MUSLIM BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS ENJOYED BY THOUSANDS IN BLACKBURN AND NELSON

FUN IN THE SUN: A crowd over 1,000-strong waved banners and flags as they processed around the Audley area of Blackburn (Photo: blackburncitizen.co.uk)

Blackburn, 14 Rabiul Awwal 1436/5 January 2015 (MINA) – Thousand of Muslim men marched through the streets of Blackburn and Nelson yesterday, to celebrate the birthday of the holy prophet Muhammad.

Prayers, songs and colourful flags were a feature at both events, while women and children handed out cakes to those involved in the processions. Both events picked up more followers as they moved through the streets.

In Blackburn, the march followed a circular route around Audley, after more than 1,000 men gathered at the Jamia Ghosia Mosque in Chester Street from 11am, blackburncitizen.co.uk quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Monday.

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Mohammed Sadiq, one of the organisers, said: “It’s a bit like Christians celebrating Christmas, it’s about bringing the community together and hopefully getting young people to engage as well. We had a full programme in the mosque afterwards with international scholars.”

Imam Shahed Tameez said: “We celebrate because, after God, Muhammad is the most important in the Muslim faith. When he came he changed everything through the law of Sharia. He forbade killing and any form of terrorism or oppression, and gave equal rights to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.”

About 5,000 people attended the event in Nelson, which started at the Ghausia Mosque. Several non-Muslims also took part including Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson.

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Councillor Mohammed Iqbal said: “It was a fantastic atmosphere and a very well organised event.”

There had been concerns the events could be disrupted after dozens of threatening messages were posted on the Facebook page of the ‘Britain First’ campaign group, but each had a significant police presence and no problems were reported.

Large numbers of Sunni Muslims commemorate the birthday, known as Eid Milad-Un-Nabi, which falls on the 12th day of Rabi-ul-Awwal in the Islamic lunar calendar.

Stories are told about different aspects of the life of the Prophet while scholars focus on his teachings and sufferings, although there are only restricted festivities because the same day also marks the anniversary of the death of the Prophet.

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The Prophet Muhammad is widely believed to have been born in Mecca, in present day Saudi Arabia, in AD 570.(T/P009/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)