Palestinians in Jerusalem celebrate The Birth Of The Messenger
From boy scout parades to giving away sweets, the Muslim celebration hits different in Jerusalem


Jerusalem24 – The birth of the Messenger is an annual commemoration on the day of the birth of Prophet Muhammad Bin Abduallah. The day is celebrated according to the Islamic Lunar Calendar on the 12th of Rabei’ Al-Awal and according to the Sunnis or the 17th of Rabei’ Al-Awal according to the Shiite.
Popular celebrations begin from the beginning of the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal to its end, by setting up councils in which people sing poems in praise of the Prophet, and in which lessons are from his biography, and his merits are mentioned, and food and sweets are served, such as the sweetness of the birth.
The celebrations of the birth of Prophet Mohammad are different in Jerusalem when compared to other cities in the West Bank and even the Islamic world.

The visitors of the city and the Al Aqsa Mosque get to witness the different boy scout groups march through the streets of the city regardless of the barriers of the Israeli occupation. They will also listen to Islamic carols and congratulate each other.
The celebrations have been an ongoing tradition in Jerusalem for over 600 years.
During the celebrations, Islamic banners and flags fill the streets and are hung on the doors of shops in the old city and the al-Aqsa Mosque. Jerusalemites greet and congratulate each other and give each other sweets.
During the day, singers chant songs along with the boy scouts, through the winding streets of the old city; ending their march at the Al Aqsa Mosque. There the Islamic Endowments organizes a central festival for the memorial at the Qibli Mosque.

Inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards, dozens of families gather for the celebration, where they pray the noon prayers, and then participate in the festivities; after which they have lunch together in the courtyards of the al-Aqsa.