Like Xmas, Mohammad’s birthday should be holiday – Malawi Muslims

Malawi Muslims  have   started a campaign to make, the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad, a national holiday like  Christmass day, the birth of Jesus Christ for Christians.

Executive director for Al-Traq Qadeia Sunni Association Faizal Aboo said having a national celebration for the prophet’s birthday would enable the  Muslims  in Malawi to have an annual celebration and would foster a spirit of cooperation with those of other faiths.

Aboo made the remarks during this year’s Ziyarah Parade which marks the birthday of Prophet Muhammad held in Blantyre attended by Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Atupele Muluzi , who represented President Peter Mutharika.

“We are asking you our brother Atupele Muluzi to take this request to the President to consider declaring this day a national public holiday for the sake of about five million Muslims in Malawi,” Aboo said.

“Malawi as a democratic country needs to consider us, Muslims, to celebrate this birthday while at home and that those working should be given a full day of celebrations,”  he added.

Muslim scholars disagree over the legality of celebrating this holiday. Those who oppose celebrating the Prophet’s birthday argue that there are no accounts of the Prophet Muhammad or his early companions celebrating his birthday.

Despite the disagreement, one thing that all Muslims agree on is the importance of the Prophet Muhammad in the Islamic worldview. He is considered to be the example that all Muslims strive to emulate and for this reason his life is remembered and commemorated in some way by all his followers, whether they celebrate his birthday or not.

Muluzi, a Mosque going Moslem, said Prophet Muhammed described the birthday is “very important” and assured that he would extend the request to the Head of State for consideration.

He was, however, quick to urge all Muslims in the country to work together and be united.

Government figures suggest that Muslims account for 12 percent of Malawi’s 14 million-strong population, while Muslims puts the number at 36 percent.

Islam is the second largest religion in the country after Christianity.

The parade—which started at 10 am from Kanjedza Muslim Jamaat to Mpingwe Sports Club—had many guests including some from Mozambique.