Important Events in Rabi ul-Awwal: Birth, Hijrah and Passing of the Prophet ﷺ
Rabi ul-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar, is the month most closely linked to the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He was born in it, he arrived in Madinah at the Hijrah in it, and he passed away in it. Here are the key events, with Hijri and Gregorian years.
Early dates come from the classical Sirah books. Where historians differ, we give the most commonly accepted date and mention the difference.
Rabi ul-Awwal events at a glance
| Date | Event | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Rabi ul-Awwal (most common view) | Birth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Makkah, on a Monday | Year of the Elephant (c. 570 CE) |
| Rabi ul-Awwal (commonly 8 or 12) | The Prophet ﷺ arrives in Quba at the end of the Hijrah; Masjid Quba, the first Masjid, is built | 1 AH (622 CE) |
| Rabi ul-Awwal (a Friday) | First Jumu’ah prayer led by the Prophet ﷺ, on the way from Quba to Madinah | 1 AH (622 CE) |
| Rabi ul-Awwal | The Prophet ﷺ enters Madinah; building of Masjid an-Nabawi begins | 1 AH (622 CE) |
| 12 Rabi ul-Awwal (most common view) | Passing of the Prophet ﷺ in Madinah, on a Monday | 11 AH (632 CE) |
| 12–13 Rabi ul-Awwal | Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) becomes the first Caliph | 11 AH (632 CE) |
The birth of the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born in Makkah in the Year of the Elephant, the year Abrahah’s army with its elephants tried to destroy the Kaaba (Surah al-Fil), around 570 CE. When asked about fasting on Mondays, he said, “That is the day on which I was born” (Sahih Muslim 1162). The exact date in Rabi ul-Awwal is not certain: 12 Rabi ul-Awwal is the most widely accepted and is observed across South Asia, while other scholars mention the 8th or 9th.
Many Muslims mark the month with gatherings of Seerah, Durood and Naat, especially on 12 Rabi ul-Awwal (Eid Milad-un-Nabi). Some scholars hold that the birth should not be marked with a special celebration. Muslims agree that the best way to honour him ﷺ is to learn his life, follow his Sunnah and send blessings upon him.
The Hijrah: arrival in Quba and Madinah
After 13 years of preaching in Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ migrated to Madinah with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA), hiding for three nights in the Cave of Thawr on the way (Surah at-Tawbah 9:40). He reached Quba, just outside Madinah, in Rabi ul-Awwal 1 AH (September 622 CE), and there he built Masjid Quba, the first Masjid in Islam. On the following Friday he led the first Jumu’ah prayer, and then entered Madinah, where the people welcomed him and the building of Masjid an-Nabawi began. The Hijrah later became the starting point of the Islamic calendar.
The passing of the Prophet ﷺ
A few months after the Farewell Hajj, the Prophet ﷺ fell ill. On a Monday in Rabi ul-Awwal 11 AH (June 632 CE), most commonly dated the 12th, he passed away in the room of Sayyidah Aisha (RA), aged 63, and was buried there; the place is now inside Masjid an-Nabawi. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) calmed the grieving companions by reciting, “Muhammad is no more than a messenger; messengers have passed away before him” (Surah Aal-Imran 3:144), and he was chosen as the first Caliph.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ born?
He ﷺ was born on a Monday in Rabi ul-Awwal, in the Year of the Elephant (around 570 CE). The most commonly accepted date is 12 Rabi ul-Awwal.
Which was the first Masjid in Islam?
Masjid Quba, built by the Prophet ﷺ when he arrived at Quba during the Hijrah in Rabi ul-Awwal 1 AH, is the first Masjid in Islam.
When did the Prophet ﷺ pass away?
He ﷺ passed away in Madinah on a Monday in Rabi ul-Awwal 11 AH (June 632 CE), most commonly dated to 12 Rabi ul-Awwal, at the age of 63.
Related: Events in Muharram · Events in Ramadan · Islamic Calendar 2027 · Hadith of the Day
Sources: Quran 3:144, 9:40, Surah al-Fil; Sahih Muslim 1162 (via sunnah.com); Ibn Hisham, Sirat Rasul Allah; Britannica – Muhammad. Some dates follow the most commonly accepted opinion.