Mawlid Al-Nabi doll...Check out its interesting story

There are numerous types of festivals, religious events and folklore celebrations in the world where each country celebrates differently according to its culture and traditions. Despite ceremonial forms differ from country to another but the most common form is eating candy which is always associated with joy, comfort, love, friendship and family. Candy has played important role in cultural traditions and celebrations worldwide for thousands of years.

Since the origin of candy can be traced to ancient Egyptians who combined fruits and nuts with honey so candy continues to be enjoyed by most Egyptians till now. It is an important part of their celebrations where one of these celebrations that is associated with candy is marking the birthday of Prophet Muhammad also known as "Mawlid Al-Nabi" in Arabic language.

Muslims mark this day worldwide every year where each Muslim country marks it differently. Egyptian Muslims commemorate Prophet Muhammad day of birth by reading Quran, decorating their cities, Muslim Sufis are marked with poems and songs in the praise of Prophet Muhammad and the mercy he has brought, setting up tents to sell candies in form of sugar dolls and knights on horses. This candy form is originated to Fatimid era.

Fatimids, who called themselves by this name in honor of Fatima the daughter of prophet Mohamed, ruled Egypt in 969 AD. They are characterized by their art which is known for its strongly figurative forms, both human and animal.

Therefore, Fatimid Candy makers at this time thought to make candies depict the sixth Fatimid caliph, Abu Ali Mansur better known by his regnal name Al- Hakim bi-Amr Allah while he rides his horse in a parade beside his wife in her white dress on the day of birth of Prophet Muhammed.

Sugar doll manufacturing is developed over years into a plastic doll wearing colorful dress then into a push button doll when you turn it on, you enjoy listening to songs in the praise of Prophet Mohamed.

Candy makers in Egypt don’t make today sugar doll for celebrating only prophet Muhammad’s day of birth but also for celebrating marriage occasions where it is exchanged as gifts between the newly married couples.

Recently, the Arabic official account on Facebook of the Chinese government TV “CGTN” published photos, from inside a factory in Cairo manufactures Mawlid al-Nabi candies, with a caption: Egyptian workers manufacture idols to welcome prophet Mohamed day of birth”. This post is shown here in a video released by Aljazeera Mubasher channel before its deletion on“CGTN” . You can check it out. The Chinese translator who selected idol word instead of sugar candy to describe Mawlid al-Nabi candy that is made in many forms such as dolls and knights on horses, was provoking Egyptians’ angry who launched an angry campaign against this post resulting in deleting it by “CGTN”.

Egyptians’ comments were between angry and comic comments as the sugar dolls and knights are just candies to be eaten and no one worships them. They are similar to candy in form of bears which fascinate candy lovers worldwide. Gummy bear is not idol for sugar loving community. It is just a gummy bear. Furthermore the healthy living community has adopted gummy bear by producing it as multiple vitamins for children, it hasn't adopted it to be idol for children but it is billed as nutritious way to get children to take vitamins.

It should be noted that the greatest of the sins in Islam described as al-kaba’ir in Arabic language is the worship of an idol or any physical object as a representation of Allah. Idolatry is strongly forbidden in Islam. Islam teaches that Allah does not share his divine attributes with any partner. Therefore, candy makers in Egypt as a Muslim country don't make candies as idols for celebrating such religious event of prophet muhammed day of birth.

The bottom line is that candies, chocolates, cakes are coming in many forms to spark joy among sugar loving community not to be ridiculous idols.

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