In pictures: Muslims around the world celebrate Mawlid, the birthday of Islam's Prophet Muhammad
Muslims around the world are celebrating the birth of the prophet Muhammad, which occurs on the 12th day of Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.
Muslims around the world are celebrating the birth of the prophet, Muhammad, which occurs on the 12th day of Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. The day of observance is known as Eid-e-Milad or Mawlid al-Nabi, shortened to Mawlid (or variations of the spelling, such as Moulid, Milad or Mevlit).
The prophet's birth anniversary is celebrated by mainstream Sunni and Shia denominations of Islam. However, some branches of Islam, such as Wahhabism and the Ahmadiyya disapprove of comemorating the date. Mawlid is a national holiday in most Muslim majority countries, apart from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Prophet Muhammad was born in AD 570 and is believed by Muslims to be a messenger and prophet sent by God. His birthday is observed by prayers at mosque and charity for the poor. This year, Mawlid falls between the evenings of 30 November and 1 December. IBTimes UK presents photographs of Muslims around the world celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
Six-year-old Habiba hugs Aroset El Moulid or (Bride of Moulid) traditional sugar candy in the shape of dolls, in preparation for the celebration Prophet Muhammad's birthday, in Tanta, north of Cairo, EgyptAmr Abdallah Dalsh/ReutersA Yemeni boy with the world 'Allah' in Arabic painted on his face attends a rally in Sanaa on the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad's birthdayMohammed Huwais/AFPAn Iraqi Kurd prays on the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday in the town of Akra, some 500 kilometres north of BaghdadSafin Hamed/AFPPeople take part in a procession to celebrate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad in Benghazi, LibyaEsam Omran al-Fetori/ReutersKashmiri Mulsims react as a priest displays a relic believed to be a hair from the beard of Prophet Muhammad on the occasion of the birthday of the Prophet, at the Hazratbal Shrine in SrinagarTauseef Mustafa/AFPKashmiris react as a relic believed to be a hair from the beard of Prophet Muhammad is displayed at the Hazratbal Shrine in SrinagarTauseef Mustafa/AFPA woman prays during the birth anniversary of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, at Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, KashmirDanish Ismail/ReutersA mosque is illuminated for the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, in Karachi, PakistanAkhtar Soomro/ReutersA mosque is illuminated for the celebrations of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, in Karachi, PakistanAkhtar Soomro/ReutersA mosque is seen illuminated for the birthday of Islam's Prophet Muhammad in Lahore, PakistanMohsin Raza/ReutersA mosque in Karachi is illuminated during celebrations marking the birthday of Prophet MuhammadAsif Haasan/AFPA man walks along a street illuminated for Prophet Muhammad,'s birthday in Karachi, PakistanAkhtar Soomro/ReutersA mosque is seen illuminated ahead of the birthday of Islam's Prophet Mohammad in Rawalpindi, PakistanFaisal Mahmood/ReutersYemeni Muslims attend a rally in front of al-Saleh mosque in Sanaa on the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad's birthdayMohammed Huwais/AFPPeople walk through a market decorated for the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad in Lahore, PakistanArif Ali/AFP
