Mawlid Celebrations 2016

Jashne Aamade Rasool/Celebrations of the Coming of the Messenger

This famous South Asian praise song heralds the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) describes the delight of his mother Lady Aminah and links him to Adam and Jesus, my God’s peace be upon them both. Here is the English translation to the lyrics:

Celebrations of the coming of the Messenger; the flower of Lady Aminah.

When the master was about to come the maidens and boy servants of Paradise began to rejoice. The light spread everywhere; with the coming of the Chosen One came life to us all. O Halima in your lap has arrived the Messenger of both worlds.

Celebrations of the coming of the Messenger; the flower of Lady Aminah.

Some would praise his face; some would praise his locks of hair. Seeing this, Aminah began smiling.
Eve and Mary too began rejoicing. Lady Aminah began saying to everybody, ‘The prayer has been accepted!’

Celebrations of the coming of the Messenger; the flower of Lady Aminah.

Festive music was sounded. Songs of happiness were heard by all. Everywhere shouts of ‘peace on him’
Today the Beloved of God has been born. Thereafter Gabriel announced, ‘this truly is the Messenger of God!’

Celebrations of the coming of the Messenger; the flower of Lady Aminah.

Farhan Ali Qadri (Pakistan)

Nader Khan (Canada)

Owais Raza Qadri (Pakistan)

Shabnam Majid (Pakistan)

Zain Bhika (South Africa)

Qasida Burda/The Poem of the Cloak

The Qaseeda Burda is a 13th century poem about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) written by Imam al-Busiri of Egypt. Divided into 10 chapters and comprised of 160 rhyming verses, this qasida is one of the most widely known praise songs in the Sunni world. The refrain, translated below, is often recited during Mawlid celebrations:

O Protector, send prayers and peace always and forever upon Your beloved, the best out of all of Creation.

Muhammad is the Master of the two worlds and the two groups (humanity and jinn), and the Guide of both the Arabs and the non-Arabs.

He is our Prophet, commanding the right and forbidding the wrong, and there is none more true in word, saying “Yes, this is permitted” or “No, this is not permitted.”

He is the Beloved of the One, from whom we have hopes of intercession from all the woes that have descended upon the humans.

He called us to the path of Allah, and those who cling to him have held the rope of Allah so tight, that it would never break.

He surpasses all the Prophets in creation and in character; none could reach his rank in knowledge and in generosity.

Our utmost knowledge about him says that he is a human being; he is the most distinguished and the best, out of all of Creation.”

Chicago Mawlid Committee Medley

A collaboration between Dawud Wharnsby and Raef (Canada & US)

Performed by the Fez Singers of Morocco

Grand Mawlid in Toronto

Marasli Seda, Turkey

Maya Khan from Pakistan

Medreseja Haxhi Sheh Samia (Albania)

Yemeni A Capella

The Travellers/Al-Musafirun

Tala Al Badru Alayna/The White Moon Rose Over Us

Arguably the oldest praise song in Muslim history, The White Moon Rose Over Us is a phenomenally popular global hit. The children of Madina sang this poem as they welcomed the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to their city, after his arduous journey from Makkah. The song marks the second migration, or hijra,  which established the first Muslim state in history. This song has been preserved and sung throughout the last 14 centuries in all corners of the globe. Here is the translation of the main refrain:

O the white moon rose over us
From the valley of Wada’
And we owe it to show gratefulness
Where the call is to Allah

Oh you, who were raised among us
Coming with a word to be obeyed
You have brought to this city nobleness,
Welcome best caller to God’s way

Canadian Children’s Choir

Performed by students at the Gazi Husrev-Begova Medresa in Sarajevo, Bosnia

Singapore Haqqani Ensemble

A stunning Turkish-Bosnian rendition of this famous song

Yusuf Islam’s classic version