Why most Muslims – but far from all – celebrate Mawlid, the Prophet Muhammad's birthday

By Deina Abdelkader, Associate Professor of Political Science, UMass Lowell

Most Muslims celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad on the 12th day of the third month of the Islamic calendar, Rabi’ al-awaal – which starts on the evening of Oct. 7 in 2022. Muslims view the celebration, called Mawlid al-Nabi or simply the Mawlid, like many other Islamic celebrations: as a sign of respect and adoration of Muhammad, whom they believe to be God’s messenger.

According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad was a righteous man born around…

Read complete article

~	A Filipino journalist pushes back against red-tagging and disinformation by taking on Meta

~	UN General Assembly: Principled humanitarian action is under increasing pressure

~	China: Veteran Journalist Charged with ‘Picking Quarrels’

~	Persuasion, Paddington and Patti Smith: what to listen to, read, see and sing along to this week

~	Lily Allen’s West End Girl reflects the idea that women are becoming increasingly disaffected with men

~	What is super flu? And other questions answered

~	The Bible says little about Jesus’ childhood – but that didn’t stop medieval Christians from enjoying tales of him as holy ‘rascal’

~	What’s at stake in Trump’s executive order aiming to curb state-level AI regulation

~	European States Double Down on Cruel Immigration Policies

~	One sperm donor fathered 200 children and passed on a deadly mutation – and it could easily happen again