For many Muslims in Britain, this weekend will mark a time of celebration.
They will join other members of the Islamic faith around the world in marking the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.
Mawlid is derived from the Arabic word, meaning to give birth or to bear a child.
The feast falls in the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar — Rabi ul Awwal — and, according to Sunni Muslims, on the 12th day of the month.
In the Gregorian calendar, this means the 2022 celebration will be from the evening of Friday, October 7 to Saturday, October 8.
What is the Muslim festival of Mawlid?
Mawlid, sometimes referred to as Mawlid al-Nabi, Milad, Eid Milad Un Nabi, Eid al-Mawlid and Eid-e-Milad, is a feast day that honours Prophet Muhammad’s birth.
According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad was a righteous man born around AD 570, whom God designated as his final prophet.
Muslims believe he learned God’s message by heart and recited it.
Later on, the verses were written down to preserve the text, becoming what we know as the Quran, Islam's holy book.
Some Muslim mathematicians and astronomers have determined that Muhammad's birthday was the 12th of Rabi ul Awwal.
This is the usual custom for Sunni Muslims, although Shia Muslims believe the prophet's birthday was on the 17th day, meaning they celebrate five days later.
The occasion is celebrated in most Islamic countries, with fairs and carnivals held in the likes of Indonesia and colourful games played in Egypt.
The festival is not marked everywhere in the Islamic world, however.
Conservative branches of Islam, such as Wahhabism, frown upon any adoration of the prophet, arguing his birthday was not celebrated during his lifetime.
As a result, in countries that follow more conservative teachings, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, celebrating Mawlid is forbidden.
How do Muslims celebrate Mawlid?
In Britain, Mawlid is not a public holiday but the occasion is observed by some Muslim communities and families in a myriad of ways.
Some mosques hold energetic parades and families will likely gather together, often decorating their streets and homes.
People this weekend might see Muslims putting up lights, decorating their cars and using speakers to play poetry and prayers.
Emerald green is often associated with the festival, symbolising the colour of the minaret on top of the prophet's mosque in Medina.
During gatherings, stories from the life of the prophet are told, including poems dedicated to him and the Islamic way of life.
Believers may choose to fast and even give to charity to mark the annual occurrence.
In some communities, the celebrations of Mawlid may even last the whole month of Rabi ul Awwal as the occasion is a momentous time for Muslims to learn and reflect on Muhammad’s life.
There are around 3.2m Muslims living in the UK.
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