Rabi ul awwal

MONTH OF RABI-UL-AWWAL

 

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE?

 

    Rabi-ul-Awwal is the 1^st month of spring, the word “rabi” itself means spring in Arabic. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was born in this month. There is some debate among scholars on the exact date i.e. b/w 9, 12 or 21^st of Rabi-ul-Awwal.

The date of death of the dear Prophet(S) is known for sure (relatively) i.e. 12^th of Rabi-ul-Awwal.

  Interestingly enough, nobody knows for sure the d.o.b of ANY of the prophets (if you said Christmas, then you`ve yet to meet an Orthodox Christian; p Google it!) which goes to show the level of importance Allah (S.W.T) attaches with the subject.

Besides the fact when he (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) was born, let us see what Allah S.W.T says about him (S.A.W) in Quran.

Surah Al-Ahzab: 45, 46

O Prophet, truly We have sent thee as a Witness, and Bearer of glad tidings, and a Warner,

[33:46] 

[33:47] and as a Summoner unto Allah by His command, and as a Lamp that gives bright light.

 

Being witness includes three kinds of witnesses in it…. Meaning, it could be witness by tongue, by action and in Hereafter. He brought the glad tidings plus he was a Warner. He was like the lamp with bright light, to show the clear path to all the humanity.

Then Allah says:

[33:22] Verily you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model, for him who fears Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much.‌ۖ

[4:81] whoso obeys the Messenger obeys Allah indeed; and whoso turns away, then We have not sent thee as a keeper over them.

 

 

          Dear sisters, Allah want us to follow Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) and obey him because He has sent him as a role model to us.

        If we want to follow him, then we need to do what he has done, if he was the Daee ilal Allah then we are suppose to call people towards Allah. If he was on the highest level of “ikhlaq” so we need to be the best in our attitude, our dealings and behavior, if he was the best father, the best husband, the best friend and best leader at the same time then we should try to copy him. This is the need of the time too, so we can show the humanity how a good Muslim should be.

        

        This is the message of Quran and if we think in this month he was born and Allah has Shown His Mercy to humanity by sending Muhammad’s (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) to this world, then we can thank Allah by following him.

     The patience, long sufferings and forgiveness of the Holy Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) are the highest qualities of his prophet hood.  Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) Suffered a lot in spreading Allah’s message that was given to him, made so many sacrifices just to bring His Message to us. This only make us love him more and TRUE love of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) is shown and proven by following the guidance that he brought.

 

     “Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Aal ‘Imraan 3:31)

      Unfortunately our people in their simplicity and lack of knowledge confuse in these matters some time, and they do some things in this month which is not proven by Quran and Sunnah.

It all started SIX HUNDRED years AFTER the Prophet(S) left this world by two men  in Iraq as a “Majlis-e-Malood” to do Zikr. Their intention may have been good but it started a chain of events where all year round Muslims forget the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) and his teachings and his Sunnah and in this month lavish parties and events are thrown where Naats are recited and then on the 13^th everyone is back to the usual state of affairs till next year. What is more alarming is that some of the Naats that are read that confuse the status of the Prophet(S) with that of Allah (S.W.T)!! Imagine! The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) who taught us the Kalima and the very concept of Tauheed, and we make the VERY SAME man Allah`s partner in our over-zealous devotion with Naats such as:

bhar de jholi meri ya Muhammad

 

   Can we imagine being a human, how can he do anything for us? Still we ask him to fulfill our needs? REAL devotion requires that we follow the Prophet(S)`s teachings the way he taught us, do we not believe him to be the best of men and an example for all mankind? Then what gives us the authority to ASSUME on his behalf?

    There is absolutely nothing in the Quran that tells us to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam). Not one single ayah. 

      There is nothing in the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) that shows us that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) EVER celebrated his birthday or that of his wives, children, or Sahaabah. There is not a single Hadith that tells us that he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) thought this day was significant enough to celebrate it.
            The Sahaabah were witnesses to the revelation of the Qur'aan. Yet, when we look at the lives and practice of the Sahaabah, we find that none of them EVER celebrated the birth of their beloved Prophet, whether during his life or even after he passed away. 
Not Abubakr, not Umar, not Uthman, not Ali, nor Aaishah, Ibn Umar, Ibn Masud, Talha, Az-Zubair,  not a single Sahaabi. 
The Sahaabah absolutely loved the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam). They gave up their homes, families, lives, everything they had... for his sake, in the blink of an eye. Yet this love did NOT promote them to celebrate his birth. 
This love actually translated into the practical application of his teachings.

   So we need to follow his Sunnah to the best of our ability and shouldn’t fall into innovated forms of worship. It is nothing but a trap of the Shaytaan.

       May Allah Guide us and Grant us the wisdom to follow the Sunnah of the greatest man EVER to walk on the face of the Earth, all year along and the rest of our lives till the last breath, Ameen.