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The word Milad has its origin in the Arabic word mawlid. It is also known as Mawlid, Mawlid un Nabi Sharif or Eid Milad un Nabi. Primitively, Mawlid means the time, date or place of birth, or the celebration of the birthday of a person and especially used emphasis the birth of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Milad un Nabi is observed on the 12th Rabi al-Awwal to celebrate the date of birth of the Prophet.
Any thing or event related to Prophet’s life, his teachings and sacrifices is considered sacred in Islam. Like Mawlidun-Nabi, the house where the Prophet was born in today’s Suk al-Lail is considered to be a sacred site. It was not given much importance in the early days of Islam. When the mother of Khalifa Harunur Rashid, Khaizuran, converted the house into a place of prayer in the 2nd century of the Hegira calendar. Followers of the religion used to go to this place of the Prophet’s birth and showed their devotion.
The written accounts of celebrations of the birth of Prophet Muhammad and day to be considered as sacred began very late. The first such mention is by Ibn Djubair, who has presented that the birthday of the Prophet used to be celebrated as a festival which was different from all other festivals observed at the household level at the time. The important aspect of the festival was an increase in the number of worshipers to the Mawlid or the Prophet’s house where the Milad took place, and it was opened the whole day for this purpose.
With new customs, the day began to be celebrated in different ways in different Muslim countries. There are evidences that suggest that Mawlid was celebrated in Egypt in the last few years of the Fatimid rule. But on the consensus of many Muslim writers, it is believed that festival was first introduced by al-Malik Abu Sayyid Muzaffarud-Din Kokburi. The first formal mention of celebration of the festival is on 12 Rabiul Awwal of 604 Hegira (1207 AD) in Iraq, at a place named Arbela near Mussel. During the reign of Gazi Salah-ud-din, which is marked with the start of a political and religious movement called Saljuk, Mawlid was again introduced in Egypt.
Milad un Nabi Celebrations
The events associated with the life of the Prophet and his preaching are discussed on the occasion of Eid Milad. Different verses of the Holy Quran and na’ats are also recited. It is believed that the festival reached its height in the 8th and 9th centuries but there were various controversies associated with it. By the 12th century, many more countries including Syria, Turkey, Morocco, and Spain also joined the wagon an took to celebrating Milad un Nabi.
And soon the Sunni Muslims also started celebrating the festival. The history clearly shows how the Eid-e-Milad celebration has undergone a gradual transformation. Still, there are a few countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar where Eid-e-Milad is not celebrated.
How is it celebrated?
The rationale behind this is that the holy Quran does not mention anything about celebrating any other day besides Eid ul Adha and Eid ul Fitr. Yet historically, and even today, Milad un Nabi or Mawlid is celebrated in many countries around the world and is celebrated by listening to the Prophet’s teachings, praying, and singing praises of the revered soul.
In the year 2021, Mawlid is falling on the 19th of October. Each year, the date for Milad un Nabi or 12 Rabi Awwal is different as the Islamic months follow a lunar calendar. Like every year, it will be a day full of religious congregations in mosques and prayers of praises.
