Month 3 of the Hijri calendar
Rabi‘ al-Awwal: the Month of the Prophet’s Birth
Rabi‘ al-Awwal, “the first spring”, is the third month of the Islamic calendar. It holds a special place in Muslim history: most biographers agree that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born in this month, that he reached Madinah in it during the Hijra, and that he passed away in it in the year 11 AH.
The Prophet’s birth
The year of his birth is known as the Year of the Elephant (around 570 CE). The day is reported differently in the sources; the 12th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal is the date most widely cited, while other reports mention the 8th or the 9th. The Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting on Mondays and answered: “That is the day I was born” (Sahih Muslim).
Many Muslims commemorate the birth of the Prophet ﷺ (the Mawlid) with gatherings of remembrance and lectures on his life, while other scholars consider that no specific celebration was practised by the Companions. Either way, the month is a good occasion to read the Sira and to send abundant blessings upon him.
Arrival in Madinah
The Prophet ﷺ reached Quba, on the edge of Madinah, in Rabi‘ al-Awwal of the year 1 AH, where the first mosque of Islam was built. A few days later he entered Madinah, where he built his mosque and laid the foundations of the first Muslim community.
When does Rabi‘ al-Awwal start?
| Hijri year | First day | Last day | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1446 AH | Wednesday 4 September 2024 | 3 October 2024 | 30 |
| 1447 AH | Sunday 24 August 2025 | 22 September 2025 | 30 |
| 1448 AH | Friday 14 August 2026 | 11 September 2026 | 29 |
| 1449 AH | Tuesday 3 August 2027 | 1 September 2027 | 30 |
| 1450 AH | Sunday 23 July 2028 | 21 August 2028 | 30 |
| 1451 AH | Friday 13 July 2029 | 11 August 2029 | 30 |
| 1452 AH | Tuesday 2 July 2030 | 31 July 2030 | 30 |
Dates follow the Umm al-Qura calendar. Countries that rely on sighting the crescent may begin a month one day later (or earlier).
Occasions in Rabi‘ al-Awwal
Rabi‘ al-Awwal: questions
When does Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1448 start?
On 14 August 2026; it ends on 11 September 2026 after 29 days, according to the Umm al-Qura calendar.
When does Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1449 start?
On 3 August 2027, and it lasts 30 days.
Is Rabi‘ al-Awwal a sacred month?
No. The four sacred months are Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qa‘dah and Dhu al-Hijjah.
Which months come before and after Rabi‘ al-Awwal?
Safar comes before it and Rabi‘ al-Thani after it.