Across dynasties and decades, Milad-un-Nabi threads faith, festivity and service

Hyderabad is gearing up for the 1,500th year of Milad-un-Nabi, Prophet Muhammed’s birth anniversary, on September 5. Announcement of the crescent moon sighting by the Ruiyat-e-Hilal Committee, marking the start of Rabi-ul-Awwal in the Hijri calendar, has already set the tone for the festivities. The city is already abuzz with sirat sessions in mosques and modest community feasts, building up to the grand juloos (procession) that crowns the annual celebrations.

For Hyderabad, however, Milad is not a recent tradition. Its observance dates back centuries to the Qutb Shahi era. Under the city’s founder, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Milad was celebrated with poetry, devotion and festivity. The Sultan, a prolific poet, composed verses, preserved in the Kulliyat-e-Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, not only on Milad-un-Nabi, but also on festivals such as Basant, Nauruz (Navroz), Diwali and Mirag-sal. Those poems capture a medieval Hyderabad alive with illuminated bazaars, bustling crowds, and joyous gatherings.

Interestingly, Milad celebrations were not consistent across the dynasty. Muhammad Quli’s successor, Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah, reduced observances to a bare minimum. Later, as historian Haroon Khan Sherwani notes, Muhammad Qutb’s son, Abdullah Qutb Shah, revived interest in the mawlid. The sultan emphasised two key events in the Islamic calendar: Muharram and Milad-un-Nabi. He is said to have restored the festival which saw “rejoicings and illuminations”.

Milad under Abdullah became particularly elaborate. Musicians from India and Iran were invited to perform before large gatherings. Charity assumed an important role, and alms worth several thousand huns (gold coins) were distributed.

The tradition continued into the Asaf Jahi period. “Maulana Anwarullah Farooqui Fazeelat Jung, who founded the Jamia Nizamia in 1872, and was also Sadr-us-Sudoor (minister) of the Umoor-e-Mazhabi, or Ecclesiastical Department, of the Nizam’s government, instituted the Milad-un-Nabi khutba (sermon) in the Mecca Masjid, which continues to be delivered to this day,” says Maulana Syed Akbar Nizamuddin Hussaini Sabri, sajjada nasheen of Dargah Hazrat Shah Khamosh.

“After listening to the khutba, the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, would enter the Khanaqah-e-Saberiya within the Mecca Masjid complex. He would send a naat (poetry in praise of Prophet Muhammad) composed by him, which the qawwals would recite,” he adds.

The Nizam also hosted a private dinner for faith leaders, scholars, nobles and jagirdars, at the King Kothi palace. This, he maintains, was by invitation only. “It was like an exclusive occasion. At other places, such as masjids across the city, including older ones like Bi Saheb, there would be a Milad Jalsa,” Maulana Hussaini adds.

State patronage of Milad-un-Nabi remained consistent. At the Telangana State Archives and Research Institute, a firman dated 1922 CE discusses increasing allocations for Milad celebrations. Another from the same year allocates funds for the Central Milad Committee.

The Asaf Jahi dynasty fell in 1948. Hyderabad State was attacked, and integrated. The year was 1958, but the memory of Operation Polo is still fresh. Abdul Wahed Owaisi, grandfather of politicians Asaduddin and Akbaruddin Owaisi, had taken over the reins of the Ittehadul Muslimeen and sought to bring it into a constitutional framework of Independent India. That year, he organised the party’s first Milad Jalsa, interestingly, at the Badshahi Ashoorkhana, primarily a Shia place of worship that predates the Charminar.

“For many years, it was at Badshahi Ashoorkhana, where people of all communities are still welcome. Then, in 1971, when the party took possession of Darussalaam, Seerat-un-Nabi (The Life of the Prophet) Jalsa was organised there. The Rahmatulil Alameen Jalsa on every 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal has been held ever since,” recalls former AIMIM legislator Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri.

Equally significant was the Milad Jalsa organised by the Kul Hind Majlis-e-Tameer-e-Millat, founded by Syed Khaleelullah Hussaini. “Khaleelullah Hussaini sahab was inspired by Bahadur Yar Jung, a tall leader and most impressive orator. He gave a framework to the Tameer-e-Millat’s Rahmatulil Alameen Jalsa. Speakers from across India were invited to speak on the Prophet’s life, to keep people connected to his example in testing times,” says Mohammed Zaiuddin Nayyar, the organisation’s president.

With the 1,500th year being observed in 2025, organisations have planned year-long programmes ranging from blood donation camps to lectures and competitions. Maulana Ahsan al Hamoomi, khateeb of the Shahi Masjid in Public Gardens, says, “Programmes for all ages, both for men and women, are being organised. A series of 12 lectures has already begun. A Milad Blood Donation Camp will be held at two locations. We are also arranging CPR training. Another important initiative is providing bail for undertrial prisoners who cannot afford it.”