Bismil Laah was swalaat was salaam alaa rasulul Laah! All praises and thanks is due to Allah and may HIS peace and blessings be upon the best of creation, the prophet Mohammed.
November 9, 2018; translated to the first day of Rabi’ul Awwal – the third month of the Islamic calendar. The month is sandwiched between Safar and Rabi’uth Thanee.
Aside the benefit of keenly following the Islamic dating system despite our predominant use of the Gregorian dates. It is equally important to know what underlines the names of the various months.
The most known months are those mentioned in the Qur’an, the sacred months. We know a month known for fasting, others are known for pilgrimage and so on and so forth. Note: Muharram 1440 ended with 29 days by Safar ended with 30.
The focus on this month, Rabi’ul Awwal is largely because it is according to history the month in which the Prophet - Peace Be Upon Him, PBUH, was born.
But how did the month derive its name? Islam Question and Answer helps us with an answer. Rabee’ al-Awwal is so called because they [Arabs] did not travel during that month (the word iritbaa,’ derived from the same root means “not traveling”)
The plural form is Arbi’aa,’ like the word naseeb (pl. ansibaa’), or Arbu’ah like the word ragheef (pl. argufah). The same maybe said concerning Rabee’ al-Aakhir as was said concerning Rabee’ al-Awwal.
The birth of Rasool in focus
Rasul was born in the Year of the Elephant. This is supported by the modern study undertaken by both Muslim and Orientalist researchers who stated that the Year of the Elephant corresponds to the year 570 CE or 571 CE.
With regard to the day, he, PBUH, was born on a Monday, his mission began on a Monday and he died on a Monday. Narrated by Abu Qataadah al-Ansaari, RA, the prophet, PBUH, was asked about fasting on Mondays and he said:
“That is the day on which I was born and on it my mission began – or revelation came to me.” The twelfth is the most authentic of narrations with respect to the exact date of birth, according to scholars and Allah knows best.
Ok, now to the issue of the birth of the prophet PBUH which is widely reported to have happened on 12th of Rabi’ul Awwal. It indeed means different things to different people.
Those that will celebrate a ‘mawlid,’ good luck, those that won’t – abeg no wahala. I belong to the school of thought that advocates that we live and let live. We are united on the love of Abal Qaasim, let’s leave it at that.
The genesis of the names: Muharram and Safar
Since we have crossed into Muharram and Safar, I suppose telling how they got their names won’t be a bad idea.
Shaykh ‘Alam ad-Deen as-Sakhaawi stated in a book that he compiled, entitled al-Mashhoor fi Asma’ al-Ayyaam wa’sh-Shuhoor, that Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month.
I think that it was so called to affirm its sanctity, because the Arabs used to change it, making it not sacred one year and making it sacred another year. He said: The plural form of Muharram is Muharramaat or Mahaarim or Mahaareem.
Safar is so called because their houses would be devoid of them when they went out to fight or to travel, and it would be said “safira al-makaan (the place has become empty)” when people left. The plural form of Safar is Asfaar.
Was swalaat was salaam alaa Rasulul Laah!
Rabi'ul Aw'wal 1, 1440 = November 9, 2018
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