New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted citizens on Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. 

In a tweet early on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi said, " Greetings on Milad-un-Nabi. May the brotherhood and Kindness be furthered in our society. May everyone be happy and healthy. Eid Mubarak!

Mawlid (Arabic) which means  'feast of the birth of the prophet'), is an observation of the day when the Islamic prophet Muhammad is reported to have been born. It is commemorated usually on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.

The history of this celebration dates back to the early days of Islam when some of the Tabi‘un began to hold sessions in which poetry and songs composed to honour Muhammad were recited and sung to crowds in the major cities.

 Mawlid is recognized as a national holiday in most of the Muslim-majority countries of the world except Saudi Arabia and Qatar which are officially Wahhabi/Salafi