PAKISTAN-MILAD-UN-NABI

Headline

Pakistan celebrates birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad.

Intro

‘Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi’, the birth anniversary of the Prophet Mohammad is celebrated across Pakistan with great religious fervor.

Story

STORY:  ‘Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi’, the birth anniversary of the Prophet Mohammad was celebrated throughout Pakistan on Tuesday (October 19) with great religious fervor.

Mohammed was born in Mecca (now in Saudi Arabia), in the year 570 AD. The precise date of his birth is unclear. However, Sunni Muslims observe Mohammed's birthday on the 12th day of the Islamic month of Rabi' al-Awwal (the third month of the Islamic calendar), while Shi'ite Muslims mark it on the 17th day of this month.

Eid Milad-un-Nabi is a public holiday in Pakistan. All government and semi- government offices, and most private offices, businesses, shopping malls and educational institutions are closed on this day.

Thousands of Muslims took out processions with one biggest that passed through its specified route in the biggest city Karachi on Tuesday.

“Today, it is the day to celebrate Milad-un-Nabi. It is the day of arrival of prophet Mohammad in this world. Like every year, we are taking out processions and distributing milk and sherbet with fervor marking the occasion,”said Yasir Pardesi, a participant of procession.

Volunteers had set up camps along the route of procession offering free milk and sherbet to the participants of the procession.

“Praise be to Allah, Today it is celebration of arrival of the prophet. Like every year, we have set up Sabeel (free sherbet) camp to greet the procession,” Mohammad Atif, a volunteer said.

Streets, mosques and buildings are illuminated on the eve of 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal to welcome the Prophet’s arrival in this world. Mosques are filled with worshippers the whole night.

Sweets and food are distributed in orphanages, destitute homes and prisons, and among the poor, disabled and handicapped people.

Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the nation to celebrate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad in a befitting and unprecedented manner.

In a special message in connection with Eid Miladun Nabi, he said: “As you all know that this is a special month when our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came into this world. This is a month of blessings.”

“It is felt really nice as whole of Islamabad is decorated. Khan sahib (Imran Khan) has taken a very good step that the city has been decorated on the occasion of birthday of prophet Mohammad. We have visited several places, Islamabad is looking gorgeous,”said Islamabad resident Mohammad Ishfaq.

Many Muslims do not celebrate Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, because they say there is no evidence from Prophet Mohammad’s life of such observances.

On the other hand, many Islamic scholars believe that this day should be celebrated; therefore there is a considerable number of Muslims who observe this day with great religious festivities.

It has been said that the first Muslim ruler to officially celebrate the birth of prophet Mohammad in an impressive ceremony was Muzaffar al-Din Gökböri (d. 630/1233). The Ottomans declared it an official holiday in 1588, known as Mevlid Kandil.