The Origin of Mawlid al-Nabi ﷺ: Initiated by Shi‘i Fatimid Rulers
Compiled by: Abu Ismail Abdul Ghafar, Hyderabad, India
❖ Testimony of Imam Ibn al-Tuwair (617H)
Imam Abu Muhammad ‘Abd al-Salam ibn al-Hasan al-Fihri al-Qaysarani al-Misri, known as Ibn al-Tuwair (617H), wrote:
النص العربي:
«ذِكْرُ جُلُوسِ الْخَلِيفَةِ فِي الْمَوَالِدِ السِّتَّةِ…»
Translation:
“It is mentioned that the Fatimid caliphs observed six different mawlids on different dates:
- Mawlid al-Nabi ﷺ
- Mawlid of Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)
- Mawlid of Fatimah (RA)
- Mawlid of Hasan (RA)
- Mawlid of Husayn (RA)
- Mawlid of the current caliph.”
Nuzhat al-Muqallatayn fi Akhbar al-Dawlatayn by Ibn al-Tuwair, p. 217–219, ed. Ayman Fu’ad Sayyid❖ Testimony of Imam al-Qalqashandi (821H)
Shihab al-Din Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn ‘Ali al-Qalqashandi (821H) wrote:
النص العربي:
«…الجلوس الثالث: جلوسه في مولد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في الثاني عشر من شهر ربيع الأوّل».
Translation:
“One of the Fatimid caliphs’ ceremonies was on the 12th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal, when they held a procession for Mawlid al-Nabi ﷺ.”
Subh al-A‘sha fi Sina‘at al-Insha, vol. 3, p. 502–503, Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyyah❖ Testimony of Imam al-Maqrizi (845H)
Taqi al-Din Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn ‘Ali al-Maqrizi (845H) wrote:
النص العربي:
«وكان للخلفاء الفاطميين اعتناء بعمل الموالد في القاهرة…»
Translation:
“The Fatimid caliphs of Cairo used to celebrate several mawlids: Mawlid al-Nabi ﷺ, the mawlid of ‘Ali, the mawlid of Fatimah, the mawlid of Hasan, the mawlid of Husayn, and the mawlid of the current caliph.”
Al-Mawa‘iz wa al-I‘tibar bi Dhikr al-Khitat wa al-Athar (al-Khitat al-Maqriziyyah),- vol. 1, p. 490, Dar Sadir Beirut
- vol. 2, p. 347, ed. Dr. Muhammad Zaynhum & Madiha al-Sharqawi
- vol. 2, p. 436, ed. Khalil al-Mansur, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah
❖ Conclusion
The above historical testimonies prove that Mawlid al-Nabi ﷺ was first introduced by the Shi‘i Fatimid rulers in the 4th century Hijri. They not only celebrated the Prophet’s ﷺ mawlid, but also the birthdays of ‘Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, Husayn (RA), and their ruling caliph.
This practice was unknown to the early generations of Muslims (Salaf al-Salih) and was later innovation propagated by the Rafidi Fatimids.
