Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi 2023: Why is Eid-e-Milad celebrated? Date, history and significance

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Click here! Initially, the ruling Shia tribe in Egypt start celebrating this festival, but it gradually spread to Syria, Morocco, Turkey, and Spain in the 12th century. Sunni Muslim sects also started celebrating it later on.

Eid-e-Milad holds great significance for Sufi and Barelvi sects, but it is not universally accepted within the Muslim community. Eid-e-Milad celebrations have evolved over time.

In Egypt, early celebrations involved prayers, speeches, Quranic verses, and a large public feast. People of the ruling clan were honoured as they were believed to be Caliphs, which were considered to be representatives of Prophet Muhammad.

Later, as the practices got modified under heavy Sufi influence, the celebrations were marked with animal sacrifices, public discourses, night time torchlight processions and a public banquet. Eid-e-Milad is celebrated by Muslims wearing new clothes, offering prayers and exchanging greetings.

They get together at a mosque or at a dargah and start their day with a morning prayer followed by a procession carried out from the mosques to the town, and narrate stories of the Prophet's life and teachings as mentioned in the Holy Quran. Community meals are organised, donations are made towards the needy and poor people, and night-long prayers are also part of the celebrations."Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels