Updated September 2024

Moulood-un-Nabi is a tradition practised by most but not all Muslims. In this article we explain the significance.

Moulood-un-Nabi is widely accepted by most Muslims to signify the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), on the 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. The annual Moulood gathering has been happening in the Cape since the early days of Islam in the region. It is a time for Muslims to come together and join in a mass gathering to celebrate the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Moulood had been practised since the time of the Ottomans, and was even declared a public holiday in 1588. However, with the advent of Wahhabism–Salafism, Deobandism and Ahl-i Hadith, some scholars believe moulood should not be observed as it is a form of bi’dah or innovation, which was not practised by the Prophet (SAW) or the Sahaabah. Most Muslim countries have declared Moulood-un-Nabi a public holiday with the exception of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

So what exactly happens during a Moulood programme? Essentially it entails the coming together of the community, the recitation of the salawaat, qir’ah and thikr, the remembrance of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Often food is served afterwards before people depart.

In Cape Town there is a tradition of the women all dressed in white, coming together for “rampies sny”, the cutting of lemon leaves, which is drizzled with rose water and oils and is then put into small packages and distributed in the community. The scent, believed to be a favourite of the Prophet is intended to act as a reminder in the effort to leading a pious life. This tradition is believed to be of Indonesian origin from where many of the early Muslims in the Cape came from.

There is also the tradition in the Cape of the Marching Band that leads a procession of children and adults in the community to the local mosques where the event will be hosted.

According to an article from Voice of the Cape Radio, and Shaykh Fakhruddien Owaisi, past and present Ulama from the four Madhabs (Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki and Hanbali) have considered the commemoration of the Prophet (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) birth as being Mubah, i.e. permissible, as there is no evidence in the Shari ah that prohibits such an event. However, while commemorating the Maulood cannot be considered Haram, it also must not be considered Fard as it is simply a beneficial practice that is not obligatory.

This year 1446-2024, Moulood-un-Nabi will take place on Sunday 15 September in South Africa. Here are some Moulood celebrations planned for Cape Town.