Al-Sayyid Abdulmalik Badruddeen al-Houthi delivered a speech on Thursday marking the anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi), extending congratulations to the Yemeni people and Muslims worldwide while stressing the steadfastness of Yemen’s position in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Al-Sayyid declared that Yemen’s commemoration of the Prophet’s (PBUH) birth is unparalleled across the world, embodying the words of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family: “Faith is Yemeni and wisdom is Yemeni.” He saluted the Yemeni people, calling them “O Yemen of faith, O descendants of the Ansar, O people of love and reverence for the Messenger of Allah,” and congratulated all Muslims celebrating the occasion worldwide.

He welcomed Arab and Islamic communities present in Yemen for the celebrations, describing the annual commemoration as an expression of gratitude to Allah, joy for His mercy, and reverence for the Prophet, quoting the Qur’anic verse: “Say, in the bounty of Allah and in His mercy—in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate” (Yunus: 58).

Al-Sayyid emphasized that Yemenis commemorate the Prophet’s (PBUH) birth with unmatched devotion, love, and veneration, affirming loyalty to the Messenger of Allah and resisting attempts by enemies to diminish his status in Muslim hearts or sever Muslims from following his example.

He described the Mawlid as a season for spiritual and cultural enrichment, drawing from the Prophet’s biography to strengthen faith, awareness, and resolve. The commemoration, he noted, is also tied to Yemen’s broader pursuit of independence, liberation from tyranny, and affirmation of Islamic identity.

“This occasion,” he said, “comes at a time when our people carry the banner of Islam, struggling in the path of Allah with steadfastness and sacrifice, echoing the legacy of their forefathers, the Ansar, who once upheld the Prophet’s message when others abandoned it.”

Al-Sayyid drew attention to the ongoing war on Gaza, noting that the Prophet’s birthday this year coincides with the end of the second year of the Zionist enemy’s aggression on the Palestinian people. He accused Israel, backed by the United States and Western allies, of committing genocide using internationally banned weapons and enforcing starvation on two million people, including children and the elderly, calling it “the crime of the century and the scandal of the age.”

He clarified that the toll of martyrs, wounded, and missing in Gaza has exceeded 234,000 since the aggression began 696 days ago on Thursday. He condemned the daily violations against al-Aqsa Mosque, threats of its demolition, and ongoing displacement of Palestinians, criticizing Arab and Muslim inaction and complicity.

He warned that the Palestinian tragedy exposed the horrific moral, human, and religious decline within the Muslim world under the influence of what is described as a “satanic soft war.” He further stated that Israel’s ambitions extend beyond Palestine under its vision of a “Greater Israel,” fueled by regional submission.

Al-Sayyid underscored that the Muslim nation’s salvation lies not in continued complacency but in embracing its responsibility for jihad and resisting Zionist corruption. “All alternatives pursued by the ummah have failed,” he said. “Why not return to the guidance of the Qur’an and the Messenger? Islam is a project of victory, not defeat.”

He urged Muslims to recognize the Prophet’s birth as a reminder of the divine message that toppled tyranny and laid the foundations of truth, presenting an opportunity to renew ties with Allah’s guidance and escape decline.

Reaffirming Yemen’s unwavering stance, al-Sayyid declared: “We remain firm in supporting the Palestinian people and call on all people of conscience to stop the Zionist crimes of genocide and starvation.”

He extended his call beyond Muslims, addressing the People of the Book with the Qur’anic invitation to unity: “Say, O People of the Book, come to a word that is equitable between us and you—that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah. But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims’.”

In his speech, al-Sayyid recounted the Prophet’s lineage, birth in the Year of the Elephant, and the divine signs that heralded his mission. He highlighted the Prophet’s upbringing under divine care, his moral excellence, and his eventual role as the bearer of the Qur’an and mercy to humanity.

He described how the Prophet (PBUH) faced rejection in Mecca but found support in the Ansar of Yathrib, laying the foundation for a strong Muslim community. Despite wars waged by Quraysh, Jews, and Romans, Islam, he said, proved to be a religion that “does not accept defeat,” built on divine support, spiritual strength, and practical means.

He recalled the Prophet’s confrontations with Jewish tribes in Medina and his eventual cleansing of the Arabian Peninsula from their influence, asserting that the Qur’an and the Prophet dealt decisively with Jews, hypocrites, and tyrants.

Al-Sayyid connected the historical conflict with Jews during the Prophet’s time to the present struggle with Zionism, asserting that the Qur’an outlines its trajectory, particularly in Surah al-Isra and Surah al-Ma’idah. He said the ultimate outcome is Allah’s promise of victory for those who are faithful, humble to believers, and firm against disbelievers.

He concluded by stressing that jihad was central to the Prophet’s mission and remains essential for Muslims today, declaring: “The Prophet’s life was a journey of guidance, mercy, jihad, and the triumph of truth over falsehood. Islam liberated humanity from servitude to anyone but Allah, and so too must we continue on this path.”