Speech by Leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Badruddin Al-Houthi on Blessed Anniversary of Prophet’s Birth
May Allah bless you all. I welcome you, men and women alike, in every place of celebration.
May Allah bestow His reward upon you for your great commemoration of this blessed occasion.
This celebration, unmatched anywhere in the world, stands as one of the clearest signs of the saying of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F): ‘The belief is that of the Yemenites, and sagacity is that of the Yemenites.‘ This great gathering—in love, respect, and veneration for the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F)—is itself an expression of faith.
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast.
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Praise is to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I believe that there is no god but Allah, the Sovereign and the Manifest Truth, and that Muhammad, our master, is His servant, Messenger, and Last Prophet.
O Allah! Confer Your salat and blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad as You conferred Your salat and blessings upon Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim. You are Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory! And be pleased with Muhammad’s good companions and all Your righteous servants and mujahidin.
Congratulations to you, to all our people, and to everyone celebrating this occasion around the world, on the advent of this sacred anniversary: the birth of the Seal of the Prophets, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad bin Abdullah (PBUH&F). His birth was a birth of light, as Allah sent him as a mercy to the world and as deliverance from the darkness of ignorance. I also warmly welcome all those present from Islamic communities, whether from Arab lands or elsewhere.
Today, as in every year before, our dear people celebrate this blessed occasion with love, honour, reverence, and veneration for the Messenger of Allah—the Seal of the Prophets, the mercy given by Allah—Muhammad ibn Abdullah (PBUH&F). This is to show gratitude for the blessing, convey appreciation to Allah, and rejoice in Allah’s favour and mercy, as Allah (Glory be to Him) says in the Quran, {‘Say, “In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy, let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate”‘}[Yunus 10:58]. This also has to do with celebrating the birth of the Messenger, as a renewed affirmation of loyalty to him and in defiance of all satanic efforts by the enemies to undermine his standing in the hearts of Muslims and to keep them from following and emulating him.
Moreover, our dear Muslim people have made this blessed occasion a special season, drawing from its spiritual and cultural gifts. On this occasion, they seek illumination from the blessed life of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) and inspire from his life what helps them grow in faith, awareness, insight, resolve, and steadfastness. They have also made it a time for charity and benevolence, linking it to what came before. Furthermore, its spiritual gains enable them to set out in emulation of the Seal of Allah’s Prophets and with a stronger bond with Allah’s message while seeking to break free from the yoke of tyranny and arrogance and achieve full independence, grounded in their identity of faith and Islamic belonging. In this period, our people have borne the banner of Islam, striving in the way of Allah with steadfastness, resolve, dignity, loyalty, courage, and devotion, thereby reminding the world of their glories in the earliest days of Islam, when their noble ancestors carried the banner—even as others among the Arab tribes abandoned it.
With this spirit and the great devotion of the Ansar in embracing Allah’s message, supporting His Messenger (PBUH&F), and offering the most precious in Allah’s cause, their descendants—the Ansar of our age, the people of faith and jihad—follow in their footsteps, raising the banner high in support of Islam and oppressed Muslims, upholding the truth, and standing against the tyrannical disbelievers and the hypocrites aligned with them.
This anniversary comes as we near the end of the second year of ongoing Zionist-Jewish aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. With American partnership and Western backing, the Zionist Jews are perpetrating genocide by every available means:
- {‘And declare, “The truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to vanish”‘}[Al-Isra 17:81].
- {‘Say, “If all the humans and jinns join together to produce anything like this Quran, they will not come up with anything like it, even if they assist one another”‘}[Al-Isra 17:88].
- Such neglect leads to disorder and imbalance within the Ummah in all other areas, as Allah (the Almighty) says, {‘And were it not for Allah repelling some people by means of others, the earth would indeed become corrupted‘}[Al-Baqarah 2:251].
- It allows the evil, criminal forces of injustice and tyranny, corruption and misguidance, to take control of societies and enslave the people.
