Afghan Jamat hosts a successful event commemorating Prophet Muhammad’s birthdayAfghan Jamat hosts a

Afghan Jamat hosts a successful event commemorating Prophet
Muhammad’s birthday



Jamati volunteers line up to welcome guests at Uranus Hall in Kabul for
the commemoration of Mowlud-e-Sharif, the birthday of Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). Photo: Courtesy of the
Ismaili Council for Afghanistan

On 23 February, some 800 people gathered at Uranus Hall in Kabul to
commemorate Mowlud-e-Sharif, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him and his family). The event, which was hosted by the
Ismaili Council for Afghanistan, was attended by poets, scholars,
Members of Parliament, government officials and representatives of other
communities in Afghanistan.
Mowlud-e-Sharif — also called Milad-un-Nabi, which
literally means “birth of the Prophet” — has been hosted annually by the
Ismaili Council for Afghanistan since 2002, when Mawlana Hazar Imam
established Jamati institutions in the country. Similar ceremonies were
also held in Baghlan, Bamyan and Badakhshan, each drawing several
hundred attendees.
Leaders of the Jamati institutions in Afghanistan prepare to receive
guests at the Mowlud-e-Sharif event. Photo: Courtesy of the
Ismaili Council for Afghanistan

The Kabul ceremony opened with a recitation from the Qur’an-e Sharif
and the rendition of a qasida by younger members of the Jamat.
Afterwards, various speakers addressed the audience, often recounting
stories from the life of Prophet Muhammad, and the importance of his seerat
(path) in the lives and faith of people today.
Mohammad Ali Setaigh and Shukria Barakzai, both Members of
Parliament, also addressed the gathering. They expressed their
admiration of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s work and his contribution to
Afghanistan. Noting the Ismaili community’s tolerant and peaceful
reputation, they added that the celebration of such events provided a
platform for different communities of interpretation within the ummah
to share their views and contribute to a more pluralistic culture in
Afghanistan.
Some 800 people — women and men — gathered to commemorate Mowlud-e-Sharif
in Kabul. Similar events were hosted by Jamati institutions in other
parts of Afghanistan. Photo: Courtesy of the Ismaili Council for
Afghanistan

Aleem Khalili delivered a message on behalf of his father, His
Excellency, Karim Khalili, the Second Vice-President of Afghanistan, who
regretted that he was unable to attend in person.
Shair Baz Hakemy, President of the Ismaili Council for Afghanistan,
Karim Bakhsh Hashuri, Vice-President of the Council and Ruknuddin
Urfani, Chairman of the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board
for Afghanistan, each spoke at the event. They emphasised the importance
of pluralism, good ethics, equality, humanity and unity for all.
Young members of the Jamat recite devotional poetry in the form of a qasida
as part of the commemoration of Mowlud-e-Sharif in Kabul.
Photo: Courtesy of the Ismaili Council for Afghanistan

“It is a glorious and well organised celebration,” commented Din
Mohammad Mobariz Rashidi, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Culture and
Information. Ismaili volunteers from all Jamatkhanas in Kabul worked
closely with Jamati institutional committee members to ensure that the
event unfolded successfully.
Following the speeches, all the guests were treated to a grand lunch
hosted by the Ismaili Council.