Rabi' al-awwal

Rabī' 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. Rabi' al-awwal
  4. Rabi' 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, many Muslims celebrate Mawlid - the birthday of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Although the exact date 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 commonly celebrated on 12th or 17th of Rabi' al-awwal. The celebration of the Mawlid 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. It is the month of blessings. For the first time in 457 years, both the 12th Rabi' al-awwal and Christmas shared the same date on December 25, 2015.[7]

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.
  • 01 Rabī‘ al-Awwal 897 AH, the fall of the Emirate of Granada, the final Muslim kingdom of al-Andalus
  • 08 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, death of Imam Hassan Al-Askari Twelver Imām, Hasan al-‘Askarī (see: Chup Tazia)
  • 09 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, Eid e shuja
  • 12 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, Sunni Muslims observe Mawlid in commemoration of Muhammad's birthday
  • 13 Rabi al-Awwal, Death of Bibi Rubab ( Beloved Wife of Imam Hussain)
  • 17 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, Shia celebrate the birthday of the Imām Ja‘far al-Sādiq.
  • 18 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, birth of Umm Kulthum bint Ali
  • 26 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, death of Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib
  • 26 Rabī‘ al-Awwal 1333 AH, death of Khwaja Sirajuddin Naqshbandi, a Naqshbandi Sufi shaykh

Other events:

  • The Hijra (migration) took place in this month
  • Eid-e-Zahra (a.k.a. Eid e shuja), a celebration of Shi‘ah Muslims
  • Marriage of Muhammad to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
  • Building of the Quba Mosque (first mosque in Islam)
  • The week including 12th and 17th is called Islamic Unity Week in Iran to address both Sunni and Shia views on the birth date of Mohammad.[9]
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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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