Egyptians to Celebrate Mawlid Al-Nabi On Oct.19

Muslims throughout Egypt will celebrate Mawlid Al-Nabi (The Birth Anniversary of Islam Prophet Muhamed Ibn Abdulah) on Oct.19.

Every year, Mawlid al-Nabi is celebrated on the twelfth day of the month Rabi’ al-Awwal. This special occasion is cited as one of the most sacred holidays in Islam, in which it commemorating and honoring the birth of the Prophet in a ritual called the Mawlid.

On this date every year, Egyptian citizens celebrate this special day by coming together and by decorating their local mosque with lights, holding large festive gatherings, attending lectures about the Prophet’s life and virtues, and reciting the Qur’an, litanies, as well as devotional poetry of the Prophet.

Notably, the Aroust Elmouled and its sweets traditions which we know today were first introduced during the Fatimid Caliphate era; before then, celebrations involved readings of the Quran and Hadiths only.

It is also traditionally a busy travel holiday; driving is more hazardous than usual due to increased traffic congestion and public transportation is generally more crowded.

In Egypt, government offices, private businesses, and financial institutions will close in many areas for at least two days for the holiday. Public entities and businesses will likely announce the exact closure dates a few days before the holiday.

Last year's festivities were likely to be impacted by measures to halt the spread of COVID-19, such as movement controls, business closures, night curfews, and bans on public gatherings. In this regard, Egyptian authorities enhanced monitoring and enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions.