Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi 2023: Date, history and importance

Muslims from the Sufi or the Barelvi school of thought celebrate the birth anniversary of the last Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad, as Eid Milad-un-Nabi or Eid-e-Milad which is also called Nabid and Mawlid in colloquial Arabic. The festival is celebrated by the Sufi and Barelvi sect during Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.

Muslims belonging to the Sufi and Barelvi schools of thought celebrate the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad as Eid Milad-un-Nabi, also known as Eid-e-Milad, Nabid, and Mawlid in colloquial Arabic. This celebration occurs during Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. The sighting of the crescent moon in October typically marks the beginning of Rabi’ al-awwal in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other parts of the subcontinent region.

In the Islamic lunar calendar, Sunni Muslims celebrating Eid-e-Milad do so on the 12th day of Rabi’ al-awwal, while the Shia community observes it on the 17th day. This year, Eid-e-Milad falls on September 27 in Saudi Arabia and September 28 in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other subcontinent regions.