08/09/2026
THE BIRTH OF THE PROPHET ﷺ :
EVIDENCE FOR THE 12TH OF RABI' AL-AWWAL
Muslims worldwide commemorate the birth of the Prophet ﷺ on the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal each year, a date recognized as a public holiday in most Muslim-majority countries. While this occasion is meant to be a period of joy and unity, debate often arises regarding many aspects of the commemoration. Unfortunately, some individuals use this occasion to stir confusion and controversy among their fellow Muslims. One major point of discussion is on the specific date namely the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal itself—whether any authentic evidence confirms that the Prophet ﷺ was born on this date. I decided to write this brief article after receiving numerous questions regarding this issue.
In fact, there is an authentic narration (Athar) from two noble companions of the Prophet ﷺ, Jābir ibn ‘Abdillāh and ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (radiyallāhu ‘anhum), explicitly stating that the Prophet ﷺ was born on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal. The following is the Athar with its authentic (Sahīh) chain of narration:
Abu al-Fadl Muhammad ibn Tāhir ibn ‘Ali al-Hāfidh informed us, Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad informed us, saying: ‘Isā ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Isā narrated to us by dictation, saying: Abu al-Qāsim ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz al-Baghawi narrated to us, saying: Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah narrated to us, saying: ‘Affān narrated to us, from Sālim ibn Hayyān, from Sa’īd ibn Mīnā, from Jābir ibn ‘Abdillāh al-Ansāri and ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās, both of whom said:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was born in the Year of the Elephant, on Monday, the twelfth of the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal; on it [Monday] he was sent with the revelation, on it he ascended to the heavens, on it he migrated, and on it he passed away ﷺ.”
It has been narrated by al-Jawraqāni in his book “Al-Abāṭīl wa al-Manākīr wa as-Siḥāḥ wa al-Mashāhīr” 1/267 (122). Its chain is undeniably Sahīh.
Shaykh Muhammad Rizq Tarhuni writes, “A period of time after writing this, Allah bestowed upon me a blessing for which I cannot thank Him enough: I came across the Hadith of Ibn ‘Abbās and Jābir recorded by Al-Jawraqāni in his book “Al-Abāṭīl wa al-Manākīr wa as-Siḥāḥ wa al-Mashāhīr” (1/126). It is transmitted through a chain composed entirely of Hadith Huffādh back to Ibn Abi Shaybah with his chains to both of them, including Sulaym ibn Hayyān—just as I previously preferred. Thus, the narration is established according to the standards of Al-Bukhāri.” _[As-Sīrah adh-Dhahabiyyah 1/276]_
This narration (Athar) has been cited by many other Hadith scholars in their works, including Ibn Kathīr, Ibn Nāsir ad-Dīn ad-Dimashqi, As-Sālihi ash-Shāmi, and Al-Bannā as-Sā’āti. _[See respectively: Ibn Kathīr, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah 1/199, Ad-Dimashqi, Jāmi’ al-Athār 2/761, As-Sālihi, Subul al-Huda wa ar-Rashād 1/334 and Al-Bannā, Bulugh al-Amāni 20/189]_
The opinion of the Prophet's ﷺ companions on an issue where independent reasoning (Ijtihād) has no place is considered as a binding proof according to the vast majority of scholars. _[See for example: Al-Haskafi, Ifāda al-Anwār 236, Al-Khabbāzi, Al-Mughni 266, Al-Futuhi, Sharh al-Kawkab al-Munīr 3/375, Al-Iji, Sharh Mukhtasar Ibn Hājib 2/287, Ash-Shīrāzi, Sharh al-Luma’ 2/750 and others]_
Furthermore, according to the vast majority of scholars, the most widely accepted date for the Prophet’s ﷺ birth is the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal. This date has been favoured by over fifty prominent scholars throughout Islamic history in their works, including several early righteous predecessors (Salaf as-Sālihīn) like Sa’īd ibn al-Musayyib, Ibn Is-hāq, Ma’ruf ibn Kharrabudh al-Makki, Abu Ma’shar Najīh as-Sindi al-Madani, Ibn Hishām, At-Tabari, Ibn Hibbān, Abi Zayd al-Qayrawāni, Al-Hākim, Al-Bayhaqi and many others. _[See for example: At-Tabari, Tārikh al-Umam 1/453, Al-Hākim, Al-Mustadrak 4182, Al-Bayhaqi, Dalāil an-Nubuwwah 1/74, Ibn Asākir, Tārikh Dimashq 3/70, Adh-Dhahabi, Tārikh al-Islām 1/25, Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah 1/58, Ibn Hibbān, As-Sīrah 1/33, Al-Qanāzi’i, Tafsir al-Muwatta 1/229 and many others]_
Moreover, prominent scholars such as Ibn Jazzār, Ibn al-Jawzi, and At-Tībi recorded a consensus (Ijma’) regarding this date. _[See for example: Mughaltāi, Al-Ishāra 56, Ad-Dimashqi, Jāmi’ al-Athār 2/761, Az-Zurqāni, Sharh al-Mawāhib 1/248 and Ad-Dihlawi, Ma Thabata min as-Sunnah 75]_
It is worth noting that Shaykh Muhammad Tāhir al-Kurdi refuted astronomers who claimed a different birth date for the Prophet ﷺ, presenting solid scientific evidence that confirms his birth was on the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal _[Refer: At-Tārikh al-Qawīm 1/256-264]_
The position that the Prophet ﷺ was born on the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal is anchored in an authentic narration (Athar) from the noble Companions Jābir ibn ‘Abdillāh and ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (radiyallāhu ‘anhum). Because such historical matters are not open to personal reasoning (Ijtihād), their testimony carries binding weight among the vast majority of scholars. In addition, this date is substantiated by most of the scholars of this Ummah.
And Allah knows best
Ifran Nauyock
Al-Kawthari Academy
Mauritius
Date: 7th September 2026/25th Rabi’ al-Awwal 1448 AH
