King Mohammed VI chairs over Eid Al Mawlid Annabawi ceremony at Hassan Mosque in Rabat

King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, Prince Moulay Rachid, and Prince Moulay Ahmed, chaired over a ceremony marking Eid Al Mawlid Annabawi at Hassan Mosque in Rabat Sunday evening.

Eid Al Mawlid Annabawi Asharif commemorates the birth of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) which falls on Rabii Al Awal 12 (Islamic Hegira calendar).

This religious ceremony was marked by the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran and panegyrics of the Prophet.

During the ceremony, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, made a presentation on the activities of the Supreme Council of Ulema and local Ulema Councils, before handing over to the Sovereign the report relating to these activities.

In his speech, the Minister indicated that the institution of the Ulema is one of the levers enabling Imarat Al-Mouminine to accomplish its mission in terms of protecting religion, noting that the action of this institution has focused, over the last two decades, on preserving the constants and supervising the exercise of religious worship.

Toufiq also stressed that the Ulema institution, which last year worked to strengthen its communication function “Tabligh”, has ensured to involve all the stakeholders concerned by this function, notably Ulema and Alimates, Preachers, Imams, Morchidins and Morchidats, and the various players involved in audiovisual religious communication.

This institution also works to adapt the various modes of communication, in particular to preaching courses in mosques, continuing education courses for Imams and the training program of the Mohammed VI Institute of Imams, Morchidins and Morchidats, added the Minister.

He underlined that the Council of Ulema is aware of the importance of strengthening its cooperation, on an international level, with the Moroccan Council of Ulema for Europe and the various sections of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema.

Afterwards, the King awarded the Mohammed VI Award for Islamic Thought and Studies (Prize of Merit and Tribute) to Mohamed Balouali, from the city of Oujda.

This annual prize rewards eminent scientists and encourages them to carry out research in the field of Islamic studies, in accordance with the teachings of the Shariah, which advocates the pursuit of knowledge and urges its proper use.

The King was then greeted by Jamaleddine Abdessalam Zouir, from Libya, to whom he handed the Mohammed VI International Prize for memorization, declamation and exegesis of the Holy Koran.

The Sovereign also presented the Mohammed VI International Award of Quran psalmody with memorization of five Hizbs to Ahmad Salim Mkwewa, from the United Republic of Tanzania.

The King awarded the Mohammed VI Prize for Tribute to Moroccan Calligraphic Art to Fayçal Ennasri, from the city of Tiflet, and the Mohammed VI Prize for Excellence in Moroccan Calligraphic Art to Zakaria Msselek, from the city of Salé.

The Mohammed VI Prize for Moroccan Decorative Art on Paper (Tribute Prize) and the Mohammed VI Prize for Moroccan Decorative Art on Paper (Excellence Award) were handed by the Sovereign to Abdelfattah Ait Birkan from Marrakech and to Ismail Lafrihi from Meknes.

The Mohammed VI Tribute and Excellence Prizes for Arabic Literary Art [Al Horoufia] were handed by the Sovereign to El Maati Hassari from Bejaâd, and to Mohamed Cherkaoui from Fez.

The King was then greeted by the members of the jury for the Mohammed VI Award for Islamic Thought and Studies, Professors Mohamed Yssef, Mohamed Kettani, Idriss Khalifa, Chahid El Bouchikhi, Ahmed Chaouki Binebine, Ahmed Chahlane, Abdelhamid El Alami, Driss Ben Daouia, Khadija Abou Zaid, Farida Zemrou and Yacine Houhoud (Rapporteur).

The celebration of Eid Al Mawlid Annabawi Asharif by King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, is in line with the tradition observed by his ancestors who have been keen on commemorating the anniversary of the coming to the World of the Messenger of Mercy, Prophet Sidna Mohammed, an anniversary that marks the blossoming of the lights of guidance for Humanity, thanks to the message carried by the Seal of the Prophets, to spread the high virtues and values of justice and recommend good deeds so that all humans live in peace and understanding.

On the occasion of Eid Al-Mawlid Al-Nabaoui Al-Sharif, a significant religious event in the Muslim world, King Mohammed VI has sent congratulatory messages to the Sovereigns, Presidents and Emirs of Islamic countries.