On the occasion of the “Mawlid al-Nabi”, which will be observed by Muslims on Friday night, the head of The Prophet’s Lovers Foundation, Adnan Akgönül released a message.

Describing the arrival of our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to the world as a spring that came after a winter full of cruelty, Akgönül emphasized the importance of the blessed legacy left by the prophet.

“Praise be to Allah the Almighty Allah, who sent Prophet Muhammad Mustafa as a guide to salvation in an age where polytheism, cruelty and savagery prevailed on the world and humanity longed for salvation. Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad, his family and his companions, who was sent as the messenger of mercy, who showered mercy and light on the worlds, who dispersed the persecution and led the oppressed to the salvation,” Akgönül said.

Akgönül called on all Muslims to observe “Mawlid Nabi” at mosques, and wished it would be a means of salvation and mercy for all mankind again.

Mawlid al-Nabi is the observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which is commemorated in Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.12th Rabi' al-awwal is the accepted date among most of the Islamic scholars.

Mawlid is celebrated in almost all Islamic countries, and in other countries that have a significant Muslim population, such as Ethiopia, India, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, France, Germany, Italy, Iraq, Iran, Maldives, Morocco, Jordan, Libya, Russia and Canada.

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 praise Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were recited and sung to the crowds.

Today, the Mawlid is celebrated in many ways and forms across Islamic world, whether it is quietly observed by fasting and reading the Quran, or by kids dressing up in bright colors and getting a tiny horse or a doll made out of sugar. The practices vary, but the one thing they articulate are the admirable qualities of the prophet and how dear he is to Muslims. (ILKHA)