How Muslim Families Celebrate Eid Milad un Nabi Around the World 

Fly from Lahore to Cairo to Istanbul to London during Rabi’ al-Awwal, and you’d find Eid Milad un Nabi celebrated in strikingly different ways, yet every single celebration is rooted in the same purpose: honouring the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Here’s a tour of how that shared devotion takes shape around the world. 

South Asia: Processions, Poetry, and Green Decorations 

In countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, Eid Milad un Nabi is often a vibrant public occasion. Streets and buildings are decorated, often in green, and communities hold processions accompanied by naats (devotional poetry in praise of the Prophet ﷺ). Families gather at home to recite the seerah, share sweets, and read Mawlid books for kids to the youngest members of the household. 

The Middle East and North Africa 

In many parts of the Middle East and North Africa, Mawlid is marked with communal gatherings, Qur’an recitation, and the sharing of food among neighbours and extended family. In places like Egypt, Mawlid has historically also taken on a festive, community-fair character, with sweets specifically associated with the occasion. 

Turkey and the Levant 

In Turkey, the occasion is often referred to as Mevlid Kandili, marked by special mosque programmes, recitations of the Mevlid-i Şerif (a famous poem on the Prophet’s ﷺ birth), and quiet family reflection. Similar community-centred observances take place across much of the Levant. 

Southeast Asia 

In Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, Mawlid is often marked with communal meals, recitation gatherings, and in some regions, public celebrations that blend local culture with Islamic tradition, reflecting the deep, centuries-old roots of Islam in the region. 

Western Countries: A Quieter, Family-Centred Approach 

In the UK, US, and other Western countries, Mawlid is often observed more quietly; through mosque programmes, weekend Islamic school activities, and family gatherings at home. Many parents use the occasion as a dedicated opportunity to read Seerah books for kids, hold a small gathering with other families, or organise a simple crafts-and-storytelling evening for children. 

What Ties These Celebrations Together 

Despite the different customs, one theme runs through nearly every Mawlid celebration worldwide: a desire to pass down the story and character of the Prophet ﷺ to the next generation. Books, storytelling, and shared meals remain the common thread, whether in a bustling Karachi street procession or a quiet living room in London. 

Wherever your family’s roots lie, our Islamic children’s books help you bring a piece of that global tradition into your own home this Mawlid. 

Shaykh Asim Awan

Author

LLB, BA Islamic Scholar, Solicitor & Senior Partner

Graduate of Hijaz College, Maulana Asim completed his LLB at the University of London while he was studying at Hijaz College, attaining an MA Islamic Law and Theology in 2009. He is a qualified solicitor working in Birmingham. He is a Hafiz of the Quran and has been teaching Islamic theology since his graduation. He is also the curriculum convener for the Hijaz Diploma course and a key member of the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal. He is happily married and a father of three beautiful children.