Eid Milad-un-Nabi
Eid Milad-un-Nabi also known as Eid-e-Milad, Nabid, or Mawlid in Arabs is a festival which is mostly observed by the Sufi and Barelvi school of Islamic factions. The festival is celebrated in commemoration of the birthday of prophet Muhammad the last prophet of Islam. This is marked on the twelfth day in the Islamic lunar calendar in the third month known as Rabi’ al-Awwal.
This year, the crescent of the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal 1446 AH was sighted in different countries of the world like Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, UAE, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, September 2024. In India, the crescent moon was observed on 4th September and therefore, 5th September is considered as the first of Rabi’ al-Awwal. Therefore, the 12th day which is the Eid Milad- un- Nabi was observed on 16th September, 2024.
Issues related to the Islamic Lunar Calendar and Celebration Difference
The other calendar mentioned above is the Islamic calendar referred to as lunar calendar since it follows the moon’s phases. It is common for Islamic dates to shift therein, by compared to the Gregorian calendar; so that different years are used in each calendar. The commemoration of Eid Milad-un-Nabi is different among the Muslims where the majority of the Sunni sect observes this occasion on the 12th day of Rabi’ al-Awwal. However, the Shia community celebrates it on the 17th day of the same month of solar calendar.
It is, however, important to note that the early Muslims used to celebrate the Prophets birth date as a part of their rituals as soon as the Rashidun Caliphs were born. It was the Fatimid dynasty that made it official to practice this act traditionally. Originally it was only the ruling Shia Muslim tribe that had the right to perform the festival in the open. However, it was in the 12th century that other areas like Syria, Morocco and Turkey, Spain among others started observing the festival with some sects of Sunni Muslims also participating in the feast.
Why Some Muslims Do Not Celebrate it
To a large extent Eid Milad-un-Nabi is celebrated among some Muslim communities although there are differences as to its celebration. Only some of them do not celebrate this day, there is nothing wrong with this practice Some Muslims do not celebrate this day at all especially those of the later Salafī and Wahhabī movements because they say that it has no grounding in the tradition of the early Islamic period and there is no evidence that the prophet or his companions celebrated the day of his birth. They only adhere to practices that the Shariah or Islamic law permits as contained in the Quran and the Hadith the words and deeds of the Prophet. Nonetheless, those who do celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi have the belief that it is a chance to pay respect to the Prophet and show love and affection to him and also ponder over the teachings of the Prophet.
Celebrations in Europe
As for Europe, Muslim students/communities celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi in many ways as you would come to expect. For example, they give invitation at Mosques and community centers and other places whereIslamic religious leaders give lectures on the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Another feature is recitation of poetry and hymns in reverence of the Prophet that is locally referred to as naat. Youth and students as well participate in processions, charity and distribute foodstuffs among the needy. Some of the universities and student’s organization organize educative programs such as lectures, debates, and an exhibition to educate people about the life of the Prophet and the importance of celebrating this day.
These ceremonies are a reminder of the principles that were introduced by the Prophet Muhammad which include oneness, giving, and the right way. Eid Milad-un-Nabi has remained to this date as a day of happiness, contentment, and congregation irrespective of varying opinion about the celebration.
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