Mawlid al-Nabi: A call to prayer

Update #28 for October from the Mahabba Network

‘Happy Birthday!” Birthdays are a time of celebration, and for Muslims in the Uk, and around the world, Mawlid (or Maulid) al-Nabi is no different.

It means 'birth of the prophet'. The exact date of Muhammad's birth is not known so communities celebrate on different days. In the UK it’s being celebrated on Tuesday, 19th October.

While many Muslims choose to celebrate Mawlid al-Nabi, others do not consider it appropriate to celebrate and instead prefer to mark the day with quiet reflection and prayers. One thing is common though, all Muslims show the greatest of respect to Muhammad. And they use this time to express their gratitude to God. They look back over the life of Muhammad, remembering his teachings and sharing important stories.

In cities around the UK where there is a sizeable Muslim community, there are often processions to mark religious festivals, which help bring communities together in celebration. COVID permitting there may be celebrations like this in your city or town.

So, how can we pray for our Muslim friends and colleagues during Mawlid?

Let’s go to the scriptures.

“Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

• Pray that Muslims would find Jesus, and that their spiritual hunger would be met by Him.

• Pray that they would meet followers of Jesus, that would gently but clearly share the good news with them.

• Pray for Christians who are living and working among these communities at this time. Pray that God gives them wisdom in how to share their faith, and where the love of God can be demonstrated.

• Pray that God would give each one of us the opportunity to share our own story of how we met Jesus.

Mawlid is a great time to talk about how important Jesus is, not just as a prophet, but as our Saviour. Starting a conversation can be tricky, but it’s as simple as asking ‘How will you be celebrating Mawlid?’

They might be looking forward to it, or condemn it. They might say it is merely culture (“you know, like Christmas”). Whatever their response, it’s an opportunity to deepen your friendship with them.

If you’d like to know more about Mawlid al-Nabi we have a great resource on our website, just click the button below.