Shaytan cried at the birth of the Prophet

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

There does not seem to be any authentic Prophetic Hadith asserting that Shaytan cried at the birth of the Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, it is not permitted make such assertions. Those people making this claim must be asked to provide authentic Prophetic Hadith references from original sources. If they are unable then they must repent for speaking about the unseen without evidence.

Explanation

وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْتَبِي مِنْ رُسُلِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَإِنْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَلَكُمْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

And Allah does not reveal the unseen to you, rather Allah selects from his Messengers whomsoever he wills. And if you believe and have Taqwa (piety) then you will have abundant reward. (Surah Ali Imran, 179).

Anyone claiming that Shaytan cried at the birth of the Prophet ﷺ is making a claim regarding the unseen (Ghayb). Such claims can only be made if they are supported by Quran or Sunnah. Since knowledge of the unseen is with Allah (Most High) and He gives that knowledge to Prophets. No Shaykh or scholar can claim knowledge of the unseen (Ghayb).

Imam Ibn Katheer

Imam Ibn Katheer did not assert that Shaytan cried at the birth of the Prophet ﷺ. Rather he narrated it. And he referenced it to Imam al-Suhayli (581H). Anyone familiar with the works of Imam Ibn Katheer will immediately recognise that he is not affirming the narration. Rather he is conveying it.

حَكَى السُّهَيْلِيُّ عَنْ تَفْسِيرِ بَقِيِّ بْنِ مَخْلَدٍ الْحَافِظِ: أَنَّ إِبْلِيسَ رَنَّ أَرْبَعَ رَنَّاتٍ; حِينَ لُعِنَ، وَحِينَ أُهْبِطَ، وَحِينَ وُلِدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَحِينَ أُنْزِلَتِ الْفَاتِحَةُ. (البداية والنهاية)

Al-Suhayli narrated from the Tafseer of Baqi bin Makhlad al-Hafiz: Iblis cried four cries. When he was cursed, when he was sent down, when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was born, and when Surat al-Fatihah was revealed. (Imam Ibn Katheer 774H, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihaayah).

A better narration

Imam Ibn Katheer also narrated something similar in the same book (al-Bidayah wa al-Nihaayah). This time he narrated with a chain of narrators (Sanad). So it is immediately more credible than the above narration as it has no Sanad.

Importantly this other narration does not mention the birth of the blessed Prophet ﷺ. Rather it mentions Shaytan crying out at the beginning of the mission of the Prophet ﷺ (Bi’thah). This further undermines the already discredited claim that Imam Ibn Katheer asserted that Shaytan cried at the birth of the Prophet ﷺ.

وروى أبو الديبع عن جرير بن عبد الحسيب عن منصور عن مجاهد قال رن إبليس أَرْبَعَ رَنَّاتٍ، حِينَ لُعِنَ، وَحِينَ أُهْبِطَ، وَحِينَ بعث النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وحين أنزلت (الحمد لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ) [الفاتحة: 2] وأنزلت بالمدينة. (البداية والنهاية)

Abu al-Dayba’ narrated from Jarir bin Abd al-Hasib from Mansur from Mujahid, who said: Iblis cried four cries. When he was cursed, when he was sent down, when the Prophet ﷺ was sent, and when All Praise is for Allah Lord of the Worlds (Surah al-Fatihah, 2) was revealed. And it was revealed in Madinah. (Imam Ibn Katheer 774H, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihaayah).

Ilm al-Ghayb

Imam Mujahid saying that Shaytan cried at the Bi’thah of the Prophet ﷺ is more credible than the narration that he cried at the birth of the Prophet ﷺ. However, it is still flawed. Firstly, because it must be traced back to a book of narration (Riwayah) and the chain must be scrutinised for authenticity. And more importantly because Imam Mujahid does not have the right to speak about the unseen (Ghayb).

As we see from the Holy Verse above, only Messengers are given knowledge of the unseen. For a Tabi like Imam Mujahid to speak about the unseen is unacceptable unless he links it to Quran or Sunnah.

