Last week Sunday I attended the first ever Mass Mawlid held at the Cape Town Urban Park with my Mum and Aunt. Mawlid signifies the day the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born. We honour the day with prayer and the remembrance of God, thanking Him for blessing us with our Beloved Prophet as he taught us how to practice our faith perfectly.With a turn out of over 20 000 people, it was a beautiful sight to behold as everyone was dressed in their white abayahs and salaah tops.
As we all made the slow walk towards the Urban Park, I instantly thought of the days of Hajj and the day of Arafah. The experience provided me with a small taste of what the Pilgrimage is like and it includes an abundant amount of patience. With so many people squashed up against as you make your way to the same area, and it's extremely hot.. you start feeling claustrophobic, you have someone knocking their backpack into you and another person knocking their umbrella into your head. Eish! It's so easy to become annoyed and push back into the person and give them a dirty look. But that is where the test lies... To not lose your cool and try your best to remain focused on your spiritual aims and goals.
During our time there we were treated to various Ulama and Jamaahs with their recitations of the remembrance of God and the Prophet (pbuh) and a march by the Habibia Brigade. The Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, made an appearance too and she looked lovely in her hijab. Overall it was beautiful event and I look forward to the next one Insha Allah. There is already talk that the Mass Mawlid 1435 will also be making it's way to other parts of the country including Durban and Johannesburg, Ameen.
Saara
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Lovely post! You're inspiring me to write about the Mass Mawlid as well :)
ReplyDeleteI think the part that resonates most with me is how the experience gave you a glimpse of what the pinnacle of Hajj is like. I felt it exactly like that and the white I was wearing was from the ihraam during my time on Hajj, even the heat reminded me which intensified that feeling.
Through all of the "tribulations" of the day and the struggle to not lose your cool, the celebration really was one of united love and exercising raghmah/mercy. I look forward to next year's Mass Mawlid and also for the next time I'm granted to experience Hajj again, Ameen, Insha'Allah.
Must have been amazing to be there with all this people!
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/Stephanie / http:// mydarlingsolitude.blogspot.com ♥