BAGHDAD, April 22 , 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Despite insecurity and chaos, Iraqis have gathered in the predominantly-Sunni city of Al-Adamiya to celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday, intending not to turn the occasion into a political rally.

That was clearly manifested in the banners and fliers covering the streets leading to the shrine and mosque of Abu Hanifaya Al-Noaman, a popular Muslim scholar, where Iraqis were to gather to join millions of Muslims worldwide in marking the birthday of Allah’s Seal of Prophets to mankind.

The crowds, however, could not overlook the bitter realities affecting every and each aspect of their lives, and the rally turned anti-occupation and even anti-Iran.

"No to America… No to Iran… (Iraqi) Sunnis and Shiites are brothers!" the crowd shouted during the peak of the celebration late Wednesday, April 20 , denouncing what they said was Iran’s interference in their country’s affairs, accusing the Shiite Islamic Republic of inciting sectarian divide in Iraq.

The condemnation of Iran came after made reports -- later proved baseless – claimed masked Sunni militants attacked a mosque in central Iraq and threatened to kill dozens of Shiite hostages unless all Shiites left town, potentially enflaming sectarian divides.

Thriving Business

Although the number of crowd at the celebration was less than that of the same crowds prior to the occupation of the country in 2003 , a festive atmosphere was in full swing in Al-Adamiya.

Street walls were festooned with lights and colored decorative chains hung on the main roads leading to the city – in an attempt to overcome fear gripping local inhabitants over the night.

Food, drinks and dessert are offered for free to the visitors of the city to join the celebrations.

"Most residents spent all night celebrating the anniversary, as if they wanted to forget their sentiments of fear under siege," Sheikh Ahmed Hassan, a mosque imam in the city, told Al-Quds Press news agency.

Mosques also joined in the fray, inviting scholars to give religious seminars on the occasion.

The festive atmosphere is usually mingled with the sound of tambourine as religious songs are performed in various places.

Still, a feeling of tension hangs on at the area. No one could venture out in the evening, where a curfew is imposed from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. every day.

"We had to hold the activities afternoon instead of evenings as usual to avoid the curfew," said Sheikh Loay, the imam of Gumhouria Mosque in southern Baghdad.

The curfew was imposed by Iraqi government after the occupation of the country began accompanied by massive scenes of chaos and anarchy in April2003 .