There have been countless wonderful things said in the name of the Prophet Muhammad. There have also been thousands of books that have been written.

 However, none of these human acts of praise for the Prophet Muhammad have taken a place in people’s hearts and minds as much as the “Mevlid-i Şerif” (The Prophet Muhammad’s Nativity), written by Süleyman Çelebi.

Beginning with the lines “Allah! This name we invoke in the beginning, For this ever due from us, his servants,” the Mevlid has been read for the past 600 years and will continue to be read in mosques, lodges, friendly gatherings and homes. Now this distinguished work will be read once more before the whole world, on the occasion of the passing of 1,400 years since the Quran was passed down to humanity, in a concert to commemorate Kutlu Doğum Haftası, or Sacred Birth Week. At this time, people will be able to listen to the Mevlid as interpreted by a chorus of 320 people, the result of a very special project sponsored by the Presidential Office to honor the Mevlid.

Composed by famous Turkish composer Selman Ada in a cantata format as a symphonic piece, the Mevlid will be sung on April 20 in Istanbul at Sultanahmet Square. The program’s organizer is Ahmet San, and the general program will see the Mevlid presented as poetry in three different languages. The presentation of the Mevlid will be performed by football star Zinedine Zidan, Jermaine Jackson, brother of the late Michael Jackson, and Green Party Co-

Ali PEKTAŞ

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