- We affirm the commitment of our dear Muslim people of Yemen to their path of faith. This commitment is manifested through clinging to the Holy Quran, following the Seal of the Prophets (PBUH&F), raising the banner of jihad in Allah’s cause, and standing firm against the arrogant taghut of our age—the Israeli enemy, the Zionist Jews, their corrupt and dark Zionist allies among the Americans and others, and all enemies of Islam.
- We affirm our unwavering position in supporting the Palestinian people.
- We call upon all Muslims and all people of conscience to stand with the Palestinian people and to halt the crimes of the Zionist Jews, who are committing genocide and starving two million people, a monstrous crime that stains the conscience of humanity.
The total number of martyrs, wounded, and missing among the Palestinian people in Gaza has now surpassed 234,000 since the beginning of this aggression 696 days ago, with every single day bringing new casualties. The tragedy has only worsened, with starvation so severe that even infant formula is withheld from children.
This is not to mention the daily violation of the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the continuing threat of its demolition, and the relentless aggression against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and across Palestine, as well as persistent efforts to erase the right of return for Palestinians in various countries. All this is unfolding openly, before the world’s eyes and ears. Yet what is even more regrettable is that it is taking place among Muslims themselves, against a people who are part of their own community, and in a land that is part of their own. Most stand by and watch as though unaffected, displaying no human compassion. It seems that they do not recognise their religious and moral responsibilities or understand the danger their own passivity poses. Others, meanwhile, actively collude with the enemy, supporting and encouraging its crimes.
The plight of the Palestinian people, their immense tragedy, and the way in which most Muslims—both in Arab countries and beyond—have responded to it, have laid bare the shocking decline in humanity, morality, and faith that the Islamic Ummah has reached. It has revealed the profound impact of the insidious soft war waged by the Jews, which has brought an ummah of two billion Muslims to a disgraceful state of humiliation, powerlessness, submission, and abasement before a handful of Zionist Jews. This remains the case despite the fact that the Zionist project does not stop at the domination of Palestine and the extermination of its oppressed people. Its leading criminals openly declare their intentions for the whole region, under banners such as ‘Changing the Middle East’ and ‘Greater Israel’, and they are utterly serious — driven by their terrible and evil motives of hatred, greed, and satanic ambition. What they witness of the widespread passivity, complicity, and humiliating surrender of most peoples, regimes, and rulers only further emboldens them.
The gravest danger facing our Ummah is to persist in this perilous state—so thoroughly at odds with our principles and faith—a path leading only to destruction, loss, and subjugation to our most hostile and criminal enemy. The path to salvation for our Ummah does not lie in persisting in the grievous sin of passivity, nor in neglecting our sacred responsibility of jihad to support the Palestinian people, nor in failing to confront the Jewish threat and stop their evil and crimes. This great sin stems, above all, from the heavy burden of turning away from the Holy Quran and abandoning the guidance and example of the Messenger of Allah, with all the dreadful consequences this brings in this life and the Hereafter.
This blessed birth anniversary of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (PBUH&F)—with his momentous rise with the final divine message, which changed the course of history, toppled the structures of tyranny, and established the pillars of truth—is a precious opportunity to draw on its great lessons, leading us to the straight path: the path to dignity, deliverance, and salvation. It is a chance to restore our bond with the firmest handhold that cannot break, with Allah’s strong rope, which lifts the Ummah from the brink of ruin and sets us on the path beneath the banner of guidance destined to endure until the end of time. Allah (Glory be to Him) says in the Holy Quran, {‘They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it. It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, even to the dismay of those who associate others with Allah‘}[As-Saf 61:8-9].
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (PBUH&F), was born of the noble lineage of the Prophet Ismail, son of Allah’s Confidant, Prophet Ibrahim (PBUT), in Mecca, in the Year of the Elephant. That was the very year when Allah destroyed the army allied with the Romans that advanced on Mecca to destroy the Sacred Kaaba and to extinguish the Divine project—at a time when clear signs were manifesting, heralding the imminent birth and coming of humanity’s saviour and destroyer of tyranny: the Seal of the Prophets. That wondrous event was among the greatest harbingers of his blessed coming and a sign of preparation for the divine message. It also enhanced the status of the Sacred Kaaba and Mecca as a revered spiritual centre and the starting point for the divine mission.
