It has been an eventful summer for IFANCA. We recently celebrated the Mawlid of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) at our Sabeel Center in Des Plaines, IL. We had an esteemed lineup of speakers and reciters from the Chicagoland area and our special guest, the renowned Hooria Fahim from Pakistan. The event was a great success, bringing the community together to celebrate this joyous occasion.

Mawlid, meaning “birth” in Arabic, refers to the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). In Urdu, it is known as Milad, and both terms are used to honor this occasion, often through gatherings that include recitations of poetry, prayers, and sermons about the Prophet’s life. It is observed in the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal, and celebrations vary across the Muslim world, with some countries featuring large public gatherings, processions, and community meals, as well as lectures on the Prophet’s teachings. Likewise, we endeavored to create an event that embodies all these traditions at our center.

The event commenced with a beautiful recitation of the Qur’an from Ustadha Tahera Ahmed. Next, we were enlightened by speeches from our esteemed speakers from various schools of thought: Shaykh Trent Carl, Maulana Yousuf Abdullah, Professor Inamul Haq, and Sister Fatima Zaidi. They reiterated the message of Muslim unity and the importance of embracing our shared values. Their words resonated deeply with the audience, inspiring attendees to reflect on their faith and renew their devotion to living according to the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ).

After prayers, our event resumed with poetry recitations from Hira Mubashir in Urdu, Muhammad Almajid in Arabic, Dr. Javed Bhatty in Punjabi, and Bülent Köze, who delivered a naat recitation in Turkish while playing a tune on his oud instrument. This showcases the rich diversity within Islamic cultures and highlights how we can come together to respect and share the various ways we celebrate this joyous occasion.

Finally, our special guest from Pakistan, world-famous artist Hooria Fahim, delighted the crowd with her soulful recitations of traditional naat. The lyrics conveyed profound meanings, reflecting the love and respect for the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The event concluded with a delicious dinner of Pulao, Shami Kabobs, Bagharay Baigan, and Kheer.

At Sabeel Center, we are dedicated to keeping the Mawlid a vibrant and meaningful tradition, recognizing its importance in cultivating love and respect for our Prophet (ﷺ). We strive for our community members to not only enjoy poetry but also to feel spiritually inspired by the words of wisdom shared by our guest speakers. Even for those who do not partake in the Mawlid, we want them to understand that there are many ways to honor the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ). By promoting unity and diversity among different sects and ethnicities, we hope to inspire others to hold similar programs in their communities, fostering bonds that strengthen the ummah and encourage a shared commitment to our faith.

Sincerely,

Muhammad Munir Chaudry president