By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: With the sun slowly setting in the Arabian Sea on 12th Rabiul Awwal in Mumbai there was steady increase in the number of processions of Eid-e-Milad Un Nabi and the onlookers on the roads in India’s financial capital. No sooner did the darkness spread than the magnificent buildings and roads overflowing with people stood in its contrast shimmering with electric bulbs. The Mumbai echoing with the slogans of ‘Nara-e-Takbeer, Allah-u-Akbar’ and ‘Nara-e-Risalat, Ya Rasulullah’ celebrated the day with traditional enthusiasm and fervor.
The main procession, taken out from Khilafat House of Byculla wherein hundreds of small processions managed by different madrasas and organizations merged, kicked off late afternoon on the globally celebrated birthday of the last Prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad. The procession was taken out in the leadership of different political entities and religious personalities including the local Congress MP Milind Deora, chairman of Maulana Azad Minority Financial Development Corporation Ameen Patel, chairman Aqdas Welfare Society and the south Mumbai BSP nominee Muhammad Ali Shaikh, former Wakf Board chairperson M A Aziz and Maulana Tanweer Hashmi among others.
While hoardings put up by political leaders were welcoming the procession, the participants were leaping to the loud musical lyric ‘Allah Janta Hai Muhammad Ka Martaba’ (Only Allah knows the true status of Muhammad) and ‘Khwaja Mera Data Hai Deta Hai Bila Mange, Jo Koi Bhee Jata Hai Khali Naheen Aata (Khwaja is the benefactor who gives without question. Whoever approaches him does not return empty handed.). Different stages arranged by political parties, some of them by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena also, and various social and religious organizations extended to the processionists warm welcome.
It is noteworthy that hundreds of hoardings with different Hadith of Prophet Muhammad written in Urdu, Hindi and English on them were put up on both sides of Muhammad Ali Road. This was an attempt to popularize the sayings of the Prophet. This was done by Friends Active Social Team (FAST) and Raza Academy.
Speaking to a gathering Tanweer Hashmi said it is the biggest juloos of the Asia. He said, ‘The contribution of non-Muslims in arranging the procession is a good omen of Muslim-Hindu unity in future.’ He urged people to always maintain the same spirit of brotherhood.
The procession attended by thousands of devotees kept on moving till midnight. While it was heading slowly women standing on the roadsides and some others peeping out of windows of their homes revealed how much emotional attachment they had to the so-called religious celebration. A section of Muslim scholars frown upon these kind of celebrations. They are in tiny minority and little heard.