Major cosmic changes also accompanied his blessed birth, including the prevention of jinn and devils from eavesdropping in the heavens, as they were pelted with flaming shooting stars. Allah mentions this in the Holy Quran, recounting their own words: {‘[Earlier] we tried to reach heaven [for news], only to find it filled with stern guards and shooting stars. We used to take up positions there for eavesdropping, but whoever dares eavesdrop now will find a flare lying in wait for them‘}[Al-Jinn 72:8-9].
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (PBUH&F) received a blessed and pure upbringing, under the care of Allah (the Almighty), and with divine preparation for his great and sacred mission, untouched by any stain or temptation of the age of ignorance. During his childhood as an orphan, Allah granted him the noble care of his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim. After his grandfather’s death, this care continued under his uncle Abu Talib, who continued to support and defend him until his own passing, prior to the Messenger’s migration from Mecca.
The upbringing of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) was distinguished by his extraordinary and unparalleled development of human perfection: purity, nobility, maturity, trustworthiness, and wisdom. He also ascended to the highest levels of moral excellence, as Allah (the Almighty) said, {‘And you are truly [a man] of outstanding character‘}[Al-Qalam 68:4].
When he reached the the height of his youth and maturity, Allah sent him with the divine message to all peoples, as a mercy to all the worlds {‘and a caller to [the Way of] Allah by His command, and a beacon of light‘}[Al-Ahzab 33:46]. Allah revealed to him the Holy Quran—the Wise Reminder, the clear light, the everlasting miracle— as a light for all the worlds and a practical path to follow, so that he might lead people out of darkness into light, as Allah (the Almighty) said, {‘This is a book We have sent down to you, that you may bring mankind out of darknesses into the light by permission of their Lord, to the path of the Mighty, the Praiseworthy‘}[Ibrahim 14:1].
Humanity’s salvation could only be achieved by abandoning dark concepts, false beliefs, distorted ideas, and superstitious perceptions, along with the evil actions, grave corruption, and great injustices that stem from them. For the pure light and truth, free from any trace of falsehood, had come to them, as Allah (the Almighty) said, {‘Indeed, those who deny the Reminder after it has come to them [are doomed], for it is truly a mighty book. It cannot be proven false from any angle. [It is] a revelation from the [One Who is] All-Wise, Praiseworthy‘}[Fussilat 41:41-42]. In following it lies success, salvation, and the greatest triumph, both in this world and the Hereafter.
The saviour—Allah’s Messenger, Muhammad (PBUH&F)—came to humanity with that light, endowed with high and noble qualities, reaching the highest levels of human perfection. He embodied in his intelligence, maturity, spirituality, and wisdom the very teachings of the Holy Quran.
The greatness of the divine message shone forth through both the Quran and the Messenger, distinguished by remarkable features:
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) carried this message forward with immense concern for guiding people—of all groups and orientations—so much so that Allah (Glory be to Him) said of him in the Quran, {‘Perhaps you [O Prophet] will grieve yourself to death over their disbelief‘}[Ash-Shu’ara 26:3]. And He also says, {‘Perhaps you [O Prophet] will grieve yourself to death over their disbelief‘}[Ash-Shu’ara 26:3].
With this tremendous light and clear truth, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (PBUH&F), set out to save humanity and guide them to what is best for their life in this world and the Hereafter, conveying the message of Allah (the Almighty) at the loftiest level. He began his mission of delivering the message in his birthplace, Mecca, where he spent thirteen years delivering the message, establishing the proofs, calling people to Islam, and laying the foundations for a believing nucleus for the Muslim Ummah.
Yet, the society of Mecca failed to attain the great honour of being the cradle of the divine message, having reached a state of denial and rejection to the point where Allah says, {‘The word has been confirmed against most of them, so they do not believe‘}[Ya-Sin 36:7]. This failure was largely due to their strong attachment to the leaders and symbols of disbelief—the tyrannical criminals and arrogant elite—along with their materialistic orientation, driven by greed and worldly standards.
