By Sulaimon Taiwo
What is mawlid al nabi?Why does Muslims celebrate mawlid al nabi?What paved the way for the celebration? To know what mawlid al nabi is we must first understand what mawlid was. Mawlid is an Arabic word that means birth, and al nabi refers to the prophet Muhammad in Islam. Mawlid al nabi signifies the birth anniversary of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
It is celebrated across the world in rabi’al Awwal, the third month of the Muslim lunar calendar .12th rabi’al awwal.Mawlid Al nabi is recognised as a National holiday in most Muslim countries of the world. also, non-Muslim majority countries with large populations recognise it as a public holiday.
During the lifetime of the holy prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) The observance of the prophets, birth has not been officially recorded in early Muslim traditions and it is also believed that prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not intend for his followers to celebrate his birth. But after the death of the holy prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him), Muslim scholars have agreed on its permissibility under sharia (Islamic law) also former Grand mufti of Egypt ALI GOMAA said that commemorating the birth of the prophet is legally based and commonly observed as it is one of the matters which increases the love of our prophet in the heart of people, children and grandchildren.
However, increasing the love of the prophet is an important tenant in Islam. In hadith ( saying of the prophet Muhammad) narrated by his companion Anas ibn Malik, the prophet (peace be upon him) said, none of you will have faith until he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind.Also according to Islamic tradition, animals, trees and even inanimate objects like mountains showed love for prophet Muhammad ( peace be upon him) and he showed for them as well, so increasing our love for his and expressing it is in line with all the nature and connects us to spiritual energy of the cosmos.
This love for the prophet is not undue as Muslims believe that he is the epitome and model of love, mercy, compassion benevolence, generosity, justice and virtue. Indeed, God says about him (we have not sent you but as the mercy to the world ( Q21:107) However in the early Muslim centuries, holding special events to honour prophet Muhammad ( peace be upon him) was common and often included poetry reading, According to historians this is most likely what paved the way for the celebration of the mawlid Al Nabi In celebration of mawlid Al Nabi Some Muslim families gather in their homes to commemorate the event.
Other Muslims choose to decorate their local mosque with light and hold community celebrations. The religious celebration is also celebrated through food sharing, Al Quran and poetry readings. and so for those who celebrate the religious gathering, mawlid Al nabi is a time to remember the founder of their faith and share that happiness and revelation with every other Muslim.
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