Annual Mawlid Conference 2026

The word Mawlid (also written Milad or Mawlud) comes from the Arabic root meaning birth. When Muslims say “Mawlid al-Nabī” they mean the celebration of the birth of our beloved Prophet, Sayyidunā Muḥammad ﷺ.

It is a time for Muslims to gather together, recite Naʿt (poetry in praise of the Prophet ﷺ), listen to his blessed life story, send Salāwāt upon him, and renew our love and connection to him. Far from being a mere birthday party, the Mawlid is a deeply spiritual occasion rooted in gratitude to Allāh سبحانه وتعالى for sending His greatest blessing to mankind.

Yes. The vast majority of Muslim scholars throughout history — including giants of Islamic scholarship such as Imām al-Sūyutī, Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, Imām al-Nawawī, and Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī — have affirmed that celebrating the Mawlid is not only permissible but praiseworthy.

The Prophet ﷺ himself showed us that commemorating blessed days is part of our faith. When he was asked why he fasted on Mondays, he replied: “That is the day I was born and the day revelation first came to me.” (Muslim). This hadith is one of the key evidences scholars use to support the Mawlid, as it shows the Prophet ﷺ himself marked his own birthday as a day of worship and gratitude.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Fasting; Imām al-Sūyutī, Ḥusn al-Maqṣid fī ʿAmal al-Mawlid

This is a common question and one that deserves a clear, calm answer. The concept of bid‘ah in Islam refers to introducing something into the religion itself that contradicts or has no basis in the Sharīʿah. Scholars have long distinguished between bid‘ah in acts of worship (which is forbidden) and bid‘ah ḥasanah — praiseworthy new practices that have a sound basis in Islamic principles.

Imām al-Shāfiʿiī himself said: “New matters are of two kinds: that which contradicts the Qurʾān, Sunnah, or consensus of scholars — that is bid‘ah ḏallālah (blameworthy). And that which is good and does not contradict any of these — that is bid‘ah ḥasanah (praiseworthy).”

Gathering to praise the Prophet ﷺ, recite from his Sīrah, and send Salāwāt — every one of these acts is individually encouraged in the Qurʾān and Sunnah. Bringing them together on this occasion is therefore praiseworthy, not blameworthy.

Reference: Imām al-Nawawī, Tahdhīb al-Asmāʾ wal-Lughāt; Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, Fatḥ al-Bārī

The spirit of the Mawlid — gathering to honour, praise, and remember the Prophet ﷺ — has roots going back to the earliest generations of Islam. The Companions رضي الله عنهم would regularly gather to recite poetry in his praise, as the great poet Ḥassān ibn Thābit رضي الله عنه did with the full blessing of the Prophet ﷺ himself.

The formalised Mawlid gatherings as we know them today became widespread from around the 6th Islamic century, notably championed by the pious ruler Sulṭān Muzaffar al-Dīn of Irbil, whose Mawlid celebrations were attended and praised by leading scholars of his age, including the great ḥadīth master Imām Ibn Diḥyah al-Kalbī.

Critically, no major scholar of that era declared these gatherings forbidden. The silence of disapproval and the active praise of scholars is itself significant evidence of their acceptance.

Allāh سبحانه وتعالى Himself, along with His Angels, sends blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ. In the Noble Qurʾān He commands the believers: “Indeed, Allāh and His Angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings upon him and greet him with a worthy greeting.” (Sūrat al-Aḥzāb 33:56)

Every single Salāwāt we send returns to us tenfold in blessings from Allāh. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allāh sends ten blessings upon him.” (Muslim). The Mawlid gathering is therefore an extraordinary opportunity to accumulate immense reward simply by doing what Allāh Himself has commanded.

Reference: Sūrat al-Aḥzāb 33:56; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim

Attending a Mawlid gathering carries multiple spiritual benefits:

Renewing love for the Prophet ﷺ — The Prophet ﷺ said: “None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his children, his parents, and all of mankind.” (Bukhārī & Muslim). The Mawlid rekindles this love in the heart.

Learning his Sīrah — Hearing about his birth, his character, and his life is itself an act of worship and a means of guidance.

Community and brotherhood — Gathering with fellow believers in the remembrance of Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ is one of the greatest acts a Muslim can perform. The Prophet ﷺ said that Allāhʼs mercy descends upon gatherings of dhikr.

Spiritual elevation — Scholars teach that sincerely loving and praising the Prophet ﷺ is a direct means of drawing closer to Allāh سبحانه وتعالى and to the Prophetʼs intercession on the Day of Judgement.

The Qiyām — standing when the birth of the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned or when Salāwāt is being recited — is a longstanding practice among Muslims globally. Scholars differ on whether it is obligatory, but the majority consider it a praiseworthy and permissible act of veneration and love.

It is an expression from the heart — a natural rising in honour of the one we love most after Allāh سبحانه وتعالى. Imām al-Sūyutī and many other scholars wrote in its favour, and it has been the practice of the overwhelming majority of Muslims throughout the world for centuries.

Those who do not stand should not be compelled, and those who stand should not be criticised. What matters is the sincerity of the love in the heart.

Make a sincere intention — Intend to attend for the love of Allāh and His Prophet ﷺ, and to increase in knowledge and love.

Recite Salāwāt throughout — Whether travelling to the venue or waiting for the programme to begin, fill that time with blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ.

Bring your family — Especially children. Exposing them to the love of the Prophet ﷺ from a young age plants a seed that will benefit them for life.

Make Duʾā — Gatherings of dhikr and praise are among the best times for duʾā to be accepted. Come with your needs and trust in Allāhʼs generosity.

Share the event — Inviting others earns you a share of their reward. Every person you bring adds to your own scale of good deeds.