Resurrecting Shia Fatimid Festivals: Habib Umar & Habib Ali al-Jifri
The Mawlid of Husayn (the commemoration of the birth of Sayyiduna Husayn ibn Ali radiyallahu 'anhu, the grandson of Rasulullah sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) has a distinct history that originated centuries after his life. Sayyiduna Husayn radiyallahu 'anhu was born in Madinah Munawwarah on the 3rd of Shaban in the year 4 AH (approximately 626 CE). While the anniversary of his martyrdom at Karbala is the most prominent and sombre day of remembrance for Husayn, his Mawlid emerged later as a celebratory event. Origins Origins in the Fatimid Dynasty (10th–12th Century) The practice of celebrating specific birthdays—or mawlids—did not exist during the early centuries of Islam. Historical records from medieval chroniclers, such as the famous Egyptian historian Al-Maqrizi, trace the origin of these celebrations directly to the Fatimid Caliphate (an Is...