Streets across Pakistan today will be decorated for Milad an-Nabi (Image: Business Recorder)
Muslims in many parts of the world today are celebrating Milad an-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Often regarded even by non-Muslims as one of the most influential people in history, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born around the year 570 CE near the city of Makkah (Mecca) in modern-day Saudi Arabia.
Although not recognised by some prominent scholars, particularly those of Wahhabi thought, the date of the Prophet’s birth is recognised as an important Eid, or festival, in Pakistan and India.
Today is a gazetted holiday in Pakistan, with many Muslims participating in marches, prayer meetings and celebratory lunches. Security has been stepped up across the nation, with cellular services suspended in some cities, although not in Lahore.
Today is also a national holiday in India, where the date this year coincides with Pongol, the Tamil festival of the new harvest.
Smaller celebrations are expected among some sections of the Muslim communities in Melbourne and Sydney.
Calculated according to the Islamic calendar, the date of Milad an-Nabi shifts backwards by about ten days in relation to the Gregorian calendar each year.
UrbanDuniya wishes all those celebrating today a happy and healthy Milad an-Nabi!
That’s a very interesting way of celebrating! I’ve heard that the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad is one of the most important and common Muslim celebrations. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading Agness! Actually, it’s a complex issue, because many Muslims would argue that celebrating birthdays is a Christian (or at least non-Muslim) concept. However many other Muslims continue to celebrate the day, and consider it a major festival.