Why Muslims observe Eid-e-Miladunnabi
Eid-e-Miladunnabi is a day of both celebration and mourning. On this day, both birth and death anniversaries of Prophet Muhammad are observed
Nigar Sultana
Eid Milad-un-Nabi is a day to remember the teachings and kindness of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the believers regard His birthday out of a desire to show their love and devotion to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It is an important day for the Muslims as they start the day by offering Namaz and take part in other ritualistic customs. The message of peace, love, mercy, sacrifice, human dignity, dialogue, diversity, and coexistence is the most important message taught by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Eid Milad-un- Nabi reminds us this message of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
On Mawlid of the Prophet (SAW), Muslims make gatherings for the hearing of Sira (Life) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and distribute food to people and bring happiness to the Ummah. The basic purpose of celebrating Eid Milad-un-Nabi or gatherings is an effective and efficient means for the calling people to Islam and educates children about the teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Also remind the nation about the Prophet Muhammads (SAW) good character, his way of worshipping, and his way of treating people.
Allah Almighty says in Noble Quran: Say to them: If you love Allah, follow (and love and honor) me, and Allah will love you (Quran, 3:31). From this verse of Holy Quran, we came to know that Allah Almighty asks the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to remind his nation that it is essential for those who claim to love Allah, to love His Prophet (SAW). We should send Durood in excess on Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
May Almighty Allah guide us to follow the right path and Sunnah of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)! Ameen
It is not just for Muslims all over the world to remember the legacy of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and center on hearing sermons about him in mosques or distributing sweets and alms to the poor. He has been considered to be one of the worlds most influential human beings, who inspired the growth and spread of Islam all over the world. Born in Meccah on 570 AD, he was destined to preach the message of peace for mankind, amidst the pagan-worshipping Arabs who fiercely opposed it initially.
He also passed away on the same day in 632 AD, thus inferring that it is a day for both celebrating and mourning.
Other than spreading the word of Islam all over the world, he was also famous for many innovative decisions which historians give him little credit for. He championed the movement that gave women protective rights and respect in a culture that treated them as inferior.
The Sunnah represents actions and sayings of Muhammad (preserved in reports known as Hadith), and covers a broad array of activities and beliefs ranging from religious rituals, personal hygiene, burial of the dead to the mystical questions involving the love between humans and God.
The Sunnah is considered a model of emulation for pious Muslims and has to a great degree influenced the Muslim culture. The greeting that Muhammad taught Muslims to offer each other, may peace be upon you (Arabic: as-salamu `alaykum) is used by Muslims throughout the world. Many details of major Islamic rituals such as daily prayers, the fasting and the annual pilgrimage are only found in the Sunnah and not the Quran. Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi is a day of both celebration and mourning. On this day, both birth and death anniversaries of Prophet Muhammad are observed.
However, Eid-e-Milad should not be confused with the other two Eids- Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, Muslims celebrate.
It is a day to remember the teachings and kindness of the holy Prophet and the followers observe his birthday out of a desire to show their love and reverence of the Prophet.
Different sects of Islam observe or celebrate the Prophets birth on different dates of the month.
Also, there are some differences within Islamic sects as to whether the Eid-E-Milad should be observed or not. While mostly all the sects approve of the festival, few sects like that of Wahhabi and Ahmadiyya oppose it.
The Muslims also recite Naat-Shareef (Exalted Poetry) and sing hymns in praise of the Prophet Muhammad. Eid-e-Milad is also called Maulid or Mawlid, since naat and hyms are sung in praise of the Prophet.
The Milad is celebrated in Rabi-al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar.
By the late 11th century veneration of the Prophet had begun to assume a visible form in different parts of the by-now burgeoning Islamic world. Celebrations of maulid, the day of birth of the Prophet, on 12th Rabi ul-awwal, the third month of the Muslim lunar calendar, had begun to make an appearance. Piety increasingly began to take the form of poetry and song. Love for Hazrat Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam, began to be expressed beautifully and eloquently in the poetry of the many languages of the Islamic world. The tradition continues - the day of the Prophets birth is still celebrated. From the eastern end of the Muslim world to the western the maulid is a wonderful occasion for the pious to show their warm love of the Prophet in songs, poems and prayers. And hand-in-hand with the maulid has grown an entire poetic tradition - one that flies. in the face of an orthodox view that considers all such celebrations as bid at or a misguided form of innovation.
The number of poems written for this festive occasion in different languages is beyond reckoning. Using local idiom and metaphor, they express a deep, trusting love for the Beloved of God whose life and sayings, as exemplified in the Hadith, influence the lives of Believers in more ways than can be counted. While an unshakeable love for the Prophet is the strongest binding force among Muslims, its expression in song - often using the language of conventional love poetry and the idiom of the ghazal and the geet - is frowned upon by some. Others believe that since 12th Rabiul-awwal is not only the day of the Prophets birth but also considered to be the day of his death, such celebrations are inappropriate. Still others are uncomfortable with this almost mystical veneration of the Prophet that seems not in keeping with the essential spirit of Islam. Many point out, quite rightly, that the cornerstone of Islam is the Word of God, not the person of His Messenger.
And yet, love and hope and trust in Muhammad the Messenger of Allah continues to find expression in poetry. Annemarie Schimmel in her seminal book And Muhammad is His Messenger traces the origins of poetry in honour of the Prophet. She writes:
It seems that the tendency to celebrate the memory of Muhammads birthday on a larger and more festive scale emerged first in Egypt during the Fatimid Era (969-1171). This is logical, for the Fatimids claim to be the Prophets descendants through his daughter Fatima... It was apparently an occasion in which mainly scholars and the religious establishment participated. They listened to sermons, and sweets, particularly honey, the Prophets favorite, were distributed; the poor received alms.
Always a public holiday in Bangladesh, the government - as well as various religious, socio-political and cultural organisations - chalk out programmes in the capital and elsewhere in the country marking the day.
Different Islamic organisations take out peaceful processions carrying banners inscribed with Kalema Taiyeba in the capital Dhaka as elsewhere across the country and arrange competitions on Quran recitation and exhibitions of religious books. Islamic Foundation Bangladesh make it a point to organise various programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
The writer is a freelancer
