The Celebration of Milad at Mawlid al-Nabi

Ibn Batuta states that during his time, the door of the Ka’bah was opened for everyone on the 12th of Rabi Al-Awwal every year, in the celebration of the Milad. ¹ He also states that a huge feast used to be organized, which was attended by people from all walks of life. ²

During the reign of the Ottomans in Hijaz, the celebration of Milad was conducted every year. On the first of Rabi-al-Awwal, the room in which the Holy

Prophet

was born, a fresh coat of white paint was given and the Huffaz (people who had memorized the Holy Quran), used to recite the

Holy Quran

every day in a beautiful manner. However, on the eve of Prophet Muhammad’s

birthday, small kids who had memorized the Holy Quran, would get dressed and go to the Mawlid, where they recited the Holy Quran. ³ In various eras, these celebrations were conducted in different ways. Al-Qatbi states that in his time, the Islamic Jurists, scholars, Sufis and the elite of Makkah would gather at the mosque of the Mawlid after the Maghrib prayer on the 12th of Rabi-al-Awwal. A speaker would give a sermon and the people would pray and then go to Masjid Al-Haram. ⁴

The mawlid of Prophet Muhammad is one of the most sacred places on this earth. Since it is the birth place of the leader and seal of the Prophets , it’s a natural phenomenon that many people revere and adore it. This place is also considered to be sacred this is why, people who visit Makkah for pilgrimage or for other reasons, also try to visit this place.

¹ Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Batuta (1417 A.H.), Rehla ibn Batuta (Tuhfa Al-Naza’r fe Gharaib Al-Ansar wa Ajaib Al-Asfar), Al-Akadimiyah Al-Mumlikat Al-Maghribiyah, Rabat, Morocco, Vol. 1, Pg. 372.
² Ibid, Pg. 388.
³ Muhammad Zafar Aalam Jawaid Siddiqui (2014), Urdu Main Milad Al-Nabi, Fiction House, Lahore, Pakistan, Pg. 56.
⁴ Abd Al-Karim Al-Qutabi (1983), I’elam Al-Ulama Al-I’elam be Bina Al-Musjid Al-Haram, Dar Al-Rifah lil Nashr wal Taba’at wal Tawzi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Pg. 154.