12:10, 30 November 2017

In Grozny, exhibition of relics timed to Prophet Muhammad's birthday

Grozny. Photo by Magomed Magomedov for the "Caucasian Knot"

Today, Chechnya is holding festive events on the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. An exhibition of relics belonging to the Prophet Muhammad and Chechen saints was opened in the "Heart of Chechnya" Mosque, and fireworks were arranged before the morning prayer. Some of the local residents are dissatisfied with secular celebration of the holiday.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Chechnya started to celebrate the Prophet Muhammad's birthday on a large scale since 2009.

Chechnya traditionally celebrates the Prophet Muhammad's birthday on the 12th day of Rabi-al-Awal, the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar. On that day, Muslims are holding mawlids solemn events to praise the Prophet Muhammad.

Among the relics displayed in the "Heart of Chechnya" Mosque, there are the hair of the Prophet Muhammad, a footprint of his foot and his sabre.

According to the Muftiate, every Muslim believer should devote the month of Rabi-al-Awal to prayers.

Some residents of Chechnya talk about the benefits of festive events, while others treat them as an innovation which does not correspond to Islam.

There is nothing reprehensible in celebrating the Prophet Muhammad's birthday as a holiday, believes Isa, a local religious leader.

"What can be wrong with the fact that believers gather in mosques and read the Koran? Such things are said by those who have little knowledge of Islam," he said.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Source: CK correspondents