Moscow Muslims celebrate birthday of Prophet Muhammad

The event "Mawlid al-Nabi. Soul conversation', dedicated to the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, will be held today in the concert hall 'Crocus City Hall' in Moscow. It is expected that the event will be attended by the chairman of the Russian Muftis Council, Ravil Gaynutdin, President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, and the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov.

According to the organizers, guests of the festival will see a theater performance devoted to the Prophet Muhammad. "This year we would like to show that the religion, religious tenets and dogmas are extremely relevant today," the head of the international department of the Council of Muftis of Russia, Renat Abyanov, said.

The famous film and theater actor Marat Basharov will play a major role in the performance, which will be attended by more than 40 artists. Spiritual songs – nasheeds, adapted and translated into the Russian language – will be presented at the festive concert. Popular singers, including the finalist of 'The Voice Kids' project, Saida Mukhametzyanova, will also perform.

Before the beginning of the performance it will be possible to view an important Muslim relic – a piece of hair of the Prophet Muhammad in the lobby of 'Crocus City Hall'. It was presented by the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, for the opening of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. The relic will be displayed from 17:00 to 18:30 (MSK), TASS cited the press service of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Moscow as saying.

The exact date of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (Mawlid al-Nabi) is unknown. According to tradition, it falls on the 12th day of the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar Rabi-ul-Awwal. But each Muslim community decides itself which day of the month on which to celebrate it. Mawlid al-Nabi is celebrated with prayers and Quran readings. It is a tradition to invite and entertain guests, read the Hadiths and give alms. People began to celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (570-632 CE) only 300 years after the adoption of Islam, it was first mentioned in the 12th century.