Mawlūd: Celebrating the birth of the Prophet in Islamic religious rituals and wedding ceremonies in Harar

Abstract

Nabi Mawlid, in the Islamic calendar, is the birthday of the Prophet. Its celebration started around the 13th century and, despite the large theoretical debate surrounding the practice, Mawlid festivals have continued in most Muslim communities throughout history. Furthermore, many texts have been written to celebrate the Prophet's figure, which over time contributed to the development of Mawlid into a poetic genre. Likewise, in Harar there exist several old manuscripts with collections of Mawlūd (Harari for Mawlid) texts dating from at least the 19th century, in addition to the more recent printed editions. The ritual activities surrounding the reading of these written texts developed into peculiar forms, which also honor some local saints and are used to celebrate Islamic feasts and weddings. The present study traces the history of this practice and its contemporary expressions in the city.