Milad-un-Nabi (Eid-e-Milad) 2027 ईद-ए-मिलाद-उन-नबी

Why Milad-un-Nabi (Eid-e-Milad) is celebrated

Milad un-Nabi is a day when many Muslims remember the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, whom they regard as the final messenger of God. The focus is on his character: his honesty, his mercy towards the poor and orphans, his patience in hardship and his message of worshipping one God. Speakers at gatherings encourage listeners to follow his example in daily life, in business dealings, in family life and in treating neighbours well.

The word "milad" means birth and "nabi" means prophet. In much of North India the day is also called Barawafat. Muslim tradition holds that the Prophet both was born and passed away in the month of Rabi al-Awwal, and many accounts place his death on the 12th, so the day carries a mix of joy and reflection.

Not every Muslim group observes the day in the same way. Sunni Muslims in the Barelvi and Sufi traditions celebrate it widely. Shia Muslims generally mark the birth on the 17th of Rabi al-Awwal. Some groups, such as Deobandi and Ahl-e-Hadith scholars, regard a formal celebration as a later addition to the faith and prefer to keep the day like any other while honouring the Prophet throughout the year.

History and story of Milad-un-Nabi (Eid-e-Milad)

Islamic tradition records that the Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 CE, in what Arabs called the Year of the Elephant. He belonged to the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe. His father Abdullah died before his birth and his mother Aminah when he was about six, so he was raised first by his grandfather Abdul Muttalib and then by his uncle Abu Talib.

He worked as a trader and became known in Mecca as Al-Amin, the trustworthy one. Muslims believe that at about forty years of age he received the first revelation of the Quran in the cave of Hira. He preached in Mecca for years, migrated to Medina in 622 CE, an event that begins the Islamic calendar, and died in Medina in 632 CE.

The Prophet's birthday was not celebrated publicly in the earliest generations of Islam. Organised celebrations grew later. Historians point to the Fatimid rulers of Egypt, and to Muzaffar al-Din Gokbori, ruler of Erbil in the early 13th century, who held large public gatherings with poetry and feasts. From there the custom spread across the Muslim world, including India, where Sufi shrines played a big role in shaping it.

How Milad-un-Nabi (Eid-e-Milad) is celebrated

The day often begins with Fajr prayer and recitation of the Quran. Mosques and homes are decorated with lights and green flags, and some households decorate from the start of the month. Religious gatherings, called Milad or Mehfil-e-Milad, feature talks on the Prophet's life, recitation of naat and qasida in praise of him, and repeated salawat, the prayer of blessings upon him.

In many towns, Muslims take out a juloos, a procession with banners, recitations and models of the Green Dome of the Prophet's mosque in Medina. Local administrations usually plan the route in advance with the organisers.

Charity is central to the day. People distribute food, often called niyaz or tabarruk, among neighbours and the poor. Kheer, biryani, zarda and sweets are commonly prepared. Many families also visit dargahs and give donations to orphanages and madrasas.

Schools run by Muslim trusts often hold quiz contests, essay writing and recitation competitions on the Prophet's life in the days before Milad un-Nabi. Some groups organise blood donation camps and free health check ups, which they describe as a practical way of following his teaching of service to people.

Milad-un-Nabi (Eid-e-Milad) across India

In Srinagar, a relic believed to be a hair of the Prophet is displayed to devotees at the Hazratbal shrine, drawing very large crowds. Hyderabad, Lucknow, Bareilly, Mumbai and Kolkata see big processions and illuminated streets. In Kerala the day is called Nabi Dinam, and children of madrasas take part in processions and recite Arabic and Malayalam poems.

In Uttarakhand, processions are held in towns such as Dehradun, Roorkee, Haldwani and across Haridwar district. Many people also visit the dargah of Sabir Pak at Piran Kaliyar near Roorkee.