The Blessed Mawlid

Zaid Shakir
t h i s y e a r, the hijra date of the mawlid, 12th of rab al-awwal
1 4 2 8 , is expected to correspond to saturday, march 31st.

t h e i m a g e a b ove is based on the

n a m e m u a m m ad in squared kufic script.

| spring 2007 | seasons

ne of the most blessed

events in the history of humanity was the birth of the beloved
Prophet Mu^ammad s on the 12th of
Rab al-Awwal. The gravity of this day
is associated with the magnitude of the
one born during it. The following narration should sufce in conveying the
magnitude of the Prophet s. As related
by Irbd b. al-Sriyah al-Sulam g, the
Prophet s said,
I was ordained by God, in the
Preserved Tablet, to be the seal of
the prophets, at a time when Adam
was still lifeless clay. I am the answer

to the prayer of Abraham. I am the

glad tiding that Jesus e gave to his
people. I am the fulllment of the
vision of my mother when she witnessed a light emerging from her [at
the time of my birth], which illuminated the palaces of Syria. The mothers of all of the prophets witnessed a
similar vision.1

Hence, this day marks the entrance into

the world of the one who was honored by
God to conclude the prophetic mission;
who led humanity from darkness to light;
who is described by God as a mercy to all
the worlds;2 and who is blessed to hold

Call to the Prophetic Ofce

Imam al-Bukhr (d. 256/870) relates
from ishah (d. 59/679) j, The divine
revelation to the messenger of God began

All of the prophets were given a choice

to remain in the world so that they could
avoid the intensity and severity of the pains
of death.8 Having made the choice to meet

seasons | spring 2007 |

aloft the banner of praise on the Day of with an infallible dream which became as
Resurrection. How great the favor God has true as the ascending morning light.5
bestowed upon his community.
Based on this hadith, many scholars date
The Prophets birth occurred on a the beginning of the revelation from the
Monday, according to the soundest nar- night vision mentioned therein. Ibn ajar
rations. Ab Qatdah al-An|r (d. 40 al-Asqaln comments on this tradition:
AH/660 CE) g relates that the Prophet
Imam al-Bayhaq [d. 458/1066]
s was asked about fasting voluntarily on
Mondays; he responded, That is the day
mentions that the period between
I was born. It is also the day that prophethis dream and the beginning of the
3
revelation of the Quran in Ramadan
cy descended upon me. In other words,
was six months. Therefore, the beginfasting on Mondays is a way of commemorating the birthday
ning of the revelatory
of the Prophet s.
period with this night
I AM THE FULFILLMENT OF
vision coincides with
The scholars are dividTHE VISION OF MY MOTHER
the month of his birth
ed concerning the lawfulness of formally coms, Rab al-Awwal, after
WHEN SHE WITNESSED A
memorating his birthday
he had reached the age
LIGHT EMERGING FROM
in gatherings where his
of forty. The beginning
HER [AT THE TIME OF MY
virtues are extolled and
of the revelation in his
acts of righteousness are
wakeful state began in
BIRTH], WHICH ILLUMINATundertaken. Most of the
Ramadan.6
ED THE PALACES OF SYRIA.
scholars consider this a
praiseworthy practice, as
According to this sound
long as acts in conict with the divine law opinion, one may also celebrate the
are avoided, such as inappropriate min- beginning of the nal revelation in the
gling of the sexes, consuming alcoholic month of Rab al-Awwal.
beverages, utilizing musical instruments
whose lawfulness is debated, etc. The His Death
scholars who deem such commemorative
Imam al-Bukhr relates from Ab Sad
gatherings permissible include Imam al- al-Khudr (d. 79/693), in his compilation
Suy~ (d. 911/1505), Imam Ibn Kathr of hadith, the following narration:
(d. 774/1373), Imam Ibn Taymiyyah
(d. 728/1328), Imam al-Munw (d.
The Prophet s sat on the mimbar
1030/1621), Ibn ajar al-Asqaln (d.
and said, A servant has been given
852/1449), and many others.4
a choice by God between being given
May God bless us all to pass this day in
all of his worldly desires and between
the best of ways and to be ever mindful
[receiving] that which is with [his
of the import, stature, and status of our
Lord]. He has chosen that which is
blessed Prophet Mu^ammad s.
with [his Lord].7

zaid shakir

his Lord, the pain of what would prove to

be his fatal illness descended upon the
Prophet s. Beginning with his head, his
entire body was eventually gripped with
excruciating pain and a burning fever.
This illness began during the last days of
the month of afar or the rst days of Rab
al-Awwal, depending on the opinions
concerning its length. On the twelfth day
of Rab al-Awwal, shortly after sunrise,
the Messenger of God s passed from this
world.
His death closed a chapter in the
long spiritual evolution of humanity.
The favor of God to humanity was completed, and the religion of submission
would be mankinds acceptable faith.
However, more than a chapter of history
was closed. God describes His prophet s
in the following way:

was buried, darkness engulfed all and

sundry.10
May God guide us to revive the remembrance of our blessed Prophet s during
the blessed month of Rab al-Awwal. And
may He bless us to reafrm our commitment to his illuminating and life-giving
mission.

notes
1

Al-fdh al-Nsbr, al-Mustadrak (Beirut:

Dr al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1411/1990),
2:453, 3566.

Quran 21:107.

Related by Imam Muslim 197, 1162. Quoted

in Ibn Rajab al-anbal, La~if al-marif
(Damascus: Dr Ibn Kathr, 1416/1996),
181.

See for example, Jaml al-Dn al-Suy~, usn

al-maqsid amal al-mawlid (Beirut: Dr alKutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1405/1985).

O Prophet! Surely we have sent you as a

witness; as a bringer of glad tidings; and
as a warner; as one who calls to the way of
God, by His command; and as a luminous
light.9

Ibn ajar al-Asqaln, Fat^ al-Br: Shar^

Sa^i^ al-Bukhr (Damascus: Dr al-Fay^a,
1418/1997), 1:29, 3.

Ibn ajar al-Asqaln, 1:37. For a discussion of this issue, see also af al-Ra^mn alMubrakfr, al-Ra^q al-makhtm (Damascus:

| spring 2007 | seasons

With the passing of the Prophet s,

a great light was lost to the world. Anas
(d. 91/709) g relates, On the day the
Messenger of God entered Medina, he
illuminated everything. On the day he

Dr al-Khayr, 1417/1997), 63-65.

7

Ibn ajar al-Asqaln, 7:283, 3904.

Ibn Rajab al-anbal, 197.

Quran 33:45-46.

10 Ibn Rajab al-anbal, 216.