Sufi Muslims Celebrate the Birth Anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, As Eid Milad-un-Nabi: Know It’s Significance
By Zarafshan Shiraz
Oct 25,
2020
Muslims
from the Sufi or the Barelvi school of thought celebrate the birth anniversary
of the last Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad, as Eid Milad-un-Nabi or
Eid-e-Milad, which is also called Nabid and Mawlid in colloquial Arabic. The
festival is celebrated by the Sufi and Barelvi sect during Rabi’ al-Awwal, the
third month in the Islamic calendar.
The moon
for the beginning of the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal began in India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other parts of the subcontinent region was sighted on
October 18 this year. As per the gregorian calendar, October 19th was the first
date of Rabi ul Awwal.
Date of Eid-e-Milad 2020:
For the
uninitiated, the Islamic calendar or lunar calendar differs from the Gregorian
calendar on the basis of the crescent moon sighting. Those from the Sunni
community of Muslms, who celebrate Eid-e-Milad, mark it on the 12th day of
Rabi’ al-Awwal whereas the Shia community celebrates it on the 17th of Rabi’
al-Awwal. This year, Eid-e-Milad will be celebrated on October 29 in Saudi
Arabia and on October 30 in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other
parts of the subcontinent region.
History and Significance
The origin
of celebrating Prophet Muhammad’s birthday can be traced back to the early four
Rashidun Caliphs of Islam and the idea of marking this day was first initiated
by the Fatimids. Some Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca
on the twelfth day of Rabi’ al-Awwal in 570 CE.
Though the
word “Mawlid” means to give birth or bear a child in colloquial Arabic, some
also mourn Eid-e-Milad because it is also believed to be the death anniversary
of the Prophet. First celebrated as an official festival in Egypt, the
celebrations of Eid-e-Milad became more popular during the 11th century.
At that
time, only the then ruling tribe of the Shia Muslims in the region could
celebrate the festival instead of the general public. Eid-e-Milad began to be
celebrated by Syria, Morocco, Turkey and Spain only in the 12th century and
soon some Sunni Muslim sects too started celebrating the day.
Celebrations
Since it
began in Egypt, Muslims offering prayers after which the ruling clan gave
speeches and narrated verses from the Holy Quran followed by a large public
feast marked the earlier celebrations. People of the ruling clan were honoured
as they were believed to be Caliphs, which were considered to be
representatives of Muhammad.
Later, as
the practices got modified under heavy Sufi influence, the celebrations were
marked with animal sacrifices, public discourses, night time torchlight
processions and a public banquet. In current times, Muslims wearing new
clothes, offering prayers and exchanging greetings, celebrate Eid-e-Milad.
They get
together at a mosque or at a Dargah and start, their day with a morning prayer
followed by a procession carried out from the mosques to the town and back. Children
are narrated stories of Prophet Muhammad’s life and preachings as mentioned in
the Holy Quran, community meals are organized, donations are made towards the
needy and poor people, friends and family are invited to be a part of the
festivities and social gatherings wherein they have night-long prayers are
held.
With the
ongoing Covid-19 pandemic this year, it is still unclear whether
Juloos-e-Mohammadi, which is the procession taken out on the 12th of Rabi’
al-Awwal to commemorate the Prophet, will take place. Juloos-e-Mohammadi is
scheduled to take place on October 30 this year and a day before the
procession, homes and localities are decorated and lit as a part of Jashan-e-Chiraagan.
Bidaah
Even though
Eid-e-Milad and its traditions are widely followed in India and other
countries, many different sections of the Muslim community believe that the
birthday celebrations of the Prophet has no place in Islamic culture. Since
evidences found in the Holy Quran and Sunnah prove that celebrating any event
other than Eid al-Fitr and Eid-e-Adha is a kind of Bidaah or innovation in
religion, Muslims from Salafi and Wahhabi schools of thought do not mark the
tradition of festivities.
They
believe that the observance of Eid-e-Milad or Mawlid is an innovation or act of
Biddat since it was not even celebrated during the era of Prophet Mohammad
himself and his appointed successors.
Original Headline: Eid-e-Milad 2020 or Rabi ul
Awwal 1442: Know India’s date, significance and celebration of Prophet
Muhammad’s birthday
Source: The Hindustan Times
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/sufi-muslims-celebrate-birth-anniversary/d/123269
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