Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has become the first leader in recent years to deliver a formal national message celebrating mawlid, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). Observed on the 12th day of Rabi ul Awwal, mawlid has deep roots in Somalia’s Sufi traditions but has been under threat from Wahhabi and Al-Shabaab efforts to ban it. In his televised address, HSM congratulated the Somali people, declared mawlid a public holiday, and urged citizens to reflect on the Prophet’s values. The speech resonated deeply, particularly in central Somalia’s Sufi strongholds of Galgaduud and Hiiraan. For over two decades, mawlid celebrations have been suppressed in many areas, with Wahhabi clerics calling it an “innovation” and Al-Shabaab outright banning it. By publicly embracing mawlid, HSM sends a strong signal of religious inclusion, challenging decades of Wahhabi influence. The move has revived hopes for restoring Somalia’s rich heritage of tolerance, pluralism, and Sufi devotional practices, such as qasidas and nabi amaan poetry. Advocates now urge Somalia’s constitutional review process to enshrine protections for Islamic diversity and prevent the imposition of one sect over others. For many, this marks not just a celebration, but the beginning of a cultural and spiritual revival.