I would like to start off this short study by looking at the defi nition of Rabi al Awwal. Rabi al Awwal is the third month in the Islamic calendar, Rabi meaning ‘Spring’ and Awwal ‘First’, so, therefore it would take the meaning as the ‘First Spring!’ It would not be wrong to say that Rabi al Awwal is the most signifi cant month in the Islamic history, because humanity had been blessed in this month by the birth of the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam).

I believe, like many of my renowned teachers that the fi rst to be created; the fi rst to be mentioned and the fi rst to be honoured was indeed no-one other than our Most Beloved Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-u Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam).

Allah Taa’la ordered the pen to write and it asked, “What shall I write?” Allah Taa’la replied, ‘Laa Ilaaha Illallaah.’ The pen wrote, ‘Laa Ilaaha Illallaah’ for seventy-thousand of Allah Taa’la’s years and then it stopped. One of Allah Taa’a’s days is equal to one thousand of our years. Then, Allah Taa’la ordered it to write again, and the pen asked, “What shall I write?” Allah Taa’la answered, ‘Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah’ The Pen said, “O Allah (Taa’la), who is this Muhammad that You have put Your Name next to His name?” Allah Taa’la replied, “You must know that if it were not for Muhammad I would not have created anything in Creation.”

So the pen wrote, ‘Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah’ for another seventy-thousand years. It is for this, when our beloved Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘Kuntu Nabiyyan wa Aadamu bayni-l-maa’i wat teen’, meaning, “I was a Prophet when Aadam (Alay Hissalaam) was between water and clay.”

His (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam’s) birth took place in Makkah tul Mukarramah on Monday in the house known as Daar Al-Mawlid, in the year of the Elephant, which corresponds to 571 C.E. His (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam’s) father, Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Abdul Muttallib and mother, Hadhrat Aaminah Bint Wahaab (Radi Allah Anhumaa), were well-known individuals. (For further read on ‘Were the Prophet Alay Hissalaam’s parents believers or not?’ refer to the Islamic Times website for a detailed answer on, www.islamictimes.co.uk).

If you study history, before the birth of the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad- ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), not only in the Arabian peninsula, but also at that time of the so-called civilized nations such as Rome and Persia were drowned in the darkness of ignorance, superstitions, oppression and unrest. It was the twelfth of Rabi al Awwal, although, some suggest otherwise (as below) when Allah Taa’la bestowed His Most High favour upon all mankind by sending His beloved Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) to earth. It is the consensus of the Muslim Ulama that the Holy Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was born in the ‘Year of the Elephant’.

The Ulama are agreed that the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad- ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was born during the month of Rabi al Awwal and that it was defi nitely on a Monday. This is surely because the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, as narrated by Hadhrat Abu Qatadah (Radi Allah Anho) when asked why He fasted on Mondays:

“That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I received the message (i.e., the day on which His Prophethood began).” (Muslim).

There is controversy regarding the exact date of that Monday in the month of Rabi al Awwal. There are various different opinions of which some are that 1) two nights before the end of Rabi al Awwal, as adopted by Hadhrat Ibn ‘Abdul- Barr as well as Abu Mash’ar (Radi Allah Anhuma), who were from the second generation after the companions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam); 2) the eighth of Rabi al Awwal, as adopted by Hadhrat Muhammad Ibn Jubayr and Hadhrat Ibn Hazm (Radi Allah Anhuma); 3) the tenth of Rabi al Awwal, as adopted by Hadhrat Ash- Shu’bi and Hadhrat Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Al-Hussain Ibn Hadhrat Ali Ibn Abu- Talib (Radi Allah Anhuma), who were from the generation which came directly after the companions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and 4) the twelfth of Rabi al Awwal, as adopted by Hadhrat Ibn Ishaaq (Radi Allah Anho), who was a famous scholar from the second generation after the companions of the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad- ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). But, there is no difference of opinion as to when the Blessed Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) passed away. The Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad- ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was sick for about twelve days.

He used to send the fi rst righteous Caliph, Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddique Al-Ateeq (Radi Allah Anho) to lead the Salaah and this was a strong sign to the Sahaabah that He (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) had chosen him as His (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam’s) successor.

The Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad- ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) passed away on a Monday, 12th Rabi al Awwal. Wrapped in His (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam’s) nightgown, He (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was washed by Hadhrat Ali, Hadhrat Abbaas ibn `Abdul Mutallib and his two sons, Hadhrat Qutham and Hadhrat Fadl (Ridhwaanullaahi Alayhim Ajma’een).

Hadhrat Usaama bin Zaid and Hadhrat Shakran (Radi Allah Anhumaa) were pouring the water which Hadhrat Awwas Khazraji (Radi Allah Anho) was bringing from the well. As they performed their washing, the body exuded beautiful scents, and upon this, Hadhrat Ali (Radi Allah Anho) continually chanted, ‘By Allah (Taa’la), what would I give for you! How sweet You are and how wholesome You are; both alive and dead!’

The secret of Allah Taa’la’s strong support and pure guidance passed from Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)) to His beloved friend, Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allah Anho) What the Prophet poured into the heart of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allah Anho) no one will ever know until Qiyaamah!

Let’s conclude by looking at some of the events which occurred in the month of Rabi ul Awwal. The battles of Buwaat and Saf’yaan took place in the second year of Hijrah; Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allah Anho’s) beloved daughter, Hadhrat Asmaa (Radi Allah Anha) was born six years before The Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) declared his Prophecy; Hadhrat Ruqayyah (Radi Allah Anha), the daughter of the Beloved Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was born seven years before The Holy prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) declared his Prophecy;

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allah Anho) was appointed as the Khaliphah; Hadhrat Umme Kulthum married Hadhrat Uthmaan ibn-e-Afaan (Radi Allah Anhumaa) in third year after Hijrah; mother of the believers, wife of the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), Umm ul Mu’mineen, Hadhrat Zaynab (Radi Allah Anha) passed away in the fourth year after Hijrah and Hadhrat Ibrahim (Radi Allah Anho) the son of Hadhrat Maariya Qibtiya (Radi Allah Anha) and of the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) passed away in the tenth year of Hijrah.

The Holy Qur’an says, ‘Say’ (referring to the Holy Prophet, O Prophet! [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam]), If you follow Me, Allah (Taa’la) will love you’. (Holy Qur’an: Surah 3: Verse 31)

From this, if we can form the habit of doing even the small acts of Sunnah, we will be taken into the attribute of being beloved and when we become a perfect follower of the Sunnah, we will become a perfect beloved of Allah Taa’la!

To submit or view questions which Shaykh Hafeezud Din has answered visit ‘Question Times’ on www.islamictimes.co.uk