Of all the Arab tribes whom the Prophet (PBUH&F) asked, during two pilgrimage seasons, to host him, it was Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj—the Yemenis living in Yathrib (Medina)—who were granted that great honour. So the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) migrated to them, and their land became the place where the Muslim society was formed by the Muhajirin and the Ansar, marking a new era of empowerment for the divine message and Allah’s true religion. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) worked on building a strong ummah, capable of implementing Allah’s teachings and His great guidance, spreading it as a light to the worlds, a deliverance for the oppressed, and a path of righteousness for those who follow it.
The tyrannical powers aligned with Satan—whether among the Arab polytheists, the Jews, or the Christians—set out to wage war on Islam by every means at their disposal, waging military campaigns as a culmination of their propaganda war, which had begun from the moment the Messenger (PBUH&F) embarked on his divine mission. This is not to mention their repeated attempts to assassinate him and persecute the oppressed Muslims. On the battlefield, and in the face of immense challenges, it was made clear that Islam is a faith that does not accept defeat; it is a path to victory for any nation that embraces it, follows its guidance, upholds its banner, and acts according to its teachings, for within it lie the greatest sources of strength and the very keys to triumph:
- above all, the connection to Allah (Glory be to Him) with His support, assistance, and victory.
- the high spirit of faith.
- the practical means of victory gained through acting in line with Allah’s laws and following his wise guidance.
As a result, every power and entity that opposed Islam at that time was defeated, despite their vast material resources and military strength, not to mention their cunning, deceit, and malice, as seen with the Jews. They fought Islam from their various settlements, where they built strong fortresses and prepared for war. They even stirred up the Arabs to fight the Prophet (PBUH&F). To mention just one example, they orchestrated the largest military assault on the Muslims in Medina—the greatest Arab force ever mustered against the Prophet and his followers in the Battle of the Confederates (Al-Ahzab), also known as the Battle of the Trench. This event is recounted in the Holy Quran, Surah Al-Ahzab. Even before and after that event, their conspiracies and incitement never ceased, targeting the Messenger, the Muslims, and Islam.
Despite that, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) confronted them effectively by Allah’s guidance and light, thwarting all their evil schemes. These schemes included the use of soft warfare aimed at infiltrating and corrupting Muslim society, which was met with the prohibition of all forms of allegiance and association with them. Such ties persisted only among the hypocrites, who continued their conspiracies with them, as Allah says, {‘To the hypocrites give the tidings that there is for them [but] a grievous penalty, those who take unbelievers as Auliya rather than believers. Do they seek with them honour? But indeed, honour belongs to Allah entirely‘}[An-Nisa 4:138-139]. He also says, {‘Have you not seen those who ally themselves with a people with whom Allah is displeased?‘}[Al-Mujadila 58:14].
The Holy Quran and the Messenger (PBUH&F) were resolute against the Jews and all disbelievers, as well as the hypocrites, as in the verse: {‘O Prophet! Struggle against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be firm with them. Jahannam will be their home. What an evil destination‘}[At-Twabah 9:73]. Through his campaign, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) succeeded in purifying the Arabian Peninsula from their defilement and influence, delivering decisive blows to their various groups—Banu Qaynuqa’, Banu Nadir, Banu Qurayzah, Khaybar, Fadak, and other communities in Wadi Al-Qura and beyond.
He also confronted the Roman Empire, prepared the Muslims for major conquests, and purified the Arabian Peninsula from the forces of tyranny and idolatry. By Allah’s grace, he conquered Mecca, which allowed people to enter the religion of Allah in crowds. He raised the Muslims to the highest standing among nations and peoples, distinguished by the message of Islam in its light, justice, goodness, and strength.
Jihad in the path of Allah was an integral part of the divine mission and message, ranked among the highest religious obligations that lead to serious consequences when neglected:
The Holy Quran, in many verses, revealed the true nature of the conflict with the party of evil and criminality from among the People of the Book, especially the Jews. It presented complete guidance, ensuring the Ummah’s protection from their evil, the repelling of their danger, and ultimate victory over them. Yet the real problem for Muslims is their turning away from the Holy Quran and the practical example that brought about the greatest success: the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F).
