Kurdistan Region Marks Mawlid With Food, Prayer and Public Gatherings

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Cities across the Kurdistan Region marked the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad on Tuesday with public gatherings, religious ceremonies, food distributions and official messages emphasizing peace, brotherhood and coexistence.

Aug. 25 was declared an official holiday across government institutions, with hospitals, health centers and security facilities continuing to operate.

From central Erbil to Sulaimani and Kirkuk, residents gathered at mosques, public squares and city centers to observe Mawlid al-Nabi, traditionally marked on the 12th day of Rabi al-Awwal.

In Erbil, where the celebration has deep historical associations, streets and public spaces were decorated in the days leading up to the occasion. From early morning, residents of different ages gathered in the city center, distributing sweets and meals and attending religious activities.

Mosques held Quran recitations and devotional hymns, while a carnival was organized outside the Erbil Citadel.

The celebrations also extended into neighborhoods, where families shared sweets and food with neighbors as part of a tradition that combines religious devotion with public hospitality.

Erbil's historic Mawlid tradition

Erbil occupies a distinctive place in the history of Mawlid celebrations because of its association with Muzaffar al-Din Gökböri, the ruler of the city during the era of Saladin.

Historical accounts cited in the supplied reporting describe Sultan Muzaffar, who lived between 1153 and 1232, as one of the earliest rulers to organize large public celebrations marking the Prophet Muhammad's birthday.

The modern form of the festival is often traced to Erbil in the early 13th century, when celebrations reportedly included public feasts, gatherings and processions.

That historical connection continues to shape how the occasion is observed in the city today.

For Erbil residents, Mawlid has developed into both a religious commemoration and a recognizable cultural tradition, with the city center becoming the focal point for gatherings, decorations and food distribution.

The celebrations have also become part of the wider public identity of Erbil, where mosques, markets and neighborhoods participate simultaneously rather than confining the occasion to formal religious services.

Thousands fed in Sulaimani

In Sulaimani, preparations centered on the city's Grand Mosque, where a large Mawlid gathering was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Kurdistan24 reporter Hawzhin Jamal said large numbers of residents arrived early, while Piramerd Street, Old Court Street and other roads leading toward the mosque were scheduled to close from 9 a.m. to facilitate pedestrian access.

One of the largest parts of the celebration was a public meal prepared for thousands of residents.

Haji Iqbal, supervisor of the Grand Mosque kitchen, told Kurdistan24 that organizers had prepared between 1.5 and two tonnes of red meat along with rice and beans.

"Today is the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad," he said. "For the occasion, we have prepared between 1.5 and two tonnes of red meat, along with rice and beans."

He said the meal was expected to serve between 8,000 and 10,000 people.

Preparations began Monday, with food distribution scheduled from 10 a.m.

"The food does not have to be eaten here," Iqbal said, explaining that residents could take meals home because individual portions were large enough to feed several people.

The initiative was funded by dozens of benefactors who contributed according to their means, he added.

Kirkuk continues centuries-old observance

Mawlid was also being marked in Kirkuk, where Kurdistan24 reporter Hemin Dalo said the city's tradition of commemorating the Prophet's birthday stretches back more than seven centuries.

Food distribution again formed an important part of the observance.

Ayad, a cook in Kirkuk, told Kurdistan24 that benefactors contact local kitchens directly to finance meals for residents.

"Starting at noon today, we will distribute food to the poor, travelers, shopkeepers and anyone passing through the area," he said.

The meal consisted of red meat, rice and beans and was expected to serve between 350 and 400 people.

The emphasis on feeding strangers, travelers and those in need reflected a recurring feature of Mawlid celebrations across the Kurdistan Region: charity alongside prayer and communal gathering.

Leaders stress peace and coexistence

Kurdistan Region leaders used the occasion to emphasize values of social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani extended congratulations to Muslims in Kurdistan and around the world and expressed hope that the occasion would deepen coexistence among the Region's diverse communities.

"I hope that the birthday of the Prophet, peace be upon him, will be a reason for deepening the culture of peaceful coexistence among the diverse components of Kurdistan, and brotherhood, peace, and cohesion among the peoples of the world," he said.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani similarly called on communities to renew their commitment to the Prophet's values of humanity, justice, forgiveness and peace.

He expressed hope that Mawlid would strengthen "the spirit of brotherhood, forgiveness, and peaceful coexistence among all components."

President Masoud Barzani also issued Mawlid greetings to Muslims in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and around the world, praying that the occasion would bring peace, stability, prosperity, happiness and justice.

Together, the messages placed the religious holiday within the Kurdistan Region's broader public discourse on coexistence among different religious and ethnic communities.

Across Erbil, Sulaimani and Kirkuk, however, the meaning of the day was also expressed through much smaller acts: meals prepared by volunteers, sweets exchanged between neighbors, Quran recitations in mosques and crowded streets around places of worship.

For Erbil in particular, the celebration connects contemporary religious life with a tradition associated with the city for centuries.

And across the Kurdistan Region, Tuesday's gatherings showed how Mawlid continues to function not only as a religious anniversary but as a public occasion centered on charity, community and shared celebration.