BY AMANDA HARRISON
Earlier in our series, A Season of Greetings we talked about Christmas, as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Today we'll be looking at a different holiday born from the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Amanda Harrison shares the story and celebration of Mawlid an-Nabi
The birth of Muhammad was first recognized by the people of Mecca and Madina. It falls on the 3rd month of the Muslim calendar.
Dr. Hugh Talat Halman is a professor of religion at Central Michigan University. He said stories and poetry are shared this time of year as a sort of reflection.
"The poetry tends to describe some of the prophet Muhammad's birth. So his Mother had a dream that a tree extended out of her back and the tree spread all over to all the corners of the universe. This is one of the miracles in terms of a dream narrative of the prophet Muhammad." Halman said.
The dream, Halman said represents Islam's spread across the world.
The majority of Muslims celebrate the prophet's birth. But Halman says some people are "reticent to encourage the celebration of a holiday centered on a human figure, even if that figure is Muhammad."