Mawlid al-nabi (the Prophet Muhammad's birthday) is commonly celebrated event in the contemporary Muslim world. This non-canonical holiday has undergone an evolution from modest family observations - documented, for the first time, in the context of the 10th century - to large public festivals known from the late medieval period. This paper argues that the turning point in the history of the holiday were celebrations of mawlid al-nabi in Arbil during the reign of Muzaffar al-Din Gökburi at the beginning of the 13th century. The argument is supported by analysis of two legal opinions on the origin of the holiday from the 13th (Abu Shama) and the 15th century (Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti)., Miroslav Melčák., and Obsahuje bibliografii