The Mawlid of Rasulullah ﷺ
What is Mawlid?
The Mawlid is the celebration of the blessed birth of our Beloved Rasulullah ﷺ. It is usually celebrated, but not restricted to the blessed month of Rabi al-Awwal, the month in which we where blessed by the noble birth. It is an occasion whereby the whole world is perfumed by the remembrance of our Beloved Prophet ﷺ where millions of Muslims celebrate his noble birth. This practice goes back to the salafussolleh (pious predecessors) where they held sessions in which poetry and songs were composed to honor our Beloved ﷺ. The birth of our Prophet ﷺ however should not be restricted only to a specific time of the year, but rather on a daily basis in our efforts to emulate and follow in the footsteps of our Prophet ﷺ.
The Mawlid an-Nabi is not merely a gathering for recitation of poetry, but also a spiritual and social occasion for the Muslims, where the Biography, miracles and seerah (the life story of the Prophet) are being revisited and revived in the hearts of believers. Scholars and reciters remind the Ummah about the teachings of our Prophet ﷺ and the successes and challenges of the young Muslim community in Mecca and Medina. Although there are many ways to be celebrating the Prophetic Mawlid, it has traditionally been a gathering of knowledge, selawat recitation and feeding people all with the a sole objective; to bring hearts closer to loving Rasulullah ﷺ.
Most of the poetry and hagiographic literature that developed over the centuries of Islamic history came into being as a result of one's love and yearning our noble Prophet ﷺ. One of the most widely celebrated qasidas about the life and times of our Prophet ﷺ came from the repertoire commonly known as The Burdah by Shaykh al-Busairi. This particular qasida about the life and times of the Prophet ﷺ inspired countless others in various Muslim languages. Presently, those who travel around the Muslim World will encounter countless of these qasidas and songs celebrating the life and times of the Holy Prophet (s) wherever they may land.
The Mawlid an-Nabi is not merely a gathering for recitation of poetry, but also a spiritual and social occasion for the Muslims, where the Biography, miracles and seerah (the life story of the Prophet) are being revisited and revived in the hearts of believers. Scholars and reciters remind the Ummah about the teachings of our Prophet ﷺ and the successes and challenges of the young Muslim community in Mecca and Medina. Although there are many ways to be celebrating the Prophetic Mawlid, it has traditionally been a gathering of knowledge, selawat recitation and feeding people all with the a sole objective; to bring hearts closer to loving Rasulullah ﷺ.
Most of the poetry and hagiographic literature that developed over the centuries of Islamic history came into being as a result of one's love and yearning our noble Prophet ﷺ. One of the most widely celebrated qasidas about the life and times of our Prophet ﷺ came from the repertoire commonly known as The Burdah by Shaykh al-Busairi. This particular qasida about the life and times of the Prophet ﷺ inspired countless others in various Muslim languages. Presently, those who travel around the Muslim World will encounter countless of these qasidas and songs celebrating the life and times of the Holy Prophet (s) wherever they may land.
The history of Mawlid
The celebration of the Mawlid started from our Prophet ﷺ himself.
Our Prophet ﷺ said in a narration, “I fasted on a Monday because that was the day that I was born on.”
So evidently, our Prophet ﷺ himself fasted on a Monday because it was his birthday. However, if by mawlid we refer to the act of coming together and reciting Qur’an, Mawlid text, giving food and etc like how Muslims in our times do it. This was first initiated by the King of Irbil, Sultan Muzaffar. His name was Abu said Al-Kukabri or Kaukaburi ibn Zain al-Din Ali Ibn Baktagin. He was a great and generous leader. [1]
[1] There has been a different opinion that suggested that the Mawlid started from the Fatimiyyah Syiah in Egypt. This opinion is not held upon and have been refuted by Imam Asy-suyuti in his book Husn Maqasid fi amali Al-Mawlid.
Our Prophet ﷺ said in a narration, “I fasted on a Monday because that was the day that I was born on.”
So evidently, our Prophet ﷺ himself fasted on a Monday because it was his birthday. However, if by mawlid we refer to the act of coming together and reciting Qur’an, Mawlid text, giving food and etc like how Muslims in our times do it. This was first initiated by the King of Irbil, Sultan Muzaffar. His name was Abu said Al-Kukabri or Kaukaburi ibn Zain al-Din Ali Ibn Baktagin. He was a great and generous leader. [1]
[1] There has been a different opinion that suggested that the Mawlid started from the Fatimiyyah Syiah in Egypt. This opinion is not held upon and have been refuted by Imam Asy-suyuti in his book Husn Maqasid fi amali Al-Mawlid.
The Objective
- Get closer to Allah SWT
- Increase our love for the Prophet ﷺ
- Bring the Ummah together.
- Get forgiveness from Allah SWT.
