Why the difference of opinion when it comes to celebrating the 'Milaad'? (From Asian Image)

Why the difference of opinion when it comes to celebrating the 'Milaad'?

7:50pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Columnists By Asif Mahmud

Whilst putting lights-up for festivals is a common practice, people may have noticed more and more Muslim households with lights in the windows this January.

Go down some Asian neighbourhoods and you will see row homes with decorative lights-up.

This month, Muslims were celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).

On the last Sunday of this month, before Milad-un-Nabi, the anniversary of the Prophet's birth, many mosques grouped together for Blackburn's largest Muslim event and this included a procession, of some 4,000-strong, through the heart of the Asian area.

Rows of men and children walked down from the Jamia Madina Mosque on Oak Street and proceeded along Whalley Range.

Stewards who adorned hi vis jackets trying to keep the procession moving at a brisk pace and preventing the footpaths becoming blocked.

En route, children running alongside, and shopkeepers rushed out to offer Asian style sweets, soft drinks and rice puddings.

Over the last few years, the numbers and interest within the Muslim community has grown and similar events take place in towns and cities across the country where there is a significant presence of Muslims such as London, Birmingham and Bradford.

The march is a means for Muslims to demonstrate their love of the Prophet (PBUH).

In the front row of marchers are Imams of the mosques, who command a great deal of respect and power amongst those gathered.

This public celebration could signify a unity and brotherhood but does not everyone celebrate it?

Within the Muslim community, the occasion is the subject of some debate.

The issue of the celebration remains a thorny subject.

This year I went along to the celebrations and posed questions to some of the marchers regarding the difference of opinion amongst Muslims as to whether it is right or wrong to celebrate the Milad.

Those who oppose any such celebrations more than often tend to be associated with the Saudi-based 'Wahhabi teachings', which holds that it is idolatrous to identify or commemorate real episodes from the life of Muhammad.

During Muhammad’s life, it is widely accepted by most Muslims that he fasted every Monday to commemorate his own birth.

The annual celebration was not introduced until 1207AD, by Muzaffar ad-Din ibn Zain al-Din, ruler of Irbil in Iraq.

It spread from there to Egypt and Makkah, and is celebrated today in Muslim communities from Lahore to Sarajevo, but is suppressed in modern, Wahhabi Saudi Arabia.

Even though the controversy rages within the Muslim community, thankfully it is only at a theological level.

The events always pass peacefully and this years was no different except each year the celebrations have become more and more grander, with street decorations, lighting, and greater numbers.

There are differences of opinion on this matter and those cannot be discounted.