Rabi al-Awwal

✍️ The third lunar month in the Islamic calendar is Rabi al-Awwal, meaning the “First Spring.” In this article, we examine the blessed and auspicious nature of this month from the perspective of Shia narrations, historical events, and the traditions of scholars.

🔹 Sayyid Ibn Tawus, in his book Iqbal al-A'mal, in the fourth chapter, among the supplications recited at the beginning of the month of Rabi al-Awwal, mentions a prayer that begins as follows:

📜 « الدعاء في غرّة ربيع الأول، نقول: اللّهُمَّ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا انْتَ، يا ذَا الطَّوْلِ وَ الْقُوَّةِ، وَ الْحَوْلِ وَ الْعِزَّة سُبْحَانَك‏»

At the beginning of the month of Rabi al-Awwal, you say: “O Allah, there is no deity except You. O Possessor of Bounty, Strength, Power, and Might; Glory and Purity belong to You.”

And toward the end of the supplication, it says:

«اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَرِّفْنَا بَرَكَةَ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ وَ يُمْنَه‏»

“O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and make us recognize and become acquainted with the blessings and auspiciousness of this month.” (1)

🔸 He also says regarding the virtue of this blessed month:

“Know that this is a month in which events of virtue and perfection occurred that did not occur in any other month of the year. In this month, the birth of our Master, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon Him and His family, took place. Likewise, the migration of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon Him and His family, from Mecca to Medina, and His deliverance from the schemes of the enemies who were displeased with His prophetic mission, occurred in the month of Rabi al-Awwal.” (2)

💫 The month of Rabi al-Awwal is the month of joy and happiness for the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon Them. Ahmad ibn Ishaq al-Qummi, who was among the close companions of Imam Ali al-Naqi al-Hadi and Imam Hassan al-Askari, peace be upon Them both, and who had also attained the presence of Imam al-Mahdi, peace be upon Him, narrates from Imam al-Hadi, peace be upon Him, that the ninth day of Rabi al-Awwal is an Eid and is among the best of Eids for the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon Them, and their Shia.

Regarding the virtue of the ninth day of Rabiʿ al-Awwal, he narrates:

🔸 “One day, on the ninth of Rabi al-Awwal, I went to visit my Master, Abu al-Hassan Imam al-Hadi, peace be upon Him, in Surr Man Ra’a (Samarra). When I was granted permission and entered His presence, I saw that the Imam had decorated His gathering place and had placed an incense burner before Him. With His blessed hand, He was placing oud into the incense burner. He had adorned the gathering and had dressed His servants and attendants in fine and splendid garments.”

🔹 I said: “O son of the Messenger of Allah! May our fathers and mothers be sacrificed for You. Has some new joy occurred today for the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon Them?”

🔸 The Imam replied: “Which day holds greater sanctity than this day in the sight of the Ahl al-Bayt!”

Then the Imam narrated a report concerning the virtue and greatness of the ninth of Rabi al-Awwal from His pure father that Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman entered upon the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon Him and His family) on such a day. Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman says:

🔹 “On the ninth day of Rabi al-Awwal, I entered upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon Him and His family). I saw Amir al-Mu’minin, Imam Hassan, and Imam Hussien—may Allah’s blessings be upon Them—eating with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon Him and His family), while He was smiling at Them. He then spoke of the blessings and felicity of the ninth of Rabi al-Awwal…” (3)

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💫 Among the auspicious events of this month are the following:

1) 1st of Rabi al-Awwal: The migration of the Prophet from Mecca to Medina. Shaykh al-Mufid and Sayyid Ibn Tawus state that fasting on this day is virtuous as an expression of gratitude for the safety of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon Him and His family), and for the worldly and Hereafter felicity that was opened through His migration. This day also marks the self-sacrifice of Imam Ali (peace be upon Him) on Laylat al-Mabit, in connection with which verse 207 of Surah al-Baqarah was revealed.

2) 9th of Rabi al-Awwal: Known as Eid al-Ghadir al-Thani, Eid al-Fitr al-Thani, and Eid al-Zahra; the day on which the root of all evil and the source of wickedness was destroyed, and also the beginning of the Imamate of Imam Mahdi (peace be upon Him) over the Ummah.

3) 10th of Rabi al-Awwal: The blessed marriage of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon Him and His family) and the Mother of the Believers, Lady Khadijah al-Kubra (peace be upon Her). Fasting on this day is recommended.

4) 12th of Rabi al-Awwal: The death of the Abbasid caliph al-Mu‘tasim, the killer of Imam Jawad (peace be upon Him).

5) 14th of Rabi al-Awwal: The death of Yazid, known as Eid al-Zaynab. Scholars have recommended fasting on this day in gratitude.

6) 17th of Rabi al-Awwal: The blessed birth anniversary of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon Him and His family) and Imam Sadiq (peace be upon Him).

7) 23rd of Rabi al-Awwal: The anniversary of the arrival of Lady Fatimah Ma‘sumah (peace be upon Her) in the holy city of Qom.

🍀 In conclusion, we mention a tradition at the Holy Shrines of Ahl al-Bayt on the first day of this month. Every year, the flags atop the dome of the sacred shrines, which had been changed to black from the beginning of the month of Muharram, are returned on this day to their previous colors, and the shrines are decorated with flowers. Likewise, the area of Bayn al-Haramayn in Karbala, which is illuminated in red during the two months of Muharram and Safar, is changed to green.

Sources:

1) Al-Iqbal bi al-A‘mal al-Hasanah (modern edition), vol. 3, p. 111

2) Ibid., p. 105

3) Bihar al-Anwar (Beirut edition), vol. 95, p. 351