Why Some Muslims Still Celebrate Eidul Maolud

• 6 Months After

Two Mondays ago, Muslims across the world observed the celebration of the day prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was born which is called Eidul-Maolud. Many countries with Muslim-majority populations observe the celebration as a public holiday. It is regarded as a pivotal event that commemorates the life and legacy of the most important figure in the Islamic faith.

Here in Nigeria, a public holiday was declared by the Federal government to allow Muslims in the country to commemorate and celebrate the occasion with their relatives and friends. States like Kano in the north even go to the extent of declaring more days as work free in honour of the occasion.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad life and times remains a compass to every Muslim which they thrive to follow every day. The Quran asserts that Muhammad was a man who possessed the highest moral excellence, and that God made him a good example or a ‘goodly model’ for Muslims to follow.

Not all Muslims, agree that that the Prophet’s birthday should be celebrated but those who saw the need for it do it in grand style. The celebration has turned to festivities among some Muslims as they take beyond the actual date of the prophet’s birthday. For the love of Prophet Muhammad, different Islamic scholars, organisations and group pick separate dates to mark Eidul Maolud. They hold it in a such as big way that whoever attends an edition would always want to be part of the subsequent ones. Celebrating Eidul Maolud is what many Muslims always look up to and prepare big for every year.

Renowned Islamic scholars usually organised their Maolud to reflect on the life and times of the prophet, bringing out lessons of life which Muslims faithfuls can adopt to life more fulfilling life. Those who run Modrasa, Arabic school or lesson use the period to groom their students to learn the Hadith, sayings and doing of the Prophet which they will recite on the day set aside for the celebration. Eidul Maolud is a day meant to celebration Prophet Muhammad as a blessing to mankind.

It is also during Eidul Maolud celebration that Islamic singer mostly get engaged to come perform and entertain at different programmes. Their presence and performance is part of what light up the occasion and makes it remarkable. It is the period when some of them target to release their songs so that it will trend and they can cash in lots of money from. The celebration has no doubt become both spirit and social occasion Muslims who are inclined to it.

Justifying why Muslims need to celebrate EidulMaolud, a renowned Islamic scholar and  Chief Missioner, Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Imam Abdul-Azeez Onike Morufu, in an article titled, “Significance of Maolud An-Nabiy: Why do we Celebrate the Day,” highlighted the importance of the Day and why Muslims celebrate it.

Extract from the article states reason why Muslims are celebrating the Prophet. One is to affirm that he was born just like me and you. So he is a creation of God and not God. Two, the celebration of Maolud increases the love of our Prophet in the hearts of Muslims including children and adults. Three, It is an opportunity to remind ourselves what the Noble Muhammad lived for, and also reflect on his teachings. Four, It gives an opportunity to showcase the Prophet as a paragon of love, mercy, compassion, benevolence, generosity, justice and all virtue. Indeed, God says about him: {We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds}[Quran 21:107]. Five, Expression of thankfulness and joy over the coming of the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, the greatest of creation and a mercy to all the worlds. Six, It was a unifying occasion that brings believers together as a lively community of piety. It rooted and expressed their identity as believers, followers, and lovers of the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him. seven, It fostered pride in the community and strengthened connections between individuals.

While celebration of Eidul Maolud is in progress, Muslims are enjoined to be moderate and not to exceed the Quranic injunction and the prophet Muhammad sayings about holding celebrations.

–Jamiu Abubakar,

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