Indian Muslims with green flags for Mawlid





Rabi' al-awwal
Rabī' al-Awwal (Arabic: رَبِيع ٱلْأَوَّل‎, Rabīʿ al-ʾAwwal) is the third month in the Islamic calendar. The name Rabī‘ al-awwal means "the first [month] or beginning of spring", referring to its position in the pre-Islamic Arabian calendar.
During this month, many Muslims celebrate Mawlid - the birthday of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Although the exact date is unknown,[1][2] Sunni Muslims believe the date of birth of Muhammad to have been on the twelfth of this month, whereas Shia Muslims believe him to have been born on the dawn of the seventeenth day.
In the Ottoman Empire days, the name of this month in Ottoman Turkish was Rèbi' ulèvvèl,[3] with the abbreviation Ra.[4] In modern Turkish it is Rebiülevvel.
Meaning
The word "Rabi" means "spring" and Al-awwal means "the first" in Arabic language, so "Rabi' al-awwal" means "The first spring" in Arabic language. The name seems to have to do with the celebration events in the month as "spring" is the end to winter (symbol of sadness) and consequently the start of happiness. The Arabic calendar being lunar calendar, the month is naturally rotating over years and Rabī‘ al-awwal can be in spring or any other season every now and then, so the meaning can not be related to the actual season.[5]
Celebrations
Main article: Mawlid

Indian Muslims with green flags for Mawlid
Although historians and scholars disagree on the exact date of Muhammad's birth,[6] it is commonly celebrated on 12th or 17th of Rabi' al-awwal. The celebration of the Mawlid is done differently depending on the country. In some areas celebrations begin as early as the first of the month and can continue till the end of the month. Muslims generally put coloured lights on roads, streets, and their homes and put green flags as well to celebrate. In many countries a procession is also conducted on 12th or 17th of Rabi' al-awwal night and day. On these occasions sweets and drinks are also distributed widely from home to home and to the general public. In some areas Muslims also exchange gifts. It is the month of blessings. For the first time in 457 years, both the 12th Rabi' al-awwal and Christmas shared the same date on December 25, 2015.[7]
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, Rabī‘ al-Awwal migrates throughout the seasons. The estimated start and end dates for Rabī‘ al-Awwal are as follows (based on the Umm Al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia[8])
Islamic events

Masjid al-Quba, the first mosque, was built in this month.
01 Rabī‘ al-Awwal 897 AH, the fall of the Emirate of Granada, the final Muslim kingdom of al-Andalus
08 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, death of Imam Hassan Al-Askari Twelver Imām, Hasan al-‘Askarī (see: Chup Tazia)
09 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, Eid e shuja
12 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, Sunni Muslims observe Mawlid in commemoration of Muhammad's birthday
13 Rabi al-Awwal, Death of Bibi Rubab ( Beloved Wife of Imam Hussain)
17 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, Shia celebrate the birthday of the Imām Ja‘far al-Sādiq.
18 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, birth of Umm Kulthum bint Ali
26 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, death of Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib
26 Rabī‘ al-Awwal 1333 AH, death of Khwaja Sirajuddin Naqshbandi, a Naqshbandi Sufi shaykh
Other events:
The Hijra (migration) took place in this month
Eid-e-Zahra (a.k.a. Eid e shuja), a celebration of Shi‘ah Muslims
Marriage of Muhammad to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
Building of the Quba Mosque (first mosque in Islam)
The week including 12th and 17th is called Islamic Unity Week in Iran to address both Sunni and Shia views on the birth date of Mohammad.[9]
Hadith
In Islamic eschatology:
Abu Hurairah said that the Prophet said:
There will be an Ayah (sign) in (the month of) Ramadan. Then, there will 'isabah (splitting into groups) in Shawwal. Then, there will be fighting in (the month of) Dhu al-Qi'dah. Then, the pilgrim will be robbed in (the month of) Dhu al-Hijjah. Then, the prohibitions will be violated in (the month of) al-Muharram. Then, there will be sound in (the month of) Safar, then the tribes will conflict with each other in the two months of Rabi' al-awwal & Rabi' al-thani. Then, the most amazing thing will happen between (the months of) Jumada and Rajab. Then, a well-fed she-camel will be better than a fortress (castle) sheltering a thousand (people).[10][not specific enough to verify]
References
^ Annemarie Schimmel (1994). Deciphering the signs of God: a phenomenological approach to Islam (illustrated ed.). Edinburgh University Press. p. 69.
^ Eliade, Mircea, ed. (1987). The Encyclopedia of religion, Volume 9 (illustrated ed.). Macmillan. p. 292. ISBN 9780029098004.
^ Youssof, R. (1890). Dictionnaire portatif turc-français de la langue usuelle en caractères latins et turcs. Constantinople. p. 479.
^ Youssof, R. (1890). Dictionnaire portatif turc-français de la langue usuelle en caractères latins et turcs. Constantinople. p. 476.
^ َAl-Monjed dictionary and encyclopedia - the word Rabi' al-awwal
^ What is the Authentic Date of Birth and Death of Prophet Muhammad?
^ Talley, Gwyneth (30 December 2015). "https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2015/12/30/jesus-and-muhammad-share-a-birthday-for-first-time-in-457-years/". National Geographic. Retrieved 25 December 2019. External link in |title= (help)
^ Umm Al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia
^ Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Institute of Islamic Studies. Days on viewpoint of Imam Khomeini. Tehran: Islamic research center. p. 176.
^ Al-Haakim, Naim ibn Hammad, Kitab Al-Fitan#fastitlinks.com