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Mawlid an-Nabī (February 26, 2010)Back to the events list

Birthday of the Prophet - Mawlid an-Nabī (from Arabic, time of birthday) is celebrated on the 12th day of the month Rabi' al-awwal. They started to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad only 300 years after arrival of Islam.

Since the exact date of birth of the Prophet Muhammad is not known, this memorable day was timed to the day of his death which affects the celebration. We need to specify that birthdays in Islam are celebrated in a very modest way, or even not celebrated at all sometimes while the dates of death, meaning birth for eternal life, are celebrated more festively.

Nowadays Mawlid an-Nabī is widely celebrated in Turkey, Syria, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and other Islam countries. It's an official holiday in Pakistan which lasts three days.

Mawlid an-Nabī celebration includes prayers and remembering Allah, glorification of the Prophet, stories expressed in verse and lectures about his life and birth. During Mawlid an-Nabī it's common to express the joy about birth of Mohammed, who Muslims consider the last delegate of God and thank God for that, pray to God, give charity and have righteous conversations with each other.