Events

Muslims are celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), renewing their promises to follow his footsteps and spread his noble teachings.

The event, commonly known as Al-Mawled Al-Nabawy, is a public holiday, and all government and semi-government offices in several Muslim states will be closed Monday, Rabiul Awwal 12, according to the Islamic calendar.

Muslim worshippers will celebrate the event with alms-giving, festivals, gatherings, religious lectures and Qur’an recitals.

Imams will also give speeches on the various aspects of the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and will urge Muslims to follow his example.

The event is also considered a great chance for many Muslims to consider the developments in the Islamic world and assess whether they have really lived up to the expectations of the Prophet (PBUH), who is the role model for every Muslim.

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah, you have a good example to follow.” (Surat Al-Ahzab: 33:21).

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last prophet after Jesus. Born in about 570 A.D. in Mecca, he was a member of the Quraish tribe, and was known as an honest merchant. At the age of forty, the Prophet saw Angel Gabriel, who revealed to him the first verses of the Qur’an.

The Prophet then started preaching the teachings of the new religion among people in Mecca. He promoted peace and honesty and he did not reject Judaism or Christianity, but always said that Allah chose him to complete and perfect their teachings.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) then moved to Medina, where he created a government based on the laws of Allah, which called for a united community, or ummah, in which all humans are equal but are subservient to Allah.

The Prophet (PBUH) died in Medina at the age of 63. By that time, he had tens of thousands of followers who spread Islam around the world. Within 90 years, Islam reached Spain, North Africa, the Caucasus, northwest China and India.

Now Islam is flourishing in the whole world. But unfortunately some Muslims do crimes “in the name of Islam” that hurt the Prophet (PBUH) and the Islamic religion which is based on peace, tolerance and understanding.

In the early years of Islam, nonbelievers in the Arabian Peninsula fought wars against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers. During these wars, the Prophet (PBUH) offered great examples of how people should treat prisoners. The Holy Qur’an clearly specifies that prisoners of war, Muslims or not, should be treated well and with dignity. Yet today we see some people who call themselves Muslims willing to kill and destroy in the name of religion

The Prophet (PBUH) also called on his followers not to harm a single child during these battles against nonbelievers. "But they're the children of nonbelievers," said one of his followers, and the Prophet (PBUH) replied, "They're innocent souls who know no sin. They must never be touched."

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught his followers that killing and harming people and violating their rights are the worst of sins. He also taught them to work hard, respect their servants, colleagues, students and spouses, aid the weak and the poor, and be merciful to animals.