Mercy for humanity: Remembering life and seerah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as Rabiul Awal celebrations gain momentum in KP
PESHAWAR, (APP): As the sacred month of Rabi-ul-Awal brings with it the arrival of Rehmatul Lilalameen (SAWW), streets, homes, mosques and marketplaces across Pakistan are taking on a distinctive green colours and festive buntings, reflecting the deep love and reverence of Muslims hold for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
From small neighbourhood streets to historic landmarks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, preparations for Eid Milad-un-Nabi are creating an atmosphere of great religious devotion and widespread celebrations.
Green buntings, flags and decorative lights are adorning buildings, while mosques are being illuminated for the blessed occasion of 12th Rabiul Awal being the birthday anniversary of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
In Peshawar, all major buildings including historic Mohabat Khan mosque are among the prominent places being decorated and illuminated with green buntings, adding to the festive spirit of the provincial capital.
For many residents, however, the celebration is much more than decoration and ceremony. It is an opportunity to reconnect with the values associated with the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) such as mercy, forgiveness, justice, empathy and compassion.
Educational institutions are also preparing to mark the blessed occasion. Debate competitions, Seerah programmes and other activities focusing on the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) are being planned by the government and private educational institutions to help young people understand the universal message and great character of the final Messenger of Allah Almighty.
Maulana Tayab Qureshi, Chief Khateeb Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and an eminent religious scholar, said the arrival of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was one of the greatest blessings of Allah Almighty on humanity.
He said that in a world increasingly confronted by division, injustice and moral uncertainty, the life and Seerah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) continued to provide a universal source of guidance, compassion and inspiration to all.
Revered by Muslims across the world as Rehmat-ul-lil-Alameen (mercy for all the worlds), the Holy Prophet (PBUH) remains not only the central figure of Islamic faith but also an extraordinary historical personality whose teachings have influenced generations.
His universal message of peace, justice and mercy continues to resonate from Islamabad to Istanbul and from Jakarta to Makkah, offering a vision of human dignity that transcends boundaries of nationality, language, race and social status.
As Muslims around the world prepare to observe 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal with great religious enthusiasm, the blessed occasion also provides an opportunity to reflect upon the relevance of the Prophet’s (PBUH) teachings in contemporary life.
The Holy Quran describes Him (PBUH) as a mercy to the worlds. “We have not sent you, [O Muhammad PBUH], except as a mercy to the worlds.”
For believers, this principle of universal mercy is not merely a spiritual concept but it carries a social responsibility to reject hatred, discrimination and injustice and to treat others with kindness, dignity and compassion.
“Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a leader of par excellence, a statesman, a father, a teacher, a husband, military strategy and a kind neighbour—all in one,” said Dr. Shafat Shah, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at Islamia College University, Peshawar, while talking to APP on Wednesday.
He said the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) represented a remarkable example of kindness and compassion that his universal message of mercy continued to inspire people of every age.
According to Dr. Shafat, the teachings of Islam as conveyed by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) extend beyond religious rituals and stressed on social justice, education, family values, ethical conduct and respect for the dignity of every human being.
“Islam is not merely a system of rituals but a complete code of life. It is a complete moral, ethical and social framework,” he said, adding that the holy Prophet (PBUH) placed great emphasis on knowledge, understanding and empathy in dealing with others.
These qualities, he said, were essential for creating peaceful, mutually beneficial and harmonious societies.
The Prophet’s (PBUH) concern for vulnerable members of society remains one of the most powerful aspects of his Seerah. His teachings repeatedly emphasized care for the poor, orphans, widows and marginalized people, while calling for the protection and dignity of women.
His life also demonstrated how patience and forgiveness could overcome anger, anxiety and revenge.
Despite persecution, hardship, migration and armed conflict, the holy Prophet (PBUH) repeatedly demonstrated restraint and forgiveness. His conduct following the historic conquest of Makkah is remembered as a profound example of mercy overcoming the desire for retaliation.
Dr. Abdul Ghafoor, former Chairman of the Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre at the University of Peshawar, described the Prophet’s (PBUH) farewell sermon as a lasting charter of human dignity and social responsibility.
The holy Prophet (PBUH) strongly emphasized the rights of women, widows and orphans and warned against injustice, exploitation and mistreatment of vulnerable people.
“He championed the rights of women, widows and orphans, emphasizing their care and protection,” Dr. Ghafoor said, adding that the Prophet (PBUH) taught his followers to stand against injustice and extend support to those in need.
The influence of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has also attracted the attention of thinkers beyond the Muslim world.
Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, while reflecting on the character and influence of the Prophet (PBUH), emphasized that His (PBUH) appeal was rooted not in force but in simplicity, peace and compassion.
Today, the study of His seerah continues in academic and intellectual circles around the world, where the holy Prophet’s life is examined in discussions relating to ethical leadership, social transformation, conflict resolution and intercultural understanding.
For parents, teachers and community leaders, the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi therefore carries a message that goes beyond celebration.
It offers an opportunity to introduce younger generations to a model of life founded on truthfulness, patience, mercy, justice and service to others.
For children watching their neighbourhoods light up in green, for families decorating their homes, for worshippers gathering in mosques and for students preparing speeches and debates, the blessed occasion creates a shared sense of belonging and devotion.
Yet beneath the lights, flags and colourful decorations lies a deeper human message that the celebration is ultimately about remembering the last messanger of Allah whose teachings call for compassion toward fellow human beings.
At a time when societies around the world are facing conflict, intolerance, inequality and uncertainty, the message of Rehmat-ul-lil-Alameen remains deeply relevant today.
Following the footsteps of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), therefore, is not simply an expression of religious devotion but it also a call to cultivate personal integrity, strengthen family and social bonds, protect the vulnerable and build communities based on justice, equality and compassion.
As the green lights shine across Peshawar and other cities and towns of Pakistan, Eid Milad-un-Nabi once again brings millions of hearts together in remembrance and love.
And beyond the celebrations, it leaves a timeless question for every individual that how can the mercy, honesty, patience and compassion associated with the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) be reflected in our own lives?
That, perhaps, is the enduring spirit of Rabi-ul-Awwal that is a celebration not only of a blessed birth, but of a universal message whose values continue to speak to humanity more than fourteen centuries later.
