Damascus residents celebrate birthday of Prophet Muhammad at Umayyad Mosque and old city

« Residents of Damascus gathered at the Umayyad Mosque and the Old City on Wednesday to celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.
« In the Umayyad Mosque, this occasion is beautiful. No one should miss the occasion. It is very, very nice. We wish every day to be Ramadan and to birthday of the Prophet, » said a local, while standing near the mosque.
Other locals could be seen walking around the old city market, buying traditional sweets and drinks.
« Damascus exclusively are known to distribute ‘Malbas’ (Dragee) sweets to everyone and celebrate Mawlid at home with the family and children, » said a shop owner.
The prophet’s birthday, also known as Mawlid al-Nabawi al-Sharif, is generally celebrated by Sunni Muslims each year on the 12th day of Rabi’ al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar, while Shia Muslims celebrate it on the 17th.
On Mawlid, Muslims from all around the world pray and read the Quran to mark the birth of Muhammad, who was born in 570 AD. »



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