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'Prophet Muhammad's hair' to be delivered to Moscow for Muslim believers' worship

The relic will be delivered by charter flight from Russia's southern republic of Dagestan to Crocus City Hall for celebrations of "Mavlid-an-Nabi" on January 25

During a meeting of Islamic relic brought from the United Arab Emirates (archive) ITAR-TASS/Ruslan Alibekov/NewsTeam

During a meeting of Islamic relic brought from the United Arab Emirates (archive)

© ITAR-TASS/Ruslan Alibekov/NewsTeam

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MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Strands of hair said to be of the Prophet Muhammad will be brought to Moscow from southern Russia's Dagestan republic for Muslim believers' worship at a January 25 celebration of the spiritual leader's birth.

The relic will be delivered by charter flight from Makhachkala to Crocus City Hall for celebrations of "Mavlid-an-Nabi", translated from Arabic as the "Prophet's birth". It comes to Moscow for the first time, escorted by Moscow Muslim Spiritual Department head Mufti Ildar Alyautdinov.

Muhammad's birth is commemorated on the 12th day of every third consecutive month of the Islamic Lunar calendar, though the exact birth date is unknown. It was first celebrated 300 years after Islam was acknowledged as the Muslim religion and is chronicled in ancient writings.

Celebrations are accompanied by mass prayers and readings of Muslim literature. By tradition, guests are invited to visit the homes of friends, hear readings of the prophet's life and give money to the poor.

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