وقد أكذب الشرع من ادعى علم الغيب (إِكمَالُ المُعْلِمِ بفَوَائِدِ مُسْلِم)

Whoever claims knowledge of the unseen has rejected the Sharia. (Qadi Iyaad 544H, Sharh Muslim Vol. 7, p153).

As for Sahabah, we are often willing to assume they heard from the blessed Prophet ﷺ when they speak about the unseen. However, this is a detailed matter and should be studied thoroughly to comprehend its complexity.

Narrations from Sahabah

Sayidina Ibn Abbas and Sayidina Abu Hurayrah both narrated the crying of Shaytan. But neither of them narrated that he cried at the birth of the Prophet ﷺ. As for Sayidina Ibn Abbas he linked it to Fath Makkah. And Sayidina Abu Hurayrah connected it to the revelation of Surah al-Fatihah.

Although these narrations do not negate other occasions where Shaytan cried out, we do require sound prophetic narrations to confirm such occurrences. So, the people making such claims must reference back to original books of Riwayah and establish authenticity. Some of the people making such claims are seen as people of knowledge, so they should be aware of this already and find no difficulty therein.

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: لَمَّا افْتَتَحَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَكَّةَ رَنَّ إِبْلِيسُ رَنَّةً اجْتَمَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ جُنُودُهُ، فَقَالَ: ايْئَسُوا أَنْ نُرِيدَ أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَى الشِّرْكِ بَعْدَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا، وَلَكِنِ افْتُنُوهُمْ فِي دِينِهِمْ، وَأَفْشُوا فِيهِمُ النَّوْحَ

(Sayidina) Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them both) said: When the Prophet ﷺ conquered Mecca, Iblis cried out, and his soldiers gathered around him. He said: Despair of ever wanting to force the nation of Muhammad to be upon polytheism after this day of yours. Rather, tempt them in their religion and spread wailing among them. (Tabarani, al-Mujam al-Kabeer, 12318).  

رَوَاهُ الطَّبَرَانِيُّ فِي الْكَبِيرِ، وَرِجَالُهُ مُوَثَّقُونَ. (مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد)

Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Kabeer, and its narrators are trustworthy. (Imam Noorud-deen al-Haythami 807H, Majma al-Zawaid).

 

عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ إِبْلِيسَ رَنَّ حِينَ أُنْزِلَتْ فَاتِحَةُ الْكِتَابِ، وَأُنْزِلَتْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ

Mujahid narrated from Abu Hurairah: Iblis cried out when the ‘Opening of the Book’ (al-Fatihah) was revealed. And it was revealed in Madinah. (Tabarani, al-Mujam al-Awsat, 4788). 

رَوَاهُ الطَّبَرَانِيُّ فِي الْأَوْسَطِ شَبِيهَ الْمَرْفُوعِ، وَرِجَالُهُ رِجَالُ الصَّحِيحِ. (مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد)

Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Awsat. It is similar to a Marfu narration. The chain of transmission is the same as that of al-Sahih. (Imam Noorud-deen al-Haythami 807H, Majma al-Zawaid).

Sectarian extremism

In our time, many of the people promoting the narration that Shaytan cried at the birth of the Prophet ﷺ are doing so in a sectarian context. They use it to attack those groups of Muslims who do not celebrate the Mawlid. These sectarian people accuse other Muslims of emulating the devil and following him. Which would make them extremely misguided or even disbelievers.

Such sectarian fanatics do not realise that celebrating the Mawlid is permissible or recommended. It is not a religious obligation. How can they accuse someone of extreme misguidance or disbelief for refraining from such an action. Especially since it was not practiced in its current form in the earliest Islamic period.

Conclusion

It is shocking to see that many of the people who are most dedicated to celebrating the Mawlid are also the most reckless with Hadith narrations. And with restricting knowledge of the unseen (Ghayb) to Allah (Most High) and His Messengers (peace be upon them all). This is thoroughly counterintuitive. They are focussing upon the recommended and neglecting fundamental obligations.

There does not seem to be any authentic Prophetic Hadith asserting that Shaytan cried at the birth of the Prophet ﷺ. Yet these sectarian people are promoting it as a matter of fact. Since they have no concern regarding the promotion of dubious narrations, their congregations must question them. That is a true expression of love for the Prophet ﷺ.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (05.10.25)