One of the main Muslim holidays Mawlid was solemnly celebrated in Kyiv

All visitors were greeted by the Mufti of Ukraine Sheikh Ahmed Tamim. The Mufti thanked all the guests who joined the event on this important day for all Muslims.

The ceremony began with the bringing of relics by Sheikh Ahmed Tamim - the Hair of the Prophet Muhammad. Greeting speeches from state authorities were delivered by Andrey Yurash, Director of the Department of Religious and Ethnic Affairs of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, Igor Podolyanets, Head of the Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religion of the Kyiv Oblast State Administration. The head of Kyiv City State Administration Culture Department Diana Popova sent a greeting letter which was read at the event.

The guests of the evening watched documentary film Revival. In the film, Muslims from different parts of the country tell about the difficulties that arose on their way to observance of religious duties. The theme of Islamic education in modern Ukraine is disclosed, and the role of Muslims of Ukraine at the international level. The film "Revival" is an opportunity to learn about the lives of Muslims who reside in the territory of the whole Ukraine, as well as about what unites Muslims around the world.

In addition to the Muslim community of the capital, guests included representatives of the diplomatic corps, state and municipal authorities, public organizations, as well as cultural and scientific figures. The Ambassadors of Algeria, Egypt, Syria, Cuba, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Palestine, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Macedonia, as well as diplomats from other countries expressed their respect to the RAMU "UMMAH".

Especially for the celebration of Mawlid in Kyiv came Sheikh Jamil Ali - a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.

In the program of the solemn event included religious chants of the verses of the Qur'an, songs about the life of the Prophet Muhammad, performances of on-stage groups, a unique exhibition of Muslim relics, art objects, national dresses of countries where they profess Islam.

The word "Mawlid" means "birth." In Shari'ah this word means the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as the tradition to celebrate this event (the Mawlid al-nabi).

Muslims celebrate Mawlid the Prophet throughout the month of Rabi'ul-au'ual, and also some peoples traditionally hold Mawlid at religious meetings at any time of the year, in Turkey - Mawlid is held every April.

In the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims did not celebrate Mawlid, and the tradition to celebrate this event everywhere appeared later. First Mawlid was widely celebrated at the beginning of the 7th century The Hijra on the initiative of the ruler of Erbil, Muzaffar Abu Sa’eed Al-Kawkaboori At-Turkmanii. He was a famous scientist of that time.

Since then, the tradition of celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad has spread throughout the world. In many countries, in different languages, Muslim scholars composed texts praising the Messenger of Allah in poetic form. These verses Muslims read to this day. One of the most famous texts of Mawlid is Qasīdat al-Burda. It was written by the poet Salih Sharafuddin Muhammad al-Busiri. This poem has become widespread in many Arab countries, as well as in the Caucasus, in Asia.

At present, Mawlid is widely celebrated and has a national significance in Syria, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco and other Muslim countries. In Pakistan, it is an official holiday, celebrated for three days.

Each territory has its own peculiarities of celebration the Mawlids

Almost everywhere there are key moments - it is reading the Holy Qur'an stories about the life of the Prophet, as well as reading poems and odes. After the event, gifts, sweets and treats are distributed.

In the territory of Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Palestine), in Egypt, Malaysia and a number of other countries of the Middle East, throughout the month of Rabi' al-awwal the Muslims decorate the streets, cook treats, arrange joyful processions. In addition to official festivities in mosques, folk festivities are held, they cook food and distribute sweets in the streets and squares.

In the CIS countries, Muslims usually celebrate Mawlid at home. To this event, hosts invite relatives, friends, honourable, poor, elderly people.

The Tatars have tradition to read first Surah Yasin, and then the text of Mawlid in Tatar. The scientist Süleyman Çelebi wrote the text of Mawlid in the Turkic (Old Turkish) language. The text was written in Arabic letters using some additional letters without vowel marks in such a way that both Kazan and Crimean Tatars, as well as Turks, Turkmens, Azeris, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Kirghiz, Kumyks and other representatives of the Turkic language group could read and understand it, because in olden days these peoples used Arabic script in writing. In this text, the biography of the Prophet is described in verse form. Currently, for Mawlid these peoples choose different verses from similar texts, but the goal is one: to collect the Muslims and preserve the heritage.

In the Central and North-Western Caucasus, there are specific traditions of celebrating Mawlid. It should be noted that it may differ even in neighbouring auls (villages).

For example, the Dagestanis conduct Mawlid on various joyful and sad events. According to the tradition of Caucasian hospitality, hosts invite the whole village; the Chechens usually sit on the floor in a circle, put salt and water for baroyat and read the verses of the Qur'an. At the end, they give alms and a national dish of boiled meat with dumplings and sauce - Zhizhig Galnash.

Communities of the DUMU annually hold a large number of Mawlid events throughout Ukraine - in towns and villages, in mosques and at home.