Rabiʽ al-Awwal

Rabīʽ al-Awwal (Arabic: رَبِيع ٱلْأَوَّل‎, Rabīʿ al-ʾAwwal) is the third month in the Islamic calendar. The name Rabī‘ al-awwal means "the first [month] or beginning of spring", referring to its position in the pre-Islamic Arabian calendar.

Islamic calendar
Months
  1. Muharram
  2. Safar
  3. Rabiʽ al-Awwal
  4. Rabiʽ al-Thani
  5. Jumada al-awwal
  6. Jumada al-Thani
  7. Rajab
  8. Sha'ban
  9. Ramadan
  10. Shawwal
  11. Dhu al-Qadah
  12. Dhu al-Hijjah

During this month, majority of Muslims celebrate Mawlid - the birthday of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Other Muslims do not believe the celebration is evidenced as necessary or even Islamically permissible in the Quran or authentic Hadith and has evolved as an innovation. Although the exact date of the Mawlid is unknown,[1][2] Sunni Muslims believe the date of birth of Muhammad to have been on the twelfth of this month, whereas Shia Muslims believe him to have been born on the dawn of the seventeenth day.

In the Ottoman Empire days, the name of this month in Ottoman Turkish was Rèbi' ulèvvèl,[3] with the abbreviation Ra.[4] In modern Turkish it is Rebiülevvel.

Meaning

The word "Rabi" means "spring" and Al-awwal means "the first" in Arabic language, so "Rabi' al-awwal" means "The first spring" in Arabic language. The name seems to have to do with the celebration events in the month as "spring" is the end to winter (symbol of sadness) and consequently the start of happiness. The Arabic calendar being lunar calendar, the month is naturally rotating over years and Rabī‘ al-awwal can be in spring or any other season every now and then, so the meaning can not be related to the actual season.[5]

Celebrations
Main article: Mawlid
Indian Muslims with green flags for Mawlid

Although historians and scholars disagree on the exact date of Muhammad's birth,[6] it is celebrated by some Muslims on 12th or 17th of Rabi' al-awwal.

However, many Muslims do not celebrate the Prophet's birthday as neither the Prophet himself nor any of his Companions of the Prophet observed any such birthday celebrations and they do not consider it an Islamic obligation nor an act of any religious merit with any basis in the Quran or in any authentic Hadith.

Where the celebration of the Mawlid is done by some Muslims, it is done differently depending on the country. In some areas celebrations begin as early as the first of the month and can continue till the end of the month. Muslims generally put coloured lights on roads, streets, and their homes and put green flags as well to celebrate.

In many countries a procession is also conducted on 12th or 17th of Rabi' al-awwal night and day. On these occasions sweets and drinks are also distributed widely from home to home and to the general public. In some areas Muslims also exchange gifts.

For the first time in 457 years, both the 12th Rabi' al-awwal and Christmas shared the same date on December 25, 2015 [7] although this co-incidence has no significance given many Muslims, while noting the historic importance of the Prophet's birth date, do not recognize the annual Mawlid to have any Islamic relevance.

Timing

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Rabī‘ al-Awwal migrates throughout the seasons. The estimated start and end dates for Rabī‘ al-Awwal are as follows (based on the Umm Al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia[8]):

Rabī' al-Awwal dates between 2017 and 2022
AH First day (CE/AD) Last day (CE/AD)
1439 19 November 2017 18 December 2017
1440 09 November 2018 07 December 2018
1441 29 October 2019 27 November 2019
1442 18 October 2020 15 November 2020
1443 07 October 2021 05 November 2021
1444 27 September 2022 25 October 2022

Islamic events
Masjid al-Quba, the first mosque, was built in this month.

Other events:

References
  1. Annemarie Schimmel (1994). Deciphering the signs of God: a phenomenological approach to Islam (illustrated ed.). Edinburgh University Press. p. 69.
  2. Eliade, Mircea, ed. (1987). The Encyclopedia of religion, Volume 9 (illustrated ed.). Macmillan. p. 292. ISBN 9780029098004.
  3. Youssof, R. (1890). Dictionnaire portatif turc-français de la langue usuelle en caractères latins et turcs. Constantinople. p. 479.
  4. Youssof, R. (1890). Dictionnaire portatif turc-français de la langue usuelle en caractères latins et turcs. Constantinople. p. 476.
  5. َAl-Monjed dictionary and encyclopedia - the word Rabi' al-awwal
  6. What is the Authentic Date of Birth and Death of Prophet Muhammad?
  7. Talley, Gwyneth (30 December 2015). "https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2015/12/30/jesus-and-muhammad-share-a-birthday-for-first-time-in-457-years/". National Geographic. Retrieved 25 December 2019. External link in |title= (help)
  8. Umm Al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia
  9. Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Institute of Islamic Studies. Days on viewpoint of Imam Khomeini. Tehran: Islamic research center. p. 176.
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