Eid-e-Milad 2024: Know All About The Significance Of This Festival

Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi, commonly known as Eid-e-Milad, is a significant Islamic festival commemorating the birth and death of Prophet Muhammad. Observed during Rabi' al-awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar, this festival is marked by prayers, communal gatherings, and various religious practices.

Besides its religious significance, Eid-e-Milad festival made headlines this year after the Maharashtra government and India's central bank, Reserve Bank Of India, ( RBI ) decided to alter the date of this public holiday from September 16 to September 18.

When will it be celebrated? 

Eid-e-Milad in 2024 will be observed from the evening of September 15 to the evening of September 16. This timing aligns with the Islamic calendar’s lunar cycle, reflecting the festival's traditional observance period.

Significance of Eid-e-Milad

Eid-e-Milad honours Prophet Muhammad, who is considered the final messenger of Allah. His teachings, preserved in the Quran, guide Muslims' spiritual and daily lives. Sunni scholars generally place his birth on the 12th of Rabi' al-awwal, around 570 AD in Mecca, while Shia scholars recognize the 17th of the month. The Prophet Muhammad passed away in 632 AD.

The first recorded celebration of Eid-e-Milad occurred around 600 years after the Prophet’s death, during the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt. Some believe the tradition may have originated earlier in Syria or Iraq.

How do people observe Eid-e-Milad?

The festival is a time for reflection, prayers, and community gatherings. Muslims around the world come together to express gratitude through prayer, wearing new clothes, preparing special meals, and visiting mosques and shrines. However, some Islamic traditions, such as Wahhabism, Deobandism, and Ahl-i Hadith, view Eid-e-Milad as a religious innovation rather than a traditional practice.