As we bid farewell to the months of Muharram and Safar, we welcome the third month of the Islamic Calander – Rabiul Awwal. With Rabiul Awwal just around the corner, let’s look into the significance and benefits of this month.
The direct translation in literal term of the word Rabiul Awwal means ‘the first spring’, however this has no relevance in today’s times as the Islamic calendar follows the moon, rather than the solar seasons.
Rabi’-ul-Awwal is a righteous month, and Muslims consider this month to be significant because of the occurrence of a few events. This month is hugely important for Muslims worldwide because the important events all revolve around the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). These were:
Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. was born in Makkah on a Monday in Rabiul Awwal, though narrations have differed on the exact date.
Humanity was blessed with the birth of the Prophet S.A.W. during this month. Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. would eventually lead humanity, starting with the Arabs, Persians and Romans, from the darkness of ignorance, into the light of Tawhid. His birth was a ‘mercy to the worlds’ (Quran, 21:107).
Even with his birth, there were many miracles that surrounded it. Aminah, the mother of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. was conscious of a light within her throughout her pregnancy with Muhammad S.A.W. One day, the light shone so intensely that she could see the castles and palaces of Syria. (Ibn Ishaq).
The foster mother of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W., Halimah, also witnessed miracles. Her family was suffering from drought but after she took the Prophet S.A.W. as her foster child, her family were blessed for many years later.
The birth of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. had also been anticipated for a long time. Five centuries earlier, Isa A.S. had mentioned it to his people:
‘And remember when Isa, the son of Maryam said, “O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah [sent] to you, confirming the Torah (Law) [which came] before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad”’. (Quran, 61:6)
During Rabiul Awwal, the Hijrah (migration) of the Prophet S.A.W. and his companion Abu Bakr R.A took place – from Makkah to Yathrib (Madinah). This is known as the Hijrah, and we Muslims date the Islamic calendar from it. Hence, the first year they spent in Madinah is known as the first Islamic year, denoted by ‘AH’ which stands for ‘After Hijrah’.
The Hijrah is a monumental event in Islam – it marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Muslims. With his wisdom, justice and mercy, the Prophet S.A.W. united the tribes of Yathrib who were divided before his presence.
DID YOU KNOW that the first mosque was also built in the month of Rabiul Awwal?
The Prophet S.A.W. left Makkah along with Abu Bakr R.A. crossing the desert to Quba, a town near the city of Yathrib. They stayed there for three days, during which they built the first mosque, before they continued their journey to Yathrib. There, they would go on to build a second mosque, known today as Masjid An-Nabi.
The Prophet (S.A.W.) greeted the people of Quba by saying, ‘O people, give one another greetings of peace, feed the hungry, honour the ties of kinship, and pray in the hours when men sleep. Then you shall enter Paradise in peace’.
The Prophet S.A.W. established a community that centred around Allah’s worship in both Quba and Madinah.
In the eleventh year of Islam, during Rabiul Awwal, the Prophet S.A.W. passed away.
While his family and closest Companions knew that it would soon be time for him to return back to Allah S.W.T. it had still been a great shock to the Muslims when he passed– so much so that there were a few that refused to believe that he had gone. Even Umar R.A., one of his closest companions, was adamant that the news had been a lie.
It was then that Abu Bakr R.A stood up and reminded the people that the Prophet S.A.W. was only a Messenger of Allah S.W.T. and he was not immortal.
‘O people! If it was Muhammad whom you worshipped, then know that he is dead. But if it is Allah whom you worshipped, then know that He does not die’.
The passing of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. had greatly impacted the Muslims. The grief and sorrow that the Ummah felt during that time had been so intense – they grieved not only for the Prophet S.A.W. whom they loved more than anyone else in the world, but they also grieved for the end of Revelation.
Allah chose the month of Rabiul Awwal to bless the world with the Prophet S.A.W. as well as to take His Beloved S.A.W. back to Him. Hence, this signifies the importance of the month and that it deserves our attention and respect.
It has been stated in the following hadith on Rabiul Awwal that we are unable to experience the sweetness of Iman without loving the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
“Whoever has the following three traits will certainly experience the sweetness [and delight] of faith. The first being the one to whom God and His Prophet becomes dearer and loved more than anything” [Bukhari].
We hope that by looking into the blessed events that occurred during this month, we can practice patience and gratitude the same way our beloved Prophet S.A.W. used to and take advantage of this month to nurture good habits so we can emulate the Prophet S.A.W. throughout the year.
Here at Global Ehsan Relief, we aim to help as many communities and individuals as possible in the most sustainable way. Join us in our efforts in creating a better future for struggling individuals all around the globe, especially the orphans in this blessed month of Rabiul Awwal. Contribute to our Rabiul Awwal campaign today and provide a better future for orphans by Sponsoring an Orphan today.
