines and elders gather in Masjids (mosques) reciting Qur’an and reading the Sirah (the Prophet’s biography). Is doing so sanctioned by religion? Some governments have officially announced the Mawlid as a paid holiday. Is this sanctioned by religion? Please tell me. The Prophet (peace be upon him) urged us to follow the Sunnah and warned us against committing Bid‘ahs (innovations in religion). Some Muslims neither celebrate this occasion nor go to Masjids on this honorable day. Are they considered to be from Ahl Al-Sunnah (those adhering to the Sunnah)? Or, are they considered to be deniers of the Prophet’s honor? What is the ruling on this issue?

(Part No. 3; Page No. 39) A: Doing so is not from the religion of Islam, but it is a Bid‘ah. Those who do so should be guided and advised that Masjids should be populated with Salah (prayer), studying religion, reciting the Qur’an and other acts prescribed by Shari‘ah (Islamic law) for populating Masjids and filling them with life without specially dedicating any of them for commemorating the Mawlid (the Prophet’s birthday).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.