A peaceful Eid-e-Milad

Better security kept things simple

Eid-e-Milad is celebrated on the twelfth day of Rabiul Awwal all over the Muslim world with the exception of Saudi Arabia. Right from the days of the Abbasid ruler Harun-al-Rashid when the event was accorded official recognition for the first time, the event is commemorated by a mixture of religious observances and festivities. In many parts of Indonesia, the celebration of what is known in the country as Mawlid al-Nabi surpasses in importance, liveliness, and splendour of the two official holidays of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha. Charity and food is distributed, and events in the life of the Prophet (PBUH) are narrated with recitation of poetry by children. In India and Pakistan Mowlud Sharif gatherings are organised at houses, in mosques and public places which are decorated and the occasion is marked by jubilation. Milad processions are taken out in most cities of Pakistan. In South Punjab children wearing Arab dress ride on camels. At other places processionists dressed for the occasion come out in decorated horse driven chaises followed by others driving all sorts of vehicles or following on foot. In Lahore the Milad procession is invariably joined by the Christian youth performing martial arts. Music is played, both religious and pop. Over the decades the festivities have taken the form of pageantry which transcends differences in faith.

Peaceful Milad processions have been boycotted, even condemned, by a small fringe of extremists who believe in a narrow interpretation of Islam. The rallies marking the day however remained unmolested till the advent of militant sectarian outfits like LeJ. After that attacks began to be launched on the processions. In 2006 the entire Sunni Tehrik top leadership was killed at a Milad gathering at Karachi’s Nishtar Park. In 2010 a Milad procession was targeted in DI Khan leading to seven participants killed. Multiple attacks took place in 2012 on the Milad processions in various cities including Mansehra, Gujranwala, Gujar Khan, Mirpur, Khairpur and Karachi. Thanks the elaborate security arrangements this year the day passed off peacefully. As scores of rallies were taken out in different cities, Christian and Hindu religious leaders highlighted the Prophet’s teachings with a universal appeal.

The Milad day celebrations bring together different sects and religions. They are an expression of the interfaith harmony that exists among the vast majority of the population and is disliked by those preaching violence. There is a need on the part of the government to provide proactive support to events like Eid Miladun Nabi that bring together different religious communities and thus promote tolerance. What is more the celebrations can help contain extremist tendencies and thus dry up the sources of succor that sustain the terrorist activity.