The Waswahili Community Trust UK
(Wadhamini wa Jumuiya ya Waswahili)
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The Waswahili Community Trust UK |
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Why Muslims Worldwide Commemorate the birthday of Prophet Mohammad?
Peace and Blessing be Upon him (P.B.U.H.)
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The Waswahili Community Trust (WCT) like most other places in the United Kingdom and around the Muslim world in general organised, a very moving religious event on Sunday 16th May. 04. This particular occasion was to mark the anniversary of the birthday of the Holy prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him (P.B.U.H). This very important celebration in the calendar of Islam set the eyes of many faithful attending the anniversary of the Holy prophet Mohammed.
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According to the latest Census of 2001, after Christianity, Islam was the most common faith in the United Kingdom, with nearly 3 per cent describing their religion as Muslim. In general the total Muslim Population is 1.6 million. also, shows that most of the Muslim population live in the Metropolitan conurbation such as London, Birmingham, Glascow, Cardif etc.
The Census ethnic category, as shown above, also shows that 69 per cent of UK Muslims are from the Indian Sub-continent. Further breakdown shows that 6 per cent are Black Caribbean, Black African, and Other Black.And 21 per cent include Muslims of Arab, Turkish and Persian ethnicity. Therefore, the above figures shows that Islam is one of the fasts growing religion in the UK.
Also, Muslims are very active and play a great part in the contribution and participating in the wider society in the local and at the national level. As one elderly Kenyan Muslim Abdul Aziz Abdalla was quoted saying:
The Maulid committee under the chairmanship of its Project Manager Habib Swaleh, appointed by the trustees has provided good leadership in the planning and organising this very important and very successful event in the calendar of Islam.
The committee,therefore, must be congratulated for its hard work and its organisational skill in the planning and organising and inviting guest-speakers from East Africa who attended the celebration. Among the Muslim scholars who attended the celebration, and addressed the audience is Professor of linguistic Studies Mohammed Bakari from Kenya whose work is well read on such subjects as socio-economic, cultural and religious affairs.
Professor Mohammed Bakari,opened the session with his scholarly insight and wisdom by emphasising the significance of this very important occasion. As he encouraged the audience when delivering his speech, "to hold in high esteem this annual event." And reminding the audience, "to honour the greatest human creation of Allah on earth, who is the final seal of all the Prophets."
It must also be stressed that Rabi-ul-Awwal is one of the most important months in the Islamic calendar, when the Mankind was bestowed with the blessings of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) on 570 A.D.in Mecca West of the Arabian Peninsular, at a time when that Mankind was in the midst of ignorance.
He was the greatest leader Mankind had ever seen. It is for this reason that the birth of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) is being celebrated world-wide:
"Whoever introduced a beneficiary action in Islam, will be rewarded for his practice as well as for the practice of the people who follow."
Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H.) was quoted from Micat collection,Bab-ul-Ilm.
This is an innovation (Bid'a) that is permissible in Islam by most of the authoritative scholars (Fiqaha) as long as it does not contradict or erase on ones obligation (Fardh) (Sunnah), or a (Wajib act. This is an attribute of the living nature of Islam, as it is a religion for all people and all times. It is, of course, up to the individual person as to the manner and means in which they would like to celebrate this highly valued occasion.
However, it can be said that a case of precedence is already being established from the holy Qur'an itself. For example, in Sura Al-Maryam (19:15,33) Allah (S.W.T.) orders the followers of the prophet Jesus (Isa A.S.) and of Prophet John (Yahya A.S.) to send blessings and salutations on them on the day of their births, imitating the practice of the Lord himself.
This is known as Sunna-nul-Ilahiyya and Suna-nul- Anbiyah. Maulid or Meelad is the expression of individual gratitude, collective awareness and communal appreciation of Allah's mercy. It is an assembly of the praising and remembrance of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) as set down in the Qur'an: and for your sake: O' Prophet, we have elevated your remembrance (Ash-Sharh 94:4)
There are five things that Almighty Allah granted to Muhammad (S.A.W) that were not granted to any other prophet. "Bukhari" and "Muslim" reported on the authority of Jabir Ibn Abdalla that the messenger of Allah (S.W.T.) said I have been granted upon five things, which were not granted to any other prophet before me.
