Rabi' al-awwal

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Islamic Calendar

Muharram Safar Rabi' al-awwal Rabi' al-thani Jumada al-awwal Jumada al-thani Rajab Sha'aban Ramadan Shawwal Dhu al-Qi'dah Dhu al-Hijjah

Rabi' al-awwal (ربيع الأوّل) is the third month in the Islamic calendar. During this month, Muslims around the world celebrate Mawlid - the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Sunni Muslims believe the exact date of birth of Muhammad to have been on the twelfth of this month, whereas Shi'a Muslims believe him to have been born on the dawn of the seventeenth day. The name Rabī‘ al-awwal means the first [month] or beginning of spring, referring to its position in the pre-Islamic Arabian calendar.

Contents 1 Celebrations 2 Timing 3 Islamic events 4 References 5 External link

Celebrations

Main article: Mawlid

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 Rabiul Awal 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.

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^[1]):

AH	First day (CE / AD)	Last day (CE / AD)
1431	15 February 2010	16 March 2010
1432	4 February 2011	5 March 2011
1433	24 January 2012	22 February 2012
1434	13 January 2013	10 February 2013
1435	2 January 2014	31 January 2014
1436	23 December 2014	20 January 2015
1437	12 December 2015	10 January 2016
Rabī‘ al-Awwal dates between 2010 and 2015

Islamic events

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

• 06 Rabī‘ al-Awwal 1404 AH, death of Hazrat Khwaja Allah Bakhsh Abbasi Naqshbandi
• 08 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, death of Twelver Imām, Hasan al-‘Askarī (see: Chup Tazia)
• 08 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, death of Ghawth al-Atham, Sheikh Abd al-Qadir Al-Jilani
• 09 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, Eid e shuja
• 12 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, traditional Sunni's observe Mawlid in commemoration of Muhammad's birthday
• 17 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, Shi‘ah Muslims celebrate the birthday of Muhammad and the Shī‘ah Imām, Ja‘far al-Sādiq.
• 18 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, birth of Umm Khultum 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 (1st mosque in Islam)

References

1. ^ Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia

• 12 Rabi' Al-Awwal Naats and Videos

External links

• Islamic-Western Calendar Converter (Based on the Arithmetical or Tabular Calendar)
• Islamic Calendar / Hijri Calendar for Makkah