REFLECTIONS: The Significance of Rabi’ul-Awwal

The month of Rabi’ul-Awwal is for Muslims a time of celebration. Although the exact date of the last and final Prophet’s (saw) birth is debated among the scholars, Ibn Kathir mentions that the most common opinion on the matter is 12^th Rabi’ul-Awwal.

Regardless of the exact date, Muslims cannot help but to discuss the qualities of the Prophet (saw) and various aspects of his (saw) life. The love and affection that Muslims have for our Prophet (saw) is only natural, as Allah (swt) says:

“The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves” [TMQ 33: 6]

Az-Zajjaaj said: “Man’s love for Allah and His Messenger is to obey them and to accept what Allah (swt) has commanded and the Messenger of Allah (saw) has brought”. This love in the above meaning is obligatory. Since love is an inclination (mayl) which shapes the behavioral disposition (nafsiyyah) of man. These inclinations can either be instinctive (ghareezi) having no relationship to a concept, such as man’s inclination towards ownership, love for survival, family and children, etc. There might also be motives linked to concepts, which then define the type of inclination. The love of Allah (swt) and His Messenger (saw) is the type Allah (swt)has linked to a shariah concept thereby making it obligatory. The evidence for this is in the Book of Allah (swt). 

He (swt)said:

“Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you have delight in are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in His Cause, then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah guides not the people who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah).” [TMQ 9:24]

Believers have no better way of expressing their love for our Prophet (saw) than to love all that He (saw) loved and to dislike all that he disliked. Believers know that what was most beloved to the Messenger of Allah (saw) is also most beloved to Allah (swt), so they strive to make that the most beloved to themselves.

The Prophet (saw) is truly honored among the Prophets (as), as he was singled out to be the last and final messenger to all of mankind. Ahmad recorded that `Ali bin Abi Talib (raa)said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

 “I was given what no other Prophet before me was given.” We said, “O Messenger of Allah! What is it?” He said, “I was given victory by fear, I was given the keys of the earth, I was called Ahmad, the earth was made a clean place for me (to pray and perform tayammum with it) and my Ummah was made the best Ummah.” The reason we were made the best Ummah is stated in the ayah:

“You are the best Ummah singled out for mankind: you enjoin what is right (ma’roof), forbid what is wrong (munkar), and believe in Allah.” [TMQ 3:110]

When believers hear of an aspect of the Messenger’s (saw) sunnah (way) is not being upheld, they are quick to encourage it, as therein lies the proof of their love – to love what he loved. Qatadah said, “We were told that Umar bin Al-Khattab recited this Ayah during a Hajj that he performed, when he saw that the people were rushing. He then said, ‘Whoever likes to be among this [praised] Ummah, let him fulfil the condition that Allah set in this Ayah.’”

Discussion around the excellent qualities of the Prophet (saw) should be encouraged among young and old, as they will only increase love for our noble Messenger that Allah sent to us, but in that we must not be selective only focusing on some parts of His (saw) sunnah, whilst neglecting the rest. We must not forget for what the Prophet was sent? What was his mission? What did he bring to us? These are questions, which sometimes are lost in the discussion.

It should not be forgotten that Rabi’ul-Awwal is also the month of the hijrah of the Prophet (saw). From the very first day he (saw) established the authority for Islam. The Establishment of Islam in Madina was the first day of joy for the Muslims. Often when the hijrah is discussed, we may limit ourselves to the details describing how the Prophet (saw) hid in a cave or who slept in his (saw) bed. This inevitably diverts us from discussing the true significance of the event.

Umar (raa)is reported to have said: “The Hijrah has separated truth from falsehood, so calculate dates from it.” The hijrah to Madinah did not take place because the Muslims in Mecca wanted to avoid the persecution there, or because they wanted to find a safe haven for themselves, or to run away from the hardships they faced in that city. Rather, it was an event that took history in a new direction. Prior to the hijrah the people of Madinah accepted Muhammad (saw) only as a Prophet. However, when he (saw) arrived in Madinah, they were receiving him (saw) as a ruler and a Prophet. Before the hijrah, he (saw) was a Prophet criticizing the values of Quraysh. After the Hijrah, he (saw) was the one who implemented the values and laws of Islam. Islam had gone from addressing and pointing out the problems, to tackling them and providing solutions for them. It was at this point that the Prophet (saw) was able to apply the rules and systems of Islam into real life and people began to live under the shade of Islamic rule.

Rabi’ul-Awwal has further significance for Muslims, as on twelfth day, ten years after hijrah He (saw) passed away. The news of the Prophet’s death was so hard upon close companions and Muslims that some of them refused to believe that he had passed away. Upon hearing this, Abu Bakr (raa) went to the mosque and delivered one of the noblest speeches: “O People! If it was Muhammad whom you worshipped, then know that he is dead. But if it is Allah whom you worshiped, then know that He does not die.” He then recited the following verse, which was revealed after the Battle of Uhud:

“Muhammad is no more than an Apostle: many were the Apostles that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will you then turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah; but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those who (serve Him) with gratitude.” [TMQ 3:144]

We must honour the struggle and sacrifice of the Prophet (saw) and his Sahabah (raa), whom were people that He (saw) loved. We must do this by narrating their stories and following in their footsteps, behaving as they would when faced with what we face.

What is the Prophet’s (saw) status for us, we must ask? What is our relationship to him (saw) today? What is his message? What was the Prophet (saw) sent for? What is his Sunnah?

We must find the answers for these questions. We need to learn about the Holy Prophet (saw) life, educate ourselves with the rules of Islam that the Prophet (saw) bought us and we must work for that change which The Holy Prophet (saw) sacrificed and struggled for in his life.

It is good that in Rabi’ul-Awwal  we make  dhikr,  wurood and send salam to our beloved Prophet in abundance. However, it is not enough. We must also reflect on the mission of RasulAllah (saw) and assess what we are doing to follow in his (saw) footsteps to fulfill this mission.

The Prophet (saw) is reported to have said:

 “By the One who my soul is in His Hand, the Hour will not be established until Allah sends rulers who are liars, and ministers who are immoral, and supporters who are traitors, and knowledgeable people who are oppressors, and readers (of Quran) who are sinful, their appearance is like the appearance of holy people, and their hearts are more rotten than dead meat, their desires are different and so Allah will send upon them fitna which will cover them in darkness and so they will be destroyed therein. By the One who the soul of Mohammad is in His hands, Islam will be taken away part by part, until it is not even said Allah Allah. You must enjoin the good, and you must forbid the evil, or Allah will make sovereign over you the worst of you, who will afflict you with the worst of punishment, then the best of you will make Du’a and it will not be answered. You must enjoin the good, and you must forbid the evil, or Allah will send against you those who will have no mercy to your young and no respect for your elderly.”