PMLN Quaid Nawaz Sharif Celebrates Eid Milad-un-Nabi by visiting his family graves in Raiwind.
On the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the great President of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) PML-N Muhammad Nawaz Sharif personally visit Raiwind to offer Fateha at the graveyard and pray for his wife and parents. Not only does this festive event represent sharif’s dedication to his family and spirituality but it also represents the cultural and Islamic norms as a part of celebrating the birth of the holy prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
On this special occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, and the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Sharif was joined by some family members and relatives when he laid a floral wreath at the graves and paid tributes to the deceased at the graveyard situated in Raiwind which is one of the most historical and politically sensitive town in Pakistan. This event was accompanied with numerous polite behaviors and traditions in the ritual and ceremonial process within the Zulu culture to pay respect to the ancestors and the dead as well acknowledging the significance of the spirituality in the occasion.
Finally during his visit, Nawaz Sharif and his family offered traditional respect to the dead through slain funerals whereby they laid flowers on the graves. Laying of flowers which is a sign of honor and paying tribute to the departed soul is an aspect that is Umbered in most cultures. Such flowers were strategically placed beautifully thus beautifying the graves in a manner that displayed the colour of peace and devotion that was seen in the various flowers readily available.
Apart from flowers that people delivered to the graves, prayers were also said in a special manner. These are traditions of Islam and are chanted in order to pray for the souls of the deceased even as they ask for blessings. Du’a at the graveside is a very important aspect of Islamic burial rites as it guarantees an eternal rest and a comfortable afterlife for the deceased.
People even hold the Eid Milad-un-Nabi at the gravesite and this event also incorporated recitation of Al quran. In Islamic practice and devotion, an important part of worship consists in the reading or recitation of the Quran, which is the Islamic scripture. Finally, through proclamation of diverse Surahs and verses from the Quran members created special religious and prayerful ambience. They were read by scholars, elders and members of the family which made the exercise to be more of a religious one and not a mere formality.
In addition, the event had Naat that is a type of poetry recital in honor of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). These poetic means of communicating importance of the event are in great use especially when celebrating Eid Milad-un-Nabi because they are an outright display of love and admiration for the Prophet. The Naat singers or the “Naat Khawans” sang with true emotions as if singing from their hearts, touched the hearts of the audiences with true feelings of reverence and respect. This was followed by invoking of blessing and thanksgiving that added the spiritual tone to the whole event of recitation.
The visit was rounded off with a united recitation of ‘Fatiha’ which is a verse from the Quran, for the benefit of the soul of the deceased. Recital of the first Surah is a part of this ritual and is a general practice for asking Allah’s blessings and forgiveness for the dead body. The attendees including Nawaz Sharif and his relatives stood around the graves and recited the foll: O lord grant us the peace and tranquilities that the soul of the departed may rest in eternal peace.
This heart touching ceremony emphasized on the Pakistani cultural values of family and religious practices. Nawaz Sharif visited the graves of his family members during the holy month of last year during Ramadan, this shows personal stand he has for religion and respect for his dead family. It also opens up a discussion on the role of family and faith in Pakistani culture and social setting in which religion is central tocalebendran`personal and communal practices among Pakistanis.
More broadly, Eid Milad-un-Nabi is observed in different ways in which people of Pakistan and other Muslim countries come out on the road, arrange public meetings, processions, praying and other cultural activities. The celebrations involve paying respect and showing love to the prophet of Islam who is the founder of one of the major world religions which has followers in every corner of the globe. Eid Milad-un-Nabi has a combination of rituals that are religious, communal and cultural in nature as they relate to the celebration of the prophet’s birthday.
Nawaz Sharif’s personal as well as the public occasion of visit with his family members at the gravesite has intricately described that how Sufism and expressions of faith becomes personal and purified on important religious occasions. It is therefore seen that inserting of rites at graveyards, use of flowers, Quran recitals, and Naat performances are cultural duality that has deep-seated roots that act as befitting honor of the passed on and to promote the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Thus, it can be stated that, as long as Pakistan stays in the process of its societal political development, something like this opens a brief window of the human side of the country’s leaders. Eid Milad-un-Nabi showing the reality of political and personal life of Nawaz sharif indicates how our religious beliefs and cultural practices form and maintain the identity and communal bonds among the people.
In conclusion, one can see that Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the graves of his wife and parents in Raiwind during Eid Milad-un-Nabi is a powerful message of how Pakistani people value family, religion, and the traditions. The activities that are conducted such as the placing of the flowers, prayers, Quran recitation and Naat show the reverence and reverence that is ascribed to this Holy event. It also adds value to Milad-un-Nabi celebration not only by eradicating the memory of the divine prophet Muhammad but also by reiterating the cultural and religious practices embedded in Eid Milad-un-Nabi across the Muslim world.
