Negotiating Faith and Reason: Intellectual Discourses and Emotional Expressions on the Celebration of the Prophet’s Birthday-Mawlūd-among Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria

Abstract

The observance of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, known as "Mawlūd," has long been a subject of ambivalent interpretation among Muslims, oscillating between intellectual discourse and emotional expression. This research examines how Yoruba Muslim scholars in Nigeria navigate this ambiguity between religion and reason in their discussions on the relevance and justification of observing Mawlūd. Through textual analysis of sermons, scholarly writings, oral traditions, and insights from ethnographic studies of community practices, this study identifies two primary approaches among Yoruba Muslim scholars in Nigeria. One approach involves rational critiques grounded in adherence to the authority of the Qur’ān and Sunnah, aiming to reject innovations. The other adopts a nurturing stance, emphasizing the importance of expressing love for Prophet Muhammad through the communal practice of Mawlūd as a gesture of unity. The findings demonstrate that the relevance and justification of observing Prophet Muhammad’s birthday among Nigerian Muslims cannot be understood solely as a theological debate but must be contextualized within the broader cultural and historical experiences of Yoruba Muslims.