One Prophet, a Thousand Traditions: Diverse Mawlid Celebrations Around the World

The commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday in several countries can fill city streets, involve thousands of people, and become a series of events lasting for days. The term “maulid” or “milad” in Arabic means birthday. The tradition of celebrating the Prophet’s birthday became widely known in the 12th century AD, around 300 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Morocco have different ways of commemorating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Their traditions blend with local culture, ranging from parades and colourful lights to chants of praise, food, and social activities. However, the scale of festivity is not always about the number of people. Some celebrations stand out because they involve the state, while others become a strong part of a city’s cultural identity.

In Pakistan, the Prophet’s birthday, or Eid Mawlid Al-Nabi, is celebrated widely up to the government level. In 2021, the government designated the day as a national holiday and prepared a series of events in various regions. In the capital, the celebration was planned to begin with a Mehfil-e-Naat, a conference and religious activity. The government also prepared 31 gun salutes at the federal level and 21 gun salutes in provincial capitals. The celebration did not stop at official events. Roads, markets, shopping centres, and government and private buildings were decorated with lights for several days. Parades were also held in various areas, while food and sweets were distributed in markets, schools, orphanages, and homes for people with disabilities. At that time, Prime Minister Imran Khan encouraged the public to celebrate the Mawlid on a scale he called an “unprecedented manner”.

In Bangladesh, the festivity of the Mawlid is visible from processions that bring thousands of people onto the streets of Dhaka. On 28 September 2023, thousands of Muslims joined the Jashne Julush to commemorate Eid-e-Miladunnabi. The procession started from Suhrawardy Udyan and passed through several areas, including Shahbagh, Matsya Bhaban, Doyel Chattar, and the Engineers Institution. Participants carried Bangladeshi flags, colourful banners, and various religious writings. After the procession, a peace conference was also held at Suhrawardy Udyan. The commemoration was led by Sayeed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani, Chairman of the Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP), Liberal Islamic Alliance, and Anjuman-e-Rahmania Mainia Maizbhandaria. In his speech, Saifuddin Ahmed said the Prophet Muhammad is an example for human life and emphasised the importance of peace and coexistence amidst differences.

In Sarawak, Malaysia, the 2026 Maulidur Rasul celebration is also being prepared on a large scale. A total of 125 contingents with 6,219 participants are scheduled to take part in the Sarawak-level celebration on 24-25 August 2026. The number of participants can still be adjusted according to the capacity of the event location. Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, said adjustments are made so that the activity proceeds in an orderly manner while still paying attention to the safety and comfort of participants. The series of events is quite long. In addition to the remembrance and thanksgiving ceremony at Al-Muttaqin Mosque, there is a Zikir Marhaban competition, an Islamic affairs forum, as well as lectures and Maulidur Rasul forums in mosques and suraus throughout the month of Rabiulawal. With 6,219 participants prepared, this celebration shows how Maulidur Rasul in Malaysia is also an organised community agenda, not just a small gathering in the mosque environment.

If Pakistan highlights the national scale and Indonesia displays the richness of regional traditions, Morocco has a celebration that is characteristic of a city. In Salé, a city across from Rabat, the Mawlid is celebrated with a candle procession known as the Moussem of the Candles. Ahead of the Mawlid, tower-shaped candle structures are carried through the streets of the old city. The candles are made using a wooden frame that is then coated with coloured wax and decorated to resemble towers. The procession ends at the mausoleum of Sidi Abdellah Ben Hassoun, who is known as an important figure for the people of Salé. The tradition is associated with the reign of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of the Saadian Dynasty in the late 16th century. The idea of the candle celebration is said to have been inspired by a tradition seen in Istanbul.

In Sudan, the festivity of the Mawlid is not only visible from the crowds on a single day. Studies on Mawlid celebrations in various countries note that the celebration in Sudan can last for 12 days. Large tents are erected, decorated with lights, while the community gathers to chant praises to the Prophet Muhammad. Processions are also part of the celebration. Participants move along the main road while chanting praises and following the rhythm of traditional music. Food is also part of the activity, including the traditional dish khalawiyah. The duration is an important differentiator. In Sudan, the Mawlid not only takes up space on the streets but also extends community activity for nearly two weeks.

In Egypt, the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday is celebrated festively and has become part of the social and religious traditions of the community. The commemoration, which takes place every 12th of Rabiul Awal, is usually filled with Quran recitation, remembrance, communal prayers, lectures, and the reading of poetry and praises to the Prophet. Mosques and various religious gatherings become centres of activity, while the community also gathers with family and shares food and dishes with others. One of the most distinctive traditions is the Mawlid sweets, or halawat al-Mawlid. Ahead of the celebration, shops in various Egyptian cities are filled with assorted sweets that are specially packaged and usually bought to be shared.