Maouloud in Touba: a night of fervor and spirituality at the Grand Mosque

The Mouride community celebrated the birth of Prophet Mouhamed (Psl), commonly known as Gamou, on the night of August 25 to 26, at the Great Mosque of Touba. Thousands of faithful took part in this celebration, in an atmosphere marked by spirituality and religious fervor.

Men, women, young people and adults flocked to the religious building as soon as night fell. Gradually, the different spaces of the mosque filled up before the crowd overflowed onto the esplanade. The facilities set up by the dahiras Moukhadimatoul Khidma and Rawdou Rayahine, responsible for the organization, were no longer enough to contain this compact crowd.

Inside and outside the mosque, the faithful, rosary, Koran or khassaïdes in hand, were immersed in prayer and the recitation of religious texts. In the night, voices mingled with chanting, Koranic recitations and poems by Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, creating an atmosphere of deep spirituality. Despite the crowds, calm and contemplation dominated this night dedicated to the celebration of the birth of the Prophet Mouhamed (Psl).

According to Abdou Lahad Bousso, member of the scientific committee of dahira Moukhadimatoul Khidma, this tradition perpetuates the work of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, who began celebrating Gamou around 1883 in several localities, including Diourbel, Thieyène Djolof and Darou Marnane. The tradition continued until the caliphate of Serigne Saliou Mbacké, who entrusted the organization of this night to the dahiras Moukhadimatoul Khidma and Rawdou Rayahine.

The program includes the reading of the Holy Quran twelve times, the declamation of panegyrics by Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba and the recitation of his poems, including Jazbu, Mawahibou and Moukhadimat. The reading of “Barsane”, a work retracing the life and work of the Prophet (Psl), also punctuated the night.

A conference devoted to the personality of the Prophet (Psl) through the poem Moukhadimat was also organized. The celebration ended after dawn prayers. For the closing, the Caliph General of the Mourides, usually present, was represented this year by Serigne Ahmadou Badawi Mbacké of the dahira Rawdou Rayahine.