By Rose of Madinah

The organising of mawlid events especially during the month of Rabi al-Awwal are practiced worldwide with the intention to revisit the life of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and to rejuvenate his love in our hearts.

In essence, all the mawlid majlis share the sirah (biography), encourage the practice of salutations (selawat) upon the Prophet and feeding of the community, all of which are Prophetic encouragements

Different regions have varying melodies and rhythms on how salutations are read to teach and to encourage the practice of selawat. Instruments like duff and Qasida (poems and odes) are also usually part of Mawlid majlis and are part of the heritage of Islamic arts from the time of the Prophet ﷺ to demonstrate the vastness of Islam and the permissibility of decent recreation and light hearted activities in Islam.

There are numerous virtues and blessings this month has brought to our nations and we state some of them as follows:

Gratitude to Allah for sending us a Prophet ﷺ to guide us

لَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۭ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

“There certainly has come to you a messenger from among yourselves. He is concerned by your suffering, anxious for your well-being, and gracious and merciful to the believers.”
Quran 9:128

A means to increase the recitation of Selawat upon our Prophet ﷺ

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

“Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels (ask Him to do so). O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask (Allah to grant him) peace.”
Quran 33:56

When one-third of the night would pass the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would get up and call out, “O people, remember Allah. The Rajifah (i.e., the first Blowing of the Trumpet which will shake the whole universe and thus cause all life to cease) has come, followed by Ar-Radifah (i.e., the second Blowing of the Trumpet which will restore life and thus mark the Resurrection Day). Death has approached with all that it comprises. Death has approached with all that it comprises.”

I said: “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I frequently invoke Allah to elevate your rank. How much of my supplications should I devote to you?”

He said, “You may devote as much as you wish.”

When I suggested a quarter, he said, “Do whatever you wish, but it will be better for you if you increase it.”

I suggested half, and he said, “Do whatever you wish, but it will be better for you if you increase.”

I suggested two- thirds, and he said, “Do whatever you wish but it will be better for you if you increase it.”

I said, “Shall I devote all my supplications invoking Allah to elevate your rank?”

He said, “Then you will be freed from your worries and your sins will be forgiven.“

[Tirmidhi]

To attend gatherings which assist to revisit the Sirah of our Prophet ﷺ

THE INTENTIONS & BENEFITS FOR ATTENDING MAWLID GATHERINGS:

To attend a gathering to invoke blessing and prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ.
To attend a gathering which the scholars encourage people to attend.
To listen to an account of the life of al-Mustafa — The Chosen One ﷺ.
To attend a gathering of counsel and guidance.
To implement what you have heard of the Muhammadan characteristics.
To occupy your time in what is good.
To increase the number of people of truth.

So that Allah may grant you the Prophet’s ﷺ character and qualities, as described in the mawlid.

So that through your attendance you are able to fulfil some of your duties towards the Envoy ﷺ.

So that you will be ennobled by Allah with a vision of the Prophet ﷺ.

[Al-Habib Muhammad bin Alawi al-Aydarus, al-Kitab al-Niyyat (The Book of Intentions)]

To intensify our efforts to attain a dream of our Prophet ﷺ

Here are four steps towards dreaming of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

Intense Yearning for our Beloved ﷺ

Strive to emulate our Beloved ﷺ

Send Abundant Prayers and Blessings Upon our Beloved ﷺ

Strive to be in the Company of the Lovers of our Beloved ﷺ

To carry the trust of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

وعن سهل بن سعد رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال لعلي رضي الله عنه ‏:‏ ‏ “‏فوالله لأن يهدي الله بك رجلا واحدا خير من حمر النعم‏”‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)

Sahl bin Sa’d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said to ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him), “By Allah, if a single person is guided by Allah through you, it will be better for you than a whole lot of red camels.”
Al-Bukhari and Muslim