The Month of Rabi ul Awwal During the Time of the Prophet

The month of Rabi al-Awwal during the time of the Prophet

Hafeez al-Rahman Attari Madani

The blessings, mercy, and bounties the universe has received from Allah were all granted for the sake of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . Rabi al-Awwal is associated with the birth of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , which is why the greatness of this month exceeds that of all others. This month has many significant events; here are some of them.

The blessed birth: The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was born on Monday, 12^th Rabi al-Awwal/20^th April 571 CE.

Marriage of Sayyida Umm Kulthūm: During Rabi al-Awwal 3AH, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم oversaw the marriage between Sayyida Umm Kulthūm رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا and Sayyiduna ʿUthmān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ .^[1]

The passing away of a prince: The Prophet’s son, Ibrāhīm رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ , passed away on 10^th Rabi al-Awwal, 10 AH. He was buried in the blessed al-Baqīʿ cemetery.^[2]

Migration to Madina: On Thursday night, 1^st Rabi al-Awwal, 622, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم left Makka with Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ . They stopped at Thawr cave, remaining there for three days from Friday to Sunday. On Monday night, 5^th Rabi al-Awwal, they continued the journey to Madina.^[3] They reached Quba on 12^th Rabi al-Awwal and stayed at the house of Sayyiduna Kulthūm b. al-Hidm رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ for a few days.^[4]

His family proclaimed “Allahu Akbar” in joy, realising the honour they have in hosting the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .^[5]

Construction of Masjid Quba: On 12^th Rabi al-Awwal, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم laid the foundations for Masjid Quba on the land of Sayyiduna Kulthūm b. al-Hidm رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ .^[6]

The Issue of Kaʿb b. Ashraf: Initially, the Jews and the Anṣār agreed to remain impartial whilst the Muslims were in battle with the disbelievers of Quraysh. However, Kaʿb b. Ashraf constantly violated this agreement. Although the Muslims initially tolerated his dishonesty, the matter warranted a response when the Prophet’s life was threatened. The Companions Muhammad b. Maslama, Abū Nāʾila, Abbād b. Bishr, Ḥārith b. Aws, and Abū ʿAbs رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھُم marched on the fort of Kaʿb b. Ashraf on the night of 3^rd Rabi al-Awwal and neutralised him at the fort’s entrance. During the skirmish, Sayyidunā Ḥārith b. Aws رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was wounded by a sword, so Sayyiduna Muhammad b. Maslama and others carried him back to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم who applied his blessed saliva to the wound, instantly healing it.^[7]

Expeditions of Rabi al-Awwal:

1.   Expedition of Banu Nadir, 4 AH.^[8]

2.   In 2 AH, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم led 200 Muhājir Companions in the Expedition of Bawat, but no fighting occurred. (According to some narrations, this occurred in Rabi al-Akhir)^[9]

3.   In 3 AH, the Expedition of Ghatfan.^[10]  From a mountain, the disbelievers saw the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم by himself. Duʾthur b. al-Ḥārith al-Mihrabi (who was not yet Muslim) immediately descended with sword in hand and held it above the head of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . “Tell me”, he asked, “who will save you from me now?” The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “Allah”. Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام then came to Earth and struck Duʾthur in the chest, such that the latter’s sword fell from his hand. The Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم picked up the sword and asked, “Tell me, who will now save you from my sword?” “Nobody” Duʾthur replied. The mercy to all creation, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم forgave him and declared, “Go wherever you please.” Duʾthur was inspired by the Prophet’s impeccable character and flawless comportment, and thus became a Muslim. He then spread the message of Islam among his people.^[11]

4.   The Expedition of Dumat al-Jandal took place in 5 AH.^[12]  The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم informed others of a huge army gathering in Dumat al-Jandal, (a fort in between Damascus and Madina) which was planning to attack Madina. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم left Madina with 1000 Companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم. When the polytheists found out, they abandoned their livestock and fled. The honourable Companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم took the animals as spoils of war, and the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stayed there for three days.^[13]

5.   The army of Usāma and the Prophet’s passing:  On Monday, 26^th Safar 11 AH, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ordered the Muslims to prepare for battle against the Romans. The next day, he put together a flag with his own blessed hands despite not being well. Giving this banner to Sayydunā Usāma b. Zayd رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ , he said, “Fight in the name of Allah and in His path. Battle against whomsoever disbelieved in Allah.”

Sayydunā Usāma رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ announced the Muslims would be leaving for war in the near future on 12^th Rabi al-Awwal, 11 AH. As preparations were ongoing, his mother, Sayyidatunā Umm Ayman رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا , informed him that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was nearing his final moments. So, he, Sayydunā ʿUmar, and Sayydunā Abū Ubayda رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم immediately returned to Madina. On Monday, 12^th Rabi al-Awwal/12^th June 632 CE, the final Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed away at the age of 63 years. He was laid to rest in the home of Sayyidatunā ʿĀʾisha رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا .^[14]