The Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen 1805-1875, famous for his stories and fairy tales, also captured his journeys abroad in a number of travelogues. The lengthy excerpt reproduced here recounts a visit to Istanbul Constantinople on the occasion of the birthday celebration, or Mawlid, for the Prophet Muhammad. He also recounts the public procession of the Sultan and his entourage from the Serail meaning Topkap? Saray or Palace. The account gives yet another interesting outsider perspective on Ottoman life and society.

Read more here : Andersen in Istanbul: The Mawlid of the Prophet Muhammad | Islamicana.

Permissibility of Celebrating the Mawlid from Nazim Baksh on Vimeo.

In March-April 2010, Sidi Nazim Baksh accompanied Dr. Umar Faruq ‘Abd-Allah, scholar in residence at the Chicago based Nawawi Foundation, to Trinidad, Barbados and Guyana. They were guests of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG). CIOG organized visits to the Berbice region of Guyana. Dr. Umar visited the Bushlot, Adelphi, Farm and No. 78 Masjids. Everywhere he went people asked about the permissibility of celebrating the Mawlid of the Beloved Messenger of Allah. This is the answer Dr. Umar gave at No. 78 Masjid.

Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad gave this lecture at a Milad conference held by the Naqshbandiya Foundation for Islamic Education in the early 1990s. He talks about the importance of celebrating the mawlid, performing the sunnah on all levels (Islam, Iman, Ihsan) and many more dimensions of the mawlid (also called milad or mawlud).

Download the audio here: Supercession and Intercession of the Mawlid – Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad

This lecture is also available on YouTube.

Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4 * Part 5

Much thanks to Sidi Mas’ud Khan for sharing us his recording of this lecture. Please read his article about the Praise of Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

This year’s Bay Area Mawlid has been finalized. We are blessed to have Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Tahir Anwar and rising nasheed superstar Nader Khan from Canada participating in this year’s event.

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009

Time: 5:00pm

Venue: Chandni Restaurant, Newark, CA

Tickets: $20 available online

Contact: mawlidconference@gmail.com or 510.744.3692

For centuries, the vast majority of Muslims have gathered in celebration of one of the greatest events in the history of the entire universe, the Mawlid or the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam). Through the recitation of the Majestic Quran, readings from the Seerah (Prophet’s biography), and the recitation of the Qasidah Burdah (Poem of the Cloak) we have the opportunity to show our gratitude to Allah ta’ala for having sent amongst us His final and last Messenger.

Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says, “Verily Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam). O, Believers! Send blessings upon him and salute him with a worthy salutation.” (33:56)

Taking heed of this incredible verse, Muslims send their blessings upon the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam) every day. And each year, on this special day, communities in every corner of the world come together to commemorate the miracle of his birth, the legacy of his life, and the station of perfection that he alone occupies in this world and the next(may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Join us in celebrating the Mawlid of our Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam) in renewal of our faith and commitment to the way of our beloved Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam) and his heirs, the rightly-guided scholars of the past and the present. We look forward to your presence with our scholars and friends in a night filled with inspiration and continuous praise!