Beyond detailed specifics, the Holy Quran decisively outlined the great truths concerning the fate of this conflict in Surah Al-Isra. The Night Journey of the Prophet (PBUH&F) from the Sacred Mosque of Mecca to the Al-Aqsa Mosque took place before his migration from Mecca. The blessed verses revealed the future of the conflict between Muslims and their enemies from among the Zionist Israeli Jews, the destructive and corrupting role played by those criminal Jews in the land, their arrogance and oppression, and their inevitable fate: that Allah would unleash His powerful servants against them and bring their dominance and tyranny to an end.
In addition, Surah Al-Ma’idah makes plain the inevitable loss awaiting those from the Muslim community—hypocrites and those with sickness in their hearts—who ally themselves with such enemies. It also affirms that true victory belongs to those who embody the qualities mentioned in the noble verses:
{‘O believers! Whoever among you abandons their religion, Allah will replace them with others who are loved by Him and love Him. They will be humble with the believers but firm towards the disbelievers, and they fight in the cause of Allah, fearing no blame from anyone. This is the favour of Allah. He grants it to whoever He wills. And Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing. Your only Mawla [guardians] are Allah, His Messenger, and those who have believed, who establish prayer and pay zakat while bowing. And whoever is an ally of Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed, then it is certainly Allah’s party that will prevail‘}[Al-Ma’idah 5:54-56].
It is incumbent upon all Muslims to restore their connection with the Holy Quran by following and seeking guidance from it, as well as with the Messenger (PBUH&F) by following his example, as Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {‘Indeed in the messenger of Allah, you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often‘}[Al-Ahzab 33:21].
The most prominent feature of his life—both in the Holy Quran and in history—was striving in the path of Allah, the Almighty. The most telling mark of genuine faith was jihad in Allah’s cause, as expressed in many verses, including the verse: {‘But the Messenger and the believers with him strived with their wealth and their lives. They will have all the best, and it is they who will be successful. Allah has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow, to stay there forever. That is the ultimate triumph‘}[At-Tawbah 9:88-89].
The Messenger (PBUH&F) never ceased striving in the cause of Allah, confronting the enemies and repelling their evil, until he crushed tyranny and established the foundations of Islam. Through his jihad and great efforts, truth was upheld, and falsehood destroyed. He overcame all challenges, with immense faith in Allah and His victory, and he made sacrifices and endured all types of hardship, never tiring or faltering, until he met Allah in that state.
Thus his journey with the Quran and the message was one of guidance, purification, mercy, and jihad—a path that upheld truth, vanquished falsehood, established the foundations of Islam, maintained equity, and liberated people from servitude to any but Allah: {‘a deliverer of good news, a warner, a caller to [the Way of] Allah by His command, and a beacon of light‘}[Al-Ahzab 33:45-46]. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him and his family.
On this blessed day and glorious occasion, we stress the following:
We also call upon the People of the Book everywhere with the call of Allah—a most just and equitable call, bringing good in this world and the next, and realising peace at the highest level among societies—as He (the Almighty) says, {‘Say, [O Prophet,] “O People of the Book! Let us come to common terms: that we will worship none but Allah, associate none with Him, nor take one another as lords instead of Allah.” But if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we have submitted [to Allah alone]”‘}[Ali ‘Imran 3:64].
To our dear people, who have commemorated this occasion in the most remarkable way—faithfully following in the footsteps of your forefathers in support of the Messenger (PBUH&F) and Islam, in response to Allah (the Almighty), and out of love for His Messenger (PBUH&F)—I pray that Allah rewards you for this remarkable attendance, which has no equal in commemorating this occasion anywhere in the world. May He accept it from you, bless you, and grant reward to all those who contributed—the workers, the security personnel, those who organised and safeguarded the event, everyone involved in its arrangements, and also the transport providers who played a crucial role in bringing all the attendees and participants in their vehicles.
I ask Allah (Glory be to Him) to grant us success in seeking what pleases Him. O Allah! Have mercy on our virtuous martyrs, heal the wounded among us, set free our captives, and grant us victory. You are the All-Hearer of prayer. We also ask Him to hasten relief and victory for the oppressed Palestinian people and for their dear mujahidin.
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
May Allah protect you, reward you, and shower you with His blessings.