Mawlid – Prophet Muhammad’s birthday 28-29 October

Prophet Muhammad’s birthday from
the evening of 28 to the evening of 29 October

Mawlid or Mawlid al-Nabi al-Sharif is the observance of the birthday of Islamic prophet Muhammad commemorated in the third month of the Islamic calendar and is considered to be an auspicious day amongst Muslims. The history of this celebration goes back to the early days of Islam when some of the Tabi’un began to hold sessions in which poetry and songs composed to honour Muhammad were recited and sung to the crowds.

Mawlid is celebrated in almost all Islamic countries, and in other countries that have a significant Muslim population, for example Ethiopia, India, theMaldives, the UK and France. You will see buildings colourfully decorated and the streets filled to the brink with those celebrating Muhammad’s birth.

People will also invite friends and relatives over to enjoy a meal, give food to those in poverty, take part in special prayer meetings, read and recite the Koran, and teach children about Muhammad’s life.

In the Maldives, it is also traditional to sing the Arabic song called Malood, which praises Islam’s founding prophet. And people will celebrate and feast for three days, eating delicious “sweetmeats” on day three.

However, this year no gatherings will be allowed because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.