The significance of standing in Mawlid (Mahlul Qiyam)
During the recitation of the Mawlid, reciters and guests alike will arrive a point whereby the whole congregation would stand. More specifically, this occurs right after the chapter narrating the noble birth and emergence of our Prophet ﷺ into this world from Lady Aminah; a birth that changed the course of humanity. This act of standing is known as the Mahlul Qiyam, serving as a sign of upmost respect, happiness and joy for the welcoming of our Prophet ﷺ.
Salaman al-Farisi, the great companion of Rasulullah ﷺ said: "The souls of believers are in the barzakh of the earth. They go wherever the will". Any intelligent muslim would understand that it is not the noble body of the Prophet ﷺ that enters into the gathering, but rather it is his ﷺ soul that
would grace the blessed gathering.
One has to understand however that standing in the Prophetic Mawlid is not a necessary act (wajib) or one that is Sunnah, but rather permissible as it serves as a sign and indication of respect, honor, joy and happiness for the coming of our noble Prophet ﷺ.
During the Mahlul Qiyam, one pictures a time whereby the whole universe shakes out of happiness and joy by the blessing that has befallen upon her.
Salaman al-Farisi, the great companion of Rasulullah ﷺ said: "The souls of believers are in the barzakh of the earth. They go wherever the will". Any intelligent muslim would understand that it is not the noble body of the Prophet ﷺ that enters into the gathering, but rather it is his ﷺ soul that
would grace the blessed gathering.
One has to understand however that standing in the Prophetic Mawlid is not a necessary act (wajib) or one that is Sunnah, but rather permissible as it serves as a sign and indication of respect, honor, joy and happiness for the coming of our noble Prophet ﷺ.
During the Mahlul Qiyam, one pictures a time whereby the whole universe shakes out of happiness and joy by the blessing that has befallen upon her.
Benefits of attending a gathering of Mawlid
The benefits of celebrating the Mawlid are endless.
Among the benefits are:
Among the benefits are:
- Closeness to Allah
- Closeness to our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
- Means for increase in taqwa
- Preservation of Sunnah
- Increasing familiarity with the Seerah of our Prophet ﷺ
- Bringing the community to loving our Prophet ﷺ
- It cleanses the body, mind, soul and heart
- Enables one to be with our Prophet ﷺ in this world and the hereafter
- The Mawlid develops Mahabbah (True Love) for God Almighty
- Allows one to gain the Syafa’ah (intercession) of our Prophet ﷺ
- One will get to drink from Al-Hawd of our Prophet ﷺ
- As a means for the removal of our sins
Intentions for attending a gathering of Mawlid
"Verily actions are by intentions, and for every person is what he intended. So the one whose hijrah was to Allah and His Messenger, then his hijrah was to Allah and His Messenger. And the one whose hijrah was for the world to gain from it, or a woman to marry her, then his hijrah was to what he made hijrah for." [Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Before one attends a gathering of Mawlid, there are a number of intentions that are traditionally made by scholars. Amongst them are:
(Book of Intentions by Al-Habib Muhammad bin Alawi al-Aydarus)
Before one attends a gathering of Mawlid, there are a number of intentions that are traditionally made by scholars. Amongst them are:
- To attend a gathering to invoke blessing and prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ.
- To attend a gathering which the scholars encourage people to attend.
- To listen to an account of the life of al-Mustafa – The Chosen One ﷺ.
- To attend a gathering of counsel and guidance.
- To implement what you have heard of the Muhammadan characteristics.
- To occupy your time in what is good.
- To increase the number of people of truth.
- So that Allah may grant you the Prophet’s ﷺ character and qualities, as described in the mawlid.
- So that through your attendance you are able to fulfil some of your duties towards the Envoy ﷺ.
- So that you will be ennobled by Allah with a vision of the Prophet ﷺ
(Book of Intentions by Al-Habib Muhammad bin Alawi al-Aydarus)
Eetiquettes for attending a Gathering of Mawlid
Before:
- To be in a state of Whudu for those who are able to
- To be reciting lots of Selawat upon Rasulullah ﷺ
- To perfume oneself with attar
- To wear nice clothing
- To fill oneself with a sense of humility, as if he was going to meet Rasulullah ﷺ and his companions
- Make present one's heart in the gathering
- Recite lots of Selawat upon Rasulullah ﷺ
- Avoid unnecessary communication
- To sit in the gathering with utmost respect in a state of humility
Some commonly recited Mawlid texts
- Burdah Ash-Shareef (By Imam Busiri)
- Maulid Ad-Daibai (Shaykh Abdurrahman Ad-Daiba’i)
- Maulid Simtuddurror (Habib Ali bin Muhammad Al-Habsyi)
- Maulid Barzanji
- Maulid Syarhul Anam
- Maulid Dhiya’ul Lami’ (Habib Umar Bin Hafiz)