Firstly, I have gained victory with , for the period of one month, secondly, the earth has been made pure and mosque for me, so whenever the time of prayer comes for anyone of you, he should pray whenever he is, thirdly, the spoils of war have been made lawful for me, and these were never made lawful to anyone before, fourthly, I have been granted Shafaa (intercession) on behalf of my people), fifthly, every prophet was sent particularly to his own people, whereas I have been sent to all Mankind.
For many centuries, the Maulid played a leading role in maintaining the unified body of the Muslims and acted as a springboard for the Islamic propagation (Da'wah) to the rest of the world. There are three main reasons why the birthday of prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) should be commemorated annually. Firstly, the Qur'an states clearly:
"Truly, Allah and his angels send blessings on the prophet. Oh you who believe! Send blessings on him and salute him with all respect." (22:56)
Secondly, it should be remembered that the Prophet, himself used to celebrate the day of his birth and show gratitude to Allah for his great blessings upon him. As he was once asked about fasting on Mondays, and replied:
"On that day I was born, and on that day I received the revelation."
Thirdly, to feel happiness when remembering the prophet is required by a command of the Qur'an: ²say by the grace of Allah and his mercy, let them rejoice in that" (10:58).
Therefore, what the Waswahili Community Trust (WCT) had done in London on this day was to entertain the crowd by providing a traditional performance of poetry. The rhythmic chanting of religious hymns, in poetical form using special Swahili traditional drums, (matwari) and by narrating the life history and achievement of the most cherished and revered leader of over one billion Muslims world-wide.
This celebration was also marked not only in religious way but also with a strong Swahili traditional and cultural dimension. As some groups in their artistic expression played tambourines and dressed in Muslim attire. The traditional dimension has also been welcome by the audience.
The occasion,however, was very significant and very emotional. The whole atmosphere was heart-felt and reminiscent of the century-old; most celebrated annual historic Lamu Maulid on the Kenya coast. Which is attended by many guests coming as far as Malawi, South Africa, Mozambique, Comoro Island, Uganda, Somalia, Tanzania etc. It is, however, widely known that Lamu or Amu organse annually the most celebrated Meelad-un-Nabi ever celebrated in the whole of East Africa. As Lamu is therefore known that as being the heart and soul of Islamic learning in the whole of East Africa.
It can be argued also that Lamu Maulid celebration is being repeated in the heart of Europe in east London. Thanks to the Swahili Diaspora into the Western world that has so far provided the opportunity of the melting-pot experiment of multiculturalism, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic environment of the London Borough of Newham's most diverse communities.
On the other hand,it is even being suggested that the organisation should organise Mombasa-style or Lamu-style processions (zefe) in the afternoon before Maulid in the evening. This suggestion is under consideration.
Maulid celebration is also usually an occasion for establishing new contacts, meeting old friends and acquaintances. Most importantly, the occasion becomes a forum for (ulemas) scholars to meet and exchange ideas and knowledge or to plan new strategies in spreading the word of (Allah) God.
The wide ranging of ideas and religious knowledge reflecting the birthday, and the life of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) are being repeated in the special lectures that eminent invited scholars who are specialised in their many different disciplines share their thoughts, knowledge,and experience of this holy gathering. In otherwords the audience always look forward with great joy and expectation to take part in this important event.
In conclusion it can be said that members of the congregation left the premises spiritually satisfied and not to mention the benefits that accrue from attending such gatherings. It must be noted,however,that although ladies did not have the opportunity to participate on this day because,of the lack of adequate space, but they organised their own Maulid celebration,which was very successful. In this sense, therefore, the opportunity to learn from women was not lost. As the holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) himself once said:
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Copyright© March 2003: The Waswahili Community Trust (UK)
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