King Mohammed chairs religious ceremony on Prophet's Birthday

King Mohammed VI, Amir Al Mouminine (commander of the faithful) chaired Wednesday, on the occasion of Aid Al-Mawlid (prophet's birthday) a religious ceremony at the Mausoleum of Sidi Mohamed Al Hadi Benaissa (AKA Cheikh Al Kamel), Saint patron of the city of Meknes (150 km northeast of Rabat).

The sovereign was accompanied by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid and cousin Prince Moulay Ismail.

During the ceremony, Koranic verses and panegyrics of the Prophet Sidna Mohammed were read out, before the Ail-Isha prayers.

At the end of the ceremony, the sovereign handed the Mohammed VI encouragement and tribute prize of Islamic thought and studies to Professor Abdelaziz Benabdallah, in recognition of his contribution to enriching Islamic studies through his valuable publications in religious sciences and Islamic culture.

The Mohammed VI Islamic book prize of Islamic thought and studies went to Professor Ibrahim Ba Mohamed.

The Mausoleum in which the ceremony was held is named after Sidi Mohamed Al Hadi Benaissa (1467-1526), the Saint patron of the Aissaoua confraternity. It was built by King Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah in 1776.

Al Hadi Benaissa, a descendent of the prophet, buried there, dedicated all his life to the exegesis of the Prophet's sayings and life and to help believers reach close communication with Allah.