Mawlid al-Nabi

Mawlid or Mawlid al-Nabi al-Sharif "Birth of the Prophet", is the observance of the birthday of Islamic prophet Muhammad which is commemorated in Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. 12th Rabi' al-awwal is the accepted date among most of the Sunni scholars, while Shi'a scholars regard 17th Rabi' al-awwal as the accepted date.

The history of this celebration goes back to the early days of Islam when some of the Tabi‘un began to hold sessions in which poetry and songs composed to honour Muhammad were recited and sung to the crowds. The Ottomans declared it an official holiday in 1588, known as Mevlid Kandil. The term Mawlid is also used in some parts of the world, such as Egypt, as a generic term for the birthday celebrations of other historical religious figures such as Sufi saints.

Most denominations of Islam approve of the commemoration of Muhammad's birthday; however, some denominations including Wahhabism/Salafism and Deobandism disapprove its commemoration, considering it an unnecessary religious innovation. Mawlid is recognized as a national holiday in most of the Muslim-majority countries of the world except Saudi Arabia and Qatar which are officially Wahhabi/Salafi.

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Also Called:

Mawlid an-Nabawī, Eid-e-Milad un-Nabi, Havliye, Donba, Gani

Observed By:

Adherents of mainstream Sunni Islam, Shia Islam and various other Islamic denominations

Type: Islamic

Significance:

Traditional commemoration of the birth of Muhammad

Observances:

Hamd, Tasbih, fasting, public processions, Na`at (religious poetry), family and other social gatherings, decoration of streets and homes

Date:

12 Rabi' al-awwal

2018 date: 20 November (Sunni)
25 November (Shia)

Frequency:

Annual/lunar (every 12 lunations)

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