Rabīʽ 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, majority of Muslims celebrate Mawlid – the birthday of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.
In the Ottoman Empire days, the name of this month in Ottoman Turkish was Rèbi’ ulèvvèl, with the abbreviation Ra. In modern Turkish it is Rebiülevvel.
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.
Rabīʿ al-ʾAwwal 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
- 09 Rabī‘ al-Awwal, Eid e shuja