The Prophet’s Birthday, or Milad un Nabi (میلاد النبی:Urdu) as it is commonly known in Muslim culture, is celebrated in most of the Muslim countries and in India as well.
Tuesday,January 14,2014
Eid Milad un Nabi 2013 Mubarak
Mawlid falls in the month of Rabi’ al-awwal in the Islamic calendar. Shias observe the event on the 17th of the month, coinciding with the birth date of their sixth Imam, Ja’far al-Sadiq, while Sunnis observe it on the 12th of the month. As the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar varies each year. Milad un Nabi (Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad) Shia Muslims celebrate this 5 days later. Milad un Nabi (Shia) Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Sunni Muslims celebrate these 5 days earlier.
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Prophet Mohammed, son of Abdul Muttalib, of the Qureysh tribe, was born at Mecca in 570AD. From about 610 AD, he began to receive revelations sent down from Allah through angel Gabriel. He spread the word among people, and soon had a small community of followers. Later Islam became one of the most popular religions of the world. In 632 AD, Prophet Muhammad went on a pilgrimage to Mecca followed by thousands of his devotees, where he preached his farewell sermon and later left the mortal world forever. He is buried in his tomb (which previously was in his wife Aisha’s house), which is housed within Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, is the second holiest mosque in Islam.
The festival mainly commemorates the teachings and beliefs of Prophet Mohammed. During the twelve days, sermons and Koranic texts narrating the life and noble deeds of the Prophet are recited in mosques.
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Ritual celebration of Miladi un-Nabi (میلاد النبی:Urdu):
- On this day, a ‘sandal ‘rite is performed. This is done over the symbolic footprints of the Prophet which is engraved in the stone.
- A representation of ‘buraq’, which is a horse on which the Prophet is believed to have gone to heaven and this is kept near the footprints of the prophet.
- The foot is also smeared with sandal paste or scented powder. The house and casket having all of these are elaborately decorated.
- There are elegies or marsiyas to commemorate the martyrdom and valour of Hussain and his comrades of the Karbala. They are essentially religious.)which are sung in memory of the last days of the Prophet. The twelfth day which is also known as the Urs is observed in prayers and alms-giving quietly. During these days, learned men and scholars in mosques, focus on the life and noble deeds of the Prophet and deliver sermons.
- In many places hymns are sung and elegies or marsiyas are recited in memory of the last days of the Prophet. Acts of charity are also done by devout Muslims and alms are distributed to the poor and the needy. Later, people invite friends and relatives for a feast
Observances:
- The Garebeg festival celebrating Mawlid in Yogyakarta, Java Island, Indonesia Blackburn, UK Under supervision of Shaykh Sufi Riaz Ahmed Naqshbandi Aslami Where Mawlid is celebrated in a carnival manner, large street processions are held and homes or mosques are decorated.
- Charity and food is distributed, and stories about the life of Muhammad are narrated with recitation of poetry by children.
- Scholars and poets celebrate by reciting Qa?ida al-Burda Sharif, the famous poem by 13th century Arabic Sufi Busiri.
- Mawlid is celebrated in most Muslim countries, and in other countries where Muslims have a presence, such as India, Britain, and Canada Saudi Arabia is the only Muslim country where Mawlid is not an official public holiday. Participation in the ritual celebration of popular Islamic holidays is seen as an expression of the Islamic revival. Among non-Muslim countries, India is noted for its Mawlid festivities.
- The relics of Muhammad are displayed after the morning prayers in the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir at the Hazratbal Shrine, on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Other non-Muslim countries noted for its Mawlid festivities are Kenya and Tanzania here it is known as “Maulidi”. In Kenya, the most famous place is the coastal island of Lamu and Malindi. In Tanzania the largest celebrations are on the island of Zanzibar
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