Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday

Mawlid al-Nabi commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta confirmed Tuesday, August 25, 2026 as 12 Rabi al-Awwal 1448 AH. Public Mawlid celebration has deep roots in medieval Egypt, including Fatimid-era court observances and later popular, Sufi and scholarly forms, though the festival changed considerably over time and was never a single unaltered custom.

Today mosques, Sufi orders, charities and families may hold Qur’an recitation, lessons, devotional poetry, praise of the Prophet, food distribution and gatherings. Shops sell moulded sugar figures and sesame, nut or chickpea sweets collectively known as halawat al-mawlid. Muslims differ over which practices are appropriate, and some do not celebrate the birthday; the legal holiday should not be used to erase that theological diversity.

Article 129 of Labour Law 14 of 2025 entitles private-sector workers to fully paid leave on official holidays designated by the competent minister. If work is necessary, the worker receives the ordinary wage for the day plus twice that wage, or—on a written request—a substitute day off. Ministry of Labour Decree 294 of 2025 lists the recurring paid holidays and permits the minister to move one to the beginning or end of the working week. Public employees are covered through the Prime Minister’s dated decisions. There is therefore no automatic weekend-substitution formula: the announced date for the year controls, while examinations and essential services may follow separately published schedules. The ministerial list names 12 Rabi al-Awwal; the 2026 Cabinet decision shifted paid leave two days to Thursday, August 27 without shifting the religious date.