The correct answer is Rabi-ul-Awwal. The birth of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal is an event that changed the course of world history. Most historical accounts and Islamic scholars agree that he was born on a Monday, specifically... Read More
The correct answer is Rabi-ul-Awwal. The birth of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal is an event that changed the course of world history. Most historical accounts and Islamic scholars agree that he was born on a Monday, specifically the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal, in the year 571 CE. This year is famously known in Arabic history as Am al-Fil, or the "Year of the Elephant," due to a miraculous military event that occurred just a few months prior to his birth. The arrival of the Prophet (SAW) was not just a family event for the Banu Hashim clan but a fulfillment of the prayers of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and the prophecies of Prophet Isa (AS).
To understand the historical context of his birth, one must look at the events involving Abraha al-Ashram, the governor of Yemen. Abraha had built a magnificent cathedral in Sana'a and wanted to divert the Arab pilgrims away from the Kaaba in Makkah. When he failed to do so, he led a massive army, which included a formidable war elephant named Mahmud, to destroy the Kaaba.
As the army reached the outskirts of Makkah, the elephant refused to move toward the Holy House, kneeling down instead. Suddenly, flocks of small birds, known as Ababil, appeared in the sky, carrying small stones in their beaks and claws. They dropped these stones on the army, destroying the invaders and protecting the Kaaba. This divine intervention occurred in the same year that the Prophet (SAW) was born, signaling that Makkah was being prepared for a momentous event.
Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) belonged to the noble tribe of Quraysh and the prestigious family of Banu Hashim. His father, Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib, had passed away in Medina while returning from a trade journey to Syria, months before the Prophet (SAW) was born. This left the infant as an orphan before he even entered the world. His mother, Hazrat Amina, reported seeing a great light emanating from her at the time of his birth—a light so bright that she could see the palaces of Busra in Syria from her home in Makkah.
When he was born, his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, took the infant to the Kaaba to offer thanks to Allah. He chose the unique name "Muhammad," which means "the Praised One." At the time, this name was not common among the Arabs, and when asked why he chose it, Abdul Muttalib replied that he wished for his grandson to be praised by God in heaven and by men on earth.
Historical records mention several miraculous occurrences that coincided with his birth in Rabi-ul-Awwal. It is noted that the sacred fire of the Persians, which had been burning for a thousand years, was suddenly extinguished. Additionally, fourteen towers of the palace of Chosroes (the Persian King) collapsed, and the waters of Lake Sawa dried up. These events were interpreted as signs that the old systems of the world—idolatry and oppressive empires—were about to be challenged by the light of Truth.
The month of Rabi-ul-Awwal remains a symbol of mercy and renewal. The Prophet (SAW) was sent as Rahmat-ul-lil-Alamin (A Mercy to all the Worlds), and his birth marked the beginning of the end for the age of Jahiliyyah (ignorance). His arrival brought a message of equality, justice, and the oneness of God, which eventually spread from the small valley of Makkah to every corner of the globe.
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