Eid Milad un Nabi / Id-e-Milad

Eid Milad-un-Nabi, Mawlid, and Eid-e-Milad literally mean the “birth of the Prophet”, is an Islamic festival celebrated in the joy of the birth of Islamic prophet Muhammad in the third month of the Muslim calendar Rabiulawal.

Prophet Muhammad was born on 12 Rabiulawal in Mecca in the year 570 CE. The Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles hence the year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, so sometimes this holiday will occur twice a year.

In 2024 Eid Milad un Nabi starts on Evening of Sunday, September 15, 2024 and ends on Monday, September 16, 2024.

These are big festivals for Muslims some treat it as a festival holiday while others regard it as a solemn day. Both Shia and Sunni have different opinions about this festival. Shia observes this festival on the 17th of the month while the Sunni observes it on the 12th of the month. People of the Shia community of Muslim religion celebrate it in the joy of the birth of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad and on the other hand Sunni community believes that this day is the day of his death, therefore they hold prayers throughout the whole month.

Suggested Read: Eid ul-Fitr

Muhammad founded Islam and is referred to as the messenger of God in Islam. People began to celebrate his life and teachings in the form of various holidays, they visit mosques on this day, and prayers are held that honor God and the Prophet Muhammad. Large prayers meet, parades, and marches are held in various places.

Prayers are offered on the symbolic footprints of Prophet Mohammed on the day of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi. People who follow the Muslim religion stay awake throughout the night and offer prayers and understand his teaching, It is believed that by hearing the Prophet’s teachings the door to paradise is opened. Processions are also taken out on this day. Prophet Mohammad Hazrat Saheb is recited and memorized on the day of Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi. On the day people decorate their homes with lights and namaz is done in mosques, poems related to Muhammad are recited in mosques and mass gatherings. People go to offer Namaz and then participate in other programs.

Apart from this, people visit Mecca Medina and Dargahs. It is said that on this day anyone who remembers a prophet Mohammad will join the loves of Allah and are blessed by Allah.