How Did Arab Nations Celebrate the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday?

Streets filled with lights and decorations, processions of horses and candles, drums beating, religious chants echoing in the air, gatherings of praise and remembrance—all in celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

This is the scene across various Arab and Islamic countries, where celebrating the Prophet’s birthday, also known as Mawlid al-Nabi, is a long-standing tradition. Although these countries differ in their customs and rituals, they unite in expressing love and reverence for the Prophet in a spiritual atmosphere on this blessed day.

The Prophet’s birthday, or Mawlid al-Nabi, is a religious celebration held every year during the Islamic month of Rabi’ al-Awwal. While it is a cultural tradition rather than a religious obligation, it has become deeply rooted in the hearts of Muslims.

Discrepancies in the Date of Celebration

There are varying opinions regarding the exact date of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth. Sunni Muslims celebrate it on the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal, while Shia Muslims commemorate it on the 17th of the same month.

In this article, we explore how different Arab nations mark this special occasion with their unique customs.

“Bride and Horse of Mawlid” in Egypt

Egypt is perhaps the most famous country when it comes to celebrating Mawlid al-Nabi. This tradition has been ingrained in Egyptian culture since the Fatimid era. Streets and mosques are illuminated with lights and decorated with lanterns to mark the occasion.

Egyptians have a distinctive custom of holding Mawlid fairs in honor of pious saints. On the Prophet’s birthday, these fairs take on a special significance, with people from various cities gathering to celebrate. The fairs feature religious sermons, storytelling of the Prophet’s life, and the recitation of religious chants. Participants repeatedly invoke blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad.

In addition to religious practices, the celebrations include non-religious elements, such as the distribution of sweets and drinks. Thousands of followers of the Sufi orders march in a grand procession through the old streets of Cairo, carrying flags and beating drums as they head to the Al-Hussein Mosque.

In some Upper Egyptian villages, a unique tradition known as the “Horse Procession” takes place. A decorated horse is paraded through the streets, accompanied by participants holding candles.

The Bride and Horse of Mawlid are traditional symbols embedded in Egyptian heritage. Originally, they were made of sugar and adorned with colorful fabrics. Over time, plastic versions began to appear. Dr. Aya Gamal, a researcher at the Folk Heritage Studies Center at Cairo University, told the BBC: “Parents give the Mawlid Bride to their daughters and the Mawlid Horse to their sons as gifts for the occasion.”

Historically, the story behind the Mawlid Bride and Horse dates back to the Fatimid era, with two prominent theories. According to Dr. Gamal, one narrative suggests that on the day of the Prophet’s birthday, the Fatimid ruler would ride a horse accompanied by one of his wives dressed in white, which inspired Egyptians to craft sweets shaped like a bride and a horse. The second theory suggests that due to a ban on weddings except during the Prophet’s birthday, Egyptians would hold their weddings on this day, with the groom gifting his bride a sugar Mawlid figure.

Popular sweets during this time include semsemia, fulia, and hamisia, among others. In Alexandria, for example, rosewater is distributed to passersby, who are reminded to invoke blessings upon the Prophet. As Dr. Azza Ezzat, another folklore scholar, explains, it is common for families to prepare roast duck on this day, with the whole family gathering around the table. Some Egyptians even perform the Umrah pilgrimage at this time of year, calling it the “Mawlid Umrah.”

“Candle Procession” in Morocco

In Morocco, Mawlid al-Nabi holds deep religious significance. The celebration’s origins date back to the Marinid and Alawite dynasties. The Moroccan people refer to the occasion by different names, such as Eid al-Mawlid or Al-Milouda.

From the start of Rabi’ al-Awwal until the 12th, every evening after the Maghrib prayer, mosques across the country host sermons on the life of the Prophet Muhammad, along with nasheeds and spiritual recitations. On the day of Mawlid, grand celebrations take place in the main mosque of every city, with the recitation of the Quran and short sermons recounting the Prophet’s life. When the imam reaches the part where the Prophet Muhammad was born, the congregation rises, chanting verses in his honor:

“Standing up for the honor of the one … whom both humans and jinn revere.”

After the sermon, the celebration ends with prayers and the distribution of dates and milk. Women can be heard zaghareet (ululating) from the rooftops.

One of the most distinct traditions is the “Candle Procession” in the city of Sale, which takes place on the 11th of Rabi’ al-Awwal. It is a week-long festival known as the Candle Season, where locals parade with elaborately decorated candles, accompanied by Andalusian music and dances.

Moroccans also celebrate by wearing new clothes, and in many regions, Mawlid is an occasion for the circumcision of boys. Traditional foods like asida and couscous are served during family gatherings.

Kairouan’s Celebrations in Tunisia

In Tunisia, the historic city of Kairouan is the heart of Mawlid festivities. Visitors from all over the country and beyond gather in the city’s squares and mosques, where religious chants blend with the joyful sounds of celebration.

A formal religious ceremony is held annually at the Great Mosque of Uqba ibn Nafi, where religious competitions are organized, and certificates are awarded to those who have memorized the Quran. The celebration is incomplete without the traditional Tunisian dish, Assida Zgougou, a sweet delicacy made from Aleppo pine nuts, which is exchanged between family members and friends.

Iraq’s Henna Tradition

In Iraq, the main Mawlid celebration takes place on the evening of the 11th of Rabi’ al-Awwal at the Imam Abu Hanifa Mosque in Baghdad’s Al-Azamiya district. Thousands of people, including all sects, gather to honor the Prophet by reciting Quranic verses and nasheeds. According to Iraqi journalist Haider Al-Basir, the streets surrounding the mosque are decorated with flowers and lights, while candles are lit throughout the night.

Festivities continue for a week, with almsgiving and community feasts, including the distribution of sweets like baklava and zlabia. During this period, families also mark the occasion with group weddings, circumcisions, and visits to the graves of loved ones.

In Kurdistan, the Sunni Kurds celebrate Mawlid with mystical rituals unique to their Sufi heritage, including the distribution of a local delicacy known as Man Al-Sama (manna and quail).