Grand year-long fete to mark 1500th anniversary of Milad-un-Nabi

HYDERABAD: The Markaz-e-Milad Juloos Committee or the Central Milad Procession Committee, Hyderabad, unveiled plans for conducting year-long events, commemorating the 1,500th anniversary of Milad-un-Nabi, the birth of Prophet Muhammad, in mid-September. The committee, representing various Milad committees across Deccan, will oversee celebrations throughout the year.

The festivities will feature seminars, natiya mehfils (poetic gatherings) and literary competitions in educational institutions and at public venues. These events are aimed at engaging not just the Muslim community but also people from other faiths. Programmes will be held across all districts, including in Hyderabad. Religious leaders from all communities will be invited, the committee members decided after a meeting at its office Khanqah Shattaria in Dabirpura.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Maulana Syed Sheikhan Ahmed Qadri Shuttari Kamil Pasha, the committee’s secretary, said that the celebrations will highlight the Prophet’s teachings of mercy, compassion and peace.

"In today’s strife-torn world, the Prophet's messages of love and forgiveness are more relevant than ever before," Kamil Pasha said.

He noted that in recent years, efforts were made to misrepresent the Prophet and his teachings, while misconceptions were also spread.

“We will make efforts to clear these misconceptions and present the teachings of the Prophet which aim to foster interfaith harmony and a deeper understanding of Prophet Muhammad’s life and teachings,” he said.

Kamil Pasha said the detailed schedule of the year-long celebrations and the grand procession will be announced following the sighting of the moon for Rabi ul-Awwal, the third month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Milad-un-Nabi falls on the 12th of Rabi ul-Awwal. The Committee said it was working with various organisations, including the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) to ensure the success of the celebrations, Kamil Pasha added.

Meanwhile, the committee reelected Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Muzaffar Hussain Bandanawazi as the convener of the Central Milad procession.

The annual Milad processions, which sees participation of thousands of faithful, was rescheduled last year as it coincided with the Ganesh immersion festival, a move that was widely hailed.

Committee office-bearers Maulana Syed Khadir Mohiuddin Qadri Junaid Pasha and Maulana Syed Muhammad Ali Qadri Al-Hashmi Mumshad Pasha, were present.