Eid Milad Un Nabi 2023: Celebration of birth of Islamic prophet Muhammad

Eid Milad Un Nabi 2023, also known as Mawlid or Eid-e-Milad, is a major festival observed by Muslims all over the world. It marks the birth anniversary of Islamic prophet Muhammad, which is believed to be the founder of Islam. The day is celebrated with processions held at mosques and preaching of Muhammad are recited in public on the occasion.

Muslims all around the country and the world celebrate this day with great joy and pomp. Complete details related to Eid Milad Un Nabi 2023 or Eid-e-Milad 2023 regarding its significance, celebrations, etc are provided here in this article.

Eid Milad Un Nabi 2023 Overview

Eid Milad Un Nabi 2023 Date

It is believed that Mohammad was born in the month of Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar and the first month in the pre-Islamic calendar. According to Sunni Muslims, Mohammad’s birth date falls on the 12^th of this month whereas the Shia Muslims believe that he was born on the 17^th of this month.

Calculated according to the Islamic calendar, Eid Milad Un Nabi 2023 is being observed on Thursday, September 28, 2023.

Holiday on Eid Milad Un Nabi 2023

Eid Milad Un Nabi is observed as a public holiday in most states of India. Public offices in such states remain closed on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad and so do the schools and banks.

Most, but not all, private offices also either remain close or provide holiday to their Muslim employees. Shops, stores and other service may remain open with reduced opening hours, especially in areas with Muslims in majority.

Why is Eid Milad Un Nabi celebrated?

Eid-e-Milad marks the birth anniversary of the renowned religious, social and political leader Prophet Muhammad who is also entitled with the founding of the Islam religion.

As per the Islam doctrine, Muhammad was sent to preach the people teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other great prophets. It is also believed that Muhammad was the final prophet of God. Mohammad was born somewhere around 570 CE in the Arabian city of Mecca.

Although, Eid Milad Un Nabi is an important festival of Muslims, celebrating this festival is forbidden in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

History of Eid Milad Un Nabi Celebration

Although the exact origin of celebrations of Eid-e-Milad is not known, it is suggested that the celebration was introduced as a way of strengthening the Muslim community. Some people believe that it was Abbasids in Baghdad who began the celebration of prophet’s birthday. 

In earlier days, this festival was observed in private sessions with few people coming together at Mawlid house to celebrate the day. However, with passing time, an increase in the number of visitors was shown at the Mawlid house for celebrating the Muhammad’s birth anniversary. The festival gradually started to be observed at a bigger scale and became one of the major festivals of Muslims.

It is also believed that it was the same day as Mawlid (Eid-e-Milad) when Muhammad observed a fast and explained to his followers the reason behind his birth. The day on which Muhammad explained his life purpose was a Monday. According to an Arab traveler and geographer Ibn Jubayr, birthday of Mohammad was celebrated every Monday of Rabi’ al-awwal at his birthplace which was converted into a holy place by the Abbasids.

In some countries, Mawlid is not restricted to observing Muhammad’s birth anniversary and is rather a generic term used for the celebration of birthdays of local Sufi saints.

How is Eid Milad Un Nabi celebrated?

Eid Milad Un Nabi is celebrated with great enthusiasm in almost all countries with significant population of Muslims, including India. On the day of the festival, people get up early, get dressed in their finest clothes and visit mosques for offering morning prayers. Processions and carnivals are also organized in which people participates in large number.

There is also a tradition of performing charity work such as donating food or money to the poor and needy on the day of Eid-e-Milad. Stories about the life of Muhammad and poems in his praise are recited in homes and mosques as a part of celebration.

Special festivities are carried out in the state of Jammu and Kashmir where the relics of Muhammad are displayed after the morning prayers at the Hazratbal Shrine. Other practices like religious meetings, night-long prayers, rallies, processions, parades, decorations of homes and mosques, etc also form a major part of Eid Milad un Nabi celebrations.

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