BEHIND THE MAWLIDUN NABIY CELEBRATION.

 

For about forty-five minutes or more, I stood and watched fascinated yet bewildered at what is considered by some as a huge transgression, a bid’ah (innovation) while others regard it as a worthy celebration, the remembrance of an extraordinary icon, celebrating the seal of the prophet hood. 

  Fixed on the spot, I fed my eyes, bemused, as myriad of heterogeneous “Muhammadans” flocked the entire length of the old Ogba road at Agege local government area of Lagos state, singing songs of praises and what they otherwise call “zikri” of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They thronged on in groups; students of Arabic schools known as “makaranta” in the Agege area, Tijaniyyah and the Quadriyyah Islamic sects, the Hausa elites of the Agege area of the state and some other “Muhammadans”.

  They were extolling the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to the best of their aptitude and understanding, some on camels, few on horses, many in buses, lorries, SUVs and private cars and about a thousand others on foot; dancing, singing, rejoicing and full of mirth; the young and the old, the females of marriageable ages and the married, the leaders of clans and those of a whole society all converged to exalt the Noble of the Nobles, Prophet of all prophets, Messenger to all mankind, Muhammad (sallalaahu alayhi wa salaam) today being the 12^th of Rabiul Awwal of the Islamic year 1436AH.

  Amidst all these gaiety, in my non-participant observational mode, I couldn’t help but wonder the “what” behind “THE MAWLIDUN NABIY CELEBRATION”.

 Mawlidun Nabiy is the birth of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and history has it that he was born on a Monday, 12^th of Rabiul Awwal (islamic calendar) in the year 570 AD. But history does not have it that the prophet (peace be upon him) ever celebrated his Birthday.

 However, history has it that the prophet acknowledged his birthday with proof from this quoted Hadeeth: “"…He was then asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It was the day on which I was born. on which I was commissioned with prophethood or revelation was sent to me…” (Muslim)

  With the above mentioned hadeeth, it is to be perceived that although the prophet never celebrated his birthday but he indeed attached importance to the day he was born. And this served as a basis (no matter how meager it may seem), reason enough for those who believe he should be celebrated, coupled with the understanding of the qur'anic verse that said “Truly, Allaah and His Angels shower blessings

on the Prophet. O ye believers Ask

blessings on him and salute him with a worthy

salutation.” (33:56) and their acclaimed love for the prophet (peace be upon him), hence the celebration of the prophet’s birth began…