This year the festival of the “third Eid” of Islam was observed with unprecedented exuberance. Eid Miladun Nabi, the Birthday of the Holy Prophet PBUH, has always been the most important of the three Eids, but in this season of Taliban violence, it appears that the people are using it to send a message to the extremists destroying Pakistan’s culture in the name of Islam.

In April 2006, the Eid Milad gathering of the Sunni Tehreek at Nishtar Park Karachi was blown up by a suicide-bomber who had come from the tribal areas. Out of the 1500 that had gathered, 57 died while over a hundred were injured. In 2009, the Sunni Tehreek took out 40 Eid Milad processions in Karachi, as if sending a message to its killers.

The Nishtar Park massacre was quickly linked to the Barelvi-Deobandi war in Khyber Agency earlier in the month and it was noted that the Deobandi warlord in Bara, Mufti Munir Shakir, had been condemned in the “wall-chalkings” that appeared in Karachi. Statements against Mufti Shakir from the Barelvi ulema had appeared in the press in Punjab too. What clearly came to the fore was an all-Pakistan moderate Barelvi reaction to the tightening of the faith under the leadership of a sectarian school of thought nurtured by the state under the pretext of jihad.

The entire country has responded this year to the celebration of Eid Miladun Nabi. This could be the final “national” response to the culture-destroying “tehreek” of the Taliban. The warlord who replaced Mufti Munir Shakir in Khyber has recently destroyed the tomb of the greatest Pashto poet Rehman Baba in Peshawar and another saint in Nowshehra. The state nurtured the extremist brand of faith for 20 years; now the people are struggling against it. (Daily Times)

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Rallies all over country to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAWW)

Geo TV, Updated at: 1159 PST, Tuesday, March 10, 2009 ISLAMABAD: Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAWW) is being observed with great reverence and religious fervor all over the country today (Tuesday) and security is high alert on this occasion. Official and private buildings, bazaars, mosques and roundabouts have been tastefully decorated in all big cities of the country. Special security arrangements have been made on the eve of the Eid-I-Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH). Mahafil-e-Milad and public meetings are being held in connection with the Eid-I-Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) and people will pray exclusively for country’s security, inter-Muslim solidarity and restoration of peace in the country. In Lahore, buildings, mosques and markets have been beautifully decorated and a torch-bearing rally has been taken out. Full preparations have been made to celebrate the Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAWW) also in other cities. The day began with special pray after Namaz-e-Fajr in the mosques and a salute with 21 martyrs was presented to mark the celebrations. On this occasion, Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan, Assembly Hall, WAPDA House and other buildings have beautifully been illuminated while mahafils of Naat and speeches continued throught the night in various mosques and parks of the city. In Peshawar too, Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAWW) is being observed with great reverence and religious fervor and security remains on high alert with enhanced police patrolling as well as elaborate security measures at all sensitive places to avoid any untoward incident on the occasion. Various bazaars, buildings, mosques and roundabouts have been elegantly decorated and special arrangements have been made for illumination in Peshawar. The central procession of the Eid-e-Milad will be taken from Milad Chowk and going through its traditional routes of Hashtnagri, Karimpura, Ghanta Ghar, People Mandi and end at Qissakhwani Bazar. Special prays will be held on this occasion. (Geo TV)

Further details at Minhaj-ul-Quran (منہاج القرآن) International:

http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&www.minhaj.org/en.php

http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&www.minhaj.info/

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