In this article, we will learn about the celebration of the prophet Muhammad birthday (al mawlid al Nabawi), and the best way to celebrate it.
What is the birth date of Prophet Muhammad?
Prophet Muhammad was born in the town of Mecca in the year 570, his father was Abd Allah bin Al-Muttalib and his mother was Amina bint Wahb. He was raised by a nurse named Halima. Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) is the last prophet, and he came with the Islamic religion.
Where was the Prophet Muhammad born?
Prophet Muhammad was born in the town of Mecca. Here are some facts we must know about the prophet:
- Prophet Muhammad was born on the twelfth day of Rabi’ al-Awwal which is the third month in the Islamic calendar, in the year 570AD.
- He was from the Arab tribe Quraish.
- He was an orphan and was raised by his grandfather and then his uncle.
- He started working as a shepherd, then he became a trader and was known for his honesty and trustworthiness.
- He didn’t know how to read and write.
- Quran has first revealed to him at the age of 40 in the year 610 AD when he was praying and meditating in a cave on Mount Hira.
- The prophet continued to spread Islam for 23 years ten of them were in Madinah and 13 in Mecca.
- He died in the year 633 AD, at that time there were 100,000 Muslims.
- The prophet was buried in Madinah in the Prophet’s Mosque.
Why do we celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad?
We celebrate the prophet Muhammad birthday to remind ourselves who is our beloved prophet, to follow his Sunnah and instructions. Additionally, to learn from his life and know how to become true Muslims, which in turn will make us love him even more.
As Muslims, we should love Allah and his Prophet more than we love anything in life even more than we love ourselves and our families. Celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad increases our love for him, there’s a hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik stating that the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said:
“None of you will have faith until he loves me more than his father, his children, and all mankind.”
Also, Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph said: “By Him in whose hands my soul is, (you will not have complete faith) until I am dearer to you than your own self.” [Bukhari].
These two hadiths show us how important it is to love the prophet more than anything in our lives. And the celebration of the prophet Muhammad birthday is our way to express our love for him.
What is celebrated to remember the birth of Prophet Muhammad?
Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph said: By the One in whose hands is my soul, none of you truly possess faith until I am more beloved to them than his parents and children.”. and the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “None of you truly believe until I am more beloved to him than his parents, children, and all people.”
Celebrating the birth of our beloved prophet helps us express our love for him, remind ourselves who is our beloved prophet, to follow his Sunnah and instructions. Additionally, to learn from his life and know how to become true Muslims, which in turn will make us love him even more.
Ibn Rajab has written: “Love of the Prophet is from the fundamentals of faith, and it is equivalent to loving God, as the two are associated. God has also warned those who place love on anything else that is natural to love such as kin, wealth, and homeland by saying, “Say: If your fathers, and your sons, and your brethren, and your wives, and your tribe, and the wealth you have acquired, and merchandise for which you fear that there will no sale, and dwellings you desire are dearer to you than God and His messenger and strive in His way, then wait until God brings His command to pass. God guides not wrongdoing folk.” And when ‘Umar said to the Prophet “You are more beloved to me than anything else except myself.” The Prophet responded, “‘Umar until I am more beloved than even yourself.” ‘Umar then said, “By God, you are more beloved to me than myself.” The Prophet said, “It is now ‘Umar.”
Then, what is celebrated to remember the birth of Prophet Muhammad? The best way to celebrate the Prophet’s birthday is by following his sunnah and doing good deeds. For example, you could feed the ones in need, recite the Holy Quran, remember Allah, and send praises to the prophet.
Prophet Muhammad birthday
Imam Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti wrote in his book Husn al-Maqsid about the ruling of celebrating the birth of the Prophet:
“My answer is that the basis of celebrating the birth of the Prophet is people coming together, reciting Qur’an, and reciting sound traditions concerning the beginnings of the Prophet and what occurred during his birth from Quranic verses. Then they eat food that has been prepared and when they finish, they leave without doing anything else. This is a praiseworthy innovation which the person doing it is rewarded for as it is a form of magnifying the rank of the Prophet and a form of expressing happiness and joy at his noble birth.”
Qatadah narrated, “I said to ‘Aisha, ‘O mother of the believers, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).’ ‘Aisha said, ‘Have you not read the Quran?’ I said, ‘Of course.’ ʿAisha said, ‘Verily, the character of the Prophet of Allah was the Quran.’” In another version of the hadith, she replied, “He was a walking Qur’an,”
So to celebrate the prophet Muhammad birthday we should follow his message and instructions, worship Allah, and do good deeds. This is the right way of celebrating the birth of the prophet.
At what age Muhammad became prophet?
One day when the prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) was praying and meditating he received the first revelation of the Quran, he was at the age of 40. This night is called the Night of Power.
When the prophet’s peace and blessing be upon him was meditating in a cave on Mount Hira he saw the angel Jibril. The angel Jibril told him to read, but the prophet didn’t know how to read and write.
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