Eid Milad Un Nabi 2022 will be observed on October 8 or 9, 2022. What is this day, and why is it significant for Muslims? Let’s find out!
Rabi ul Awal is the 3rd month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and it holds a special significance for Muslims as the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was born in this blessed month. While there is disagreement amongst scholars as to the day, most scholars hold that the Prophet Muhammad was born on 12 Rabi ul Awal on Monday 570 CE (Tabaqat Al-Kubra 2/272, Al-Tabari: Tarikh Al-Rusul 2/200 & Ibn Kathir: Al-Bidayah 5/254-6).
The 12th of Rabi ul Awal, also called Mawlid, is therefore celebrated as the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in many parts of the Muslim world. This article discusses the advent of this celebration, its significance in the Muslim world, and how it is celebrated worldwide.
Eid Milad un Nabi History & Significance
According to Islamic history, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was born on either the 9th or 12th of Rabi ul Awal. Most Islamic scholars believe the date to be 12 Rabi ul Awal, which is why Muslims observe the Prophet’s birthday on the 12th of the third Islamic month.
Although the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) life and teachings were the central focus of the Muslim world since his apostleship, it wasn’t until the Prophet’s house was converted into a prayer hall in the eighth century that Eid-e-Milad became a part of the Muslim culture.
Al-Khizuran, the mother of Caliph Harun al-Rashid of the Abbasid Caliphate and one of the most prominent women in Islam, initiated gatherings in the house of the Prophet to celebrate and highlight his life. The gatherings were held on every Monday of Rabi ul Awal, and the ruling elite initially attended these gatherings. The purpose was to spread the teachings of Allah’s Prophet.
Other sources say that the tradition began when some of the Tabi’un (Successors of Sahaba) started to hold gatherings in which they would recite nasheeds or naats to recite the Prophet’s praises and honor his life. One of Sultan Saladin’s notable generals, Muzaffar ad-Din Gökböri, is cited to be the first ruler to officially celebrate Mawlid with pomp and zeal.
Furthermore, Egypt’s ruling family is said to be the first observers of Mawlid as early as the eleventh century. After evening prayers, members of the royal clan delivered speeches and Quranic verses. Whereas the Muslims of Syria, Turkey, Morocco, and even Spain, did not begin celebrating this day until the 12th century.
In 1588, the Ottomans declared Mawlid to be a public holiday. Influenced by the Sufi Saints of Islam, the tradition of Mawlid or Mawlid an-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet) became popular worldwide. Al-Maqdisi, one of the most prominent historians and geographers of the Muslim world, dubbed Mawlid as one of the good innovations in Islam.
While most Muslim sects celebrate and observe this day, the Salafi and Wahabi sects don’t celebrate Mawlid and consider it a bid’ah.
Is Eid e Milad A National Holiday?
Eid e Milad un Nabi (Festival of the Birth of the Prophet) is a national holiday in most Muslim majority countries worldwide, except Qatar and Saudi Arabia. All public and private institutes in these countries are closed on this day, including post offices, schools, and shopping malls.
Special celebrations, feasts, illumination and decoration of Mosques, and charity marks the public holiday. In some countries like Pakistan, the traditional way to usher in the Eid Milad or Mawlid holiday is with a 31-gun salute in the national capital and a 21-gun salute in the provincial capitals.
In Turkey, the day is observed as Mevlid Kandili (Festival of Lights). Mosques and minarets are illuminated, and special gatherings are held in which Muslims offer prayers, recite the Quran, and recite nasheeds in praise of the Prophet.
In Singapore, the festival begins on the 6th of Rabi ul Awal and ends on the night of the 12th. Food and money are distributed among the people by the government. People hold private gatherings to highlight the Prophet’s life and teachings.
Mawlid is celebrated differently in different states by Muslims in India. For example, demonstrations and parades are held in Telangana, while all-night prayers and exhibits of Prophetic relics are held in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the same way, Mawlid is celebrated across the world. While the ways of observing the day may be different, there are some common themes in all celebrations;
- All cultures recite nasheeds to honor and praise the Prophet
- Food and other necessities are distributed among the poor
- Gatherings are held for prayers and recitations of the Quran
- Sermons are delivered that highlight the teaching of Islam and the Prophet
What Do Muslims Do During Rabi Ul Awal 2022?
Muslims reflect on Muhammad’s life and legacy on the occasion of Mawlid. Muslims assemble to worship and recite Holy Book verses. They buy new clothes, prepare special meals for their loved ones, and exchange gifts.
This festival is said to have been founded by the first four Rashidun Caliphs of Islam. Traditionally, the first and last prayers of the day and night are said in congregation at mosques. In addition, the mosque serves as a gathering place for community events such as parades and marches.
Greetings for Eid el-Milad are increasingly being sent via text message and electronic card. Spending time with loved ones while reading inspiring passages from the life of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is one of the best ways to celebrate this holiday.
Eid Milad un Nabi Food and Feast
During the feast, people chant greetings and songs praising Prophet Mohammed, decorating and lighting mosques and homes throughout the night. Many different types of cuisine are prepared for Eid Milad un Nabi, but sweets are the specialty of the festival.
A traditional Mawlid dessert in Tunisia is made with honey, smen (fermented butter), and semolina. Baklava and rice or semolina puddings are also popular Eid Milad un Nabi treats. Arabs make Tharida, a soup made with broth, cooked meat, and bread crumbs.
Facts About Eid Milad Un Nabi 2022
- Mawlid was declared a holiday by the Ottoman Empire in 1588.
- The Salafi and Wahabi acts do not celebrate the Mawlid. They consider the two major Islamic holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, to be the only events worthy of commemoration.
- Mawlid is not celebrated in Saudi Arabia or Qatar.
- People in countries celebrating this event are often seen waving green flags and banners and wearing green ribbons. The color green is associated with paradise among Muslims.
- Gun salutes and religious chanting often mark Mawlid celebrations.
Conclusion for Eid Milad Un Nabi 2022 | 12 Rabi ul Awal
Eid Milad-un-Nabi is a Muslim holiday celebrated during the month of Rabi ul Awal. This holy month of Rabi ul Awal is significant because it marks the month of Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) birth.
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), Allah Almighty’s final Prophet, was a man of great wisdom, integrity, and compassion. Because the Prophet Muhammad’s birth was a blessing to all of humanity, Muslims worldwide commemorate his birthday.
One of the primary objectives of Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrations is to remind and refresh the seerat of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in Muslims. In addition, it introduces children to Islam and the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
