Rabi' al-awwal (ربيع الأول) is the third month in the Islamic calendar. Muhammad is considered by Sunni Muslims to have been born on the twelfth of this month, and many Muslims celebrate the Mawlid on this day. Shi'a Muslims believe him to have been born on the dawn of the seventeenth day.
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, Rabi al-Awwal migrates throughout the seasons. The estimated start and end dates for Rabi' al-Awwal are as follows (all future dates are estimates):
- 1426 AH – First day: April 10, 2005; last day: May 9, 2005
- 1427 AH – First day: March 31, 2006; last day: April 29, 2006
- 1428 AH – First day: March 20, 2007; last day: April 18, 2007
- 1429 AH – First day: March 9, 2008; last day: April 7, 2008
Islamic events
- On 8 Rabi' al-Awwal, the eleventh Shia Imam, Hasan al-Askari was killed.
- On 12 Rabi' al-Awwal, some Sunnis observe Mawlid in commemoration of Muhammad's birthday
- On 17 Rabi' al-Awwal, the Shi`a Islam celebrate the birthday of Muhammad and the sixth Imam Jafar Sadiq.
- On 18 Rabi' al-Awwal, the Shi`a Islam celebrate the birthday of Umm Khultum bint Ali, daughter of Ali ibn Abi Taalib.
- On 26 Rabi' al-Awwal, Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib died.
