Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebrated by Muslims in Chicago and suburbs
Every year Muslims around the world celebrate the birth of Mohammed with traditional festivity and religious fervor. He was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 570 AD. Prophet Muhammad's birthday is on the twelfth of Rabi Al-Awwal in the Islamic calendar.
People from the Chicago area Muslim community joined a colorful procession on the occasion of Eid Milad un-Nabi, the anniversary of Prophet Muhammad's birth. Muslim celebrates by remembering episodes from the life of the Prophet Muhammad or by reciting devotional poetry and hymns.
A procession began on Devon Avenue at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, by the Chicago Sunni Muslim Society of North America to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
Religious leaders Mufti Mohsin Makki Sahab and Maulana Maqsood led the annual Milad-Un-Nabi Procession. Hundreds of Muslims from several Islamic organizations took part in the procession which started from Devon and Western intersection and turned around from Rockwell Street and ended on Western and Devon at 3:45 p.m. People were holding play cards and flags. Young children were seen wearing nice dresses.
One of the members of local Islamic organization Ilyas Khokkar explains, "We are celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (the Mawlid); it is good to reflect on the ways in which various memories of Muhammad have continued to reverberate through Islamic society. One of the loveliest has been through a distinctly Islamic tradition called Mevlud (also spelled as Mevlut) which recalls and celebrates the birth of the Prophet. These poems, which might well be called the Nativity of Muhammad, would be recited on major life's occasions, and have been for centuries a key part of the devotional life of Ottomans".
According to a member of local mosque today gathering is an opportunity to bring Muslims together and highlight the message, mission and life of Prophet Muhammad.
Many top of community leader also joined the Milad-Un-Nabi Procession named are Hameed Ullah khan, Minhaj Akhter, Ahmed Khan, Farooq Sardaria, Deedar Ali Shah Etc.
The parade was stopped in front of Ayesha Masjid where special prayers was performed by Mufti Mohsin Makki Sahib and Maulana Akmal. After prayers, all attendees join another program that called Mahfil milad.