Rabī‘ al-Awwal: The Month of the Prophetic Sīrah and the Season of Emulating the Loftiest Example
Shaykh Nuriddin Kholiqnazar — Chairman of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, Grand Mufti of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Rabī‘ al-Awwal — the third month of the Hijrī calendar — holds a unique and special place in the hearts of Muslims. This is because our beloved Prophet ﷺ was born within its blessed days. Indeed, out of our deep love for him ﷺ, we have grown accustomed to calling Rabī‘ al-Awwal "the month of the mawlid (birth)." In this virtuous month, the Muslim ummah strives to increase in sending peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, and to deepen its study of his sīrah (biography) and pure sunnah, so as to put it into practice in daily life.
This occasion offers us a fitting opportunity to welcome this month with renewed spirit — so that it becomes, for us, "the month of the Prophetic sīrah" and "the month of the exemplary ummah." Let us live through its blessings with informed awareness and practical conduct, drawing upon the Prophet's ﷺ guidance in worship, character, dealings, and his humane and civilizational stances.
Why Do We Love the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?
This is the methodical question every Muslim ought to ask himself.
The answer first becomes clear in the nobility of his ﷺ station: he is the master of the prophets and messengers, and his ummah is the best of nations, as Allah says in His decisive revelation: "You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind" [Āl ‘Imrān/110].
This honor and this excellence were attained by the ummah only through the blessing of its affiliation with its noble Prophet, through carrying the message he brought, and through emulating his guidance and his sīrah.
This love was not confined to human beings alone, but extended even to the angels and to the earlier prophets. Some books of tafsīr (Qur'anic exegesis) and sīrah relate glad tidings given by earlier prophets foretelling the coming of the Prophet ﷺ and the excellence of his ummah — among them what has been narrated regarding the Prophet ‘Īsā (Jesus), peace be upon him, and his glad tidings of the Seal of the Prophets.
Even inanimate creation bore witness to the effects of love for him ﷺ — as attested by the yearning of the tree trunk beside which the Prophet ﷺ used to deliver sermons, the virtues mentioned regarding Mount Uḥud, and the Companions' devotion toward his she-camel, al-Qaṣwā'. If the very universe around him bore witness to the effects of this love and closeness, then what should be the standing of the believing servant in his love for his Prophet ﷺ?
Approaching the Prophet's ﷺ Birth and Sīrah with Joy
The believer approaches the remembrance of the Prophet's ﷺ birth and sīrah with a spirit of joy and glad tidings, since this is a reminder of the blessing of his prophethood, his message, and his guidance for mankind. Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Nāṣir ad-Dīn ad-Dimashqī (raḥimahullāh) relates in his book Mawrid aṣ-Ṣādī fī Mawlid al-Hādī a narration regarding the lightening of the punishment of Abū Lahab on Mondays, on account of his joy at the birth of the Prophet ﷺ and his freeing of his servant girl Thuwaybah when she brought him news of the birth. On this, it was composed in verse:
"If this is the case for a disbeliever, whose condemnation was declared, and whose hands were doomed to perish, dwelling eternally in the blazing Fire — that he is [still] granted relief every Monday, out of joy for Aḥmad [the Prophet] — then what should we think of the servant whose entire life was filled with joy for Aḥmad, and who died affirming the Oneness of Allah?"
Love of the Prophet ﷺ is a Requirement of Faith
Love of the Prophet ﷺ is not a fleeting emotion; rather, it is among the very requirements of faith (īmān). Imam Muslim relates on the authority of Anas ibn Mālik (raḍiyallāhu ‘anh) that the Prophet ﷺ said: "None of you [truly] believes until I am more beloved to him than his child, his parent, and all of mankind."
This love also opens for the servant vast horizons of hope. On the authority of Anas (raḍiyallāhu ‘anh), a man asked the Prophet ﷺ about the [Last] Hour, and he ﷺ said to him: "What have you prepared for it?" The man replied: "Not much in the way of prayer, fasting, or charity — but I love Allah and His Messenger." The Prophet ﷺ said: "You will be with those whom you love." (Related by al-Bukhārī)
True Love Manifests in Action
Sincere love for the Prophet ﷺ is not merely a feeling that settles in the heart; rather, its effects manifest in the Muslim's life and conduct. Scholars have established that love is an emotional state whose exact definition is difficult to fully capture in words, yet it is recognized by its effects and its indicators.
Among the most prominent manifestations of love for the Prophet ﷺ is that the Muslim is keen to learn about his sīrah, to follow his guidance as an example, and to increase in sending peace and blessings upon him.
Studying and Reflecting Upon the Prophetic Sīrah
The Prophetic sīrah is the loftiest reference for understanding Islam, both in its truth and in its practical application, for it presents the living, practical model of the message within the life of the Prophet ﷺ himself. Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): "And know that among you is the Messenger of Allah" [al-Ḥujurāt/7].
Scholars have derived from Allah's words, "And know," the importance of gaining knowledge of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, his sīrah, and his guidance — since love is a branch that grows from knowledge. The more a Muslim increases in knowledge of his Prophet, the more his attachment to him deepens, and the more he strives to follow his sunnah. Throughout history, books on the mawlid emerged as concise summaries of the Prophetic sīrah, intended to make it easier to introduce people to the Prophet ﷺ and to spread knowledge of his sīrah among both the general public and specialists. From this, one can make good use of the season of Rabī‘ al-Awwal by returning to reliable books of sīrah, and reading them thoughtfully, with the aim of translating knowledge into conduct and emulation.
Following and Emulating the Pure Sunnah
Love — whether from a literary or a sharī‘ah standpoint — cannot be considered sound except through following and submission. True love for the Prophet ﷺ requires that the Muslim be diligent in emulating him in his worship, his character, and his dealings.
As it has been said:
"If your love [for him] were sincere, you would obey him — for indeed, the true lover is obedient to the one he loves."
Allah sent His Prophet as a human being and a messenger, and made him the most complete model of noble character. He ﷺ said: "I have only been sent to perfect noble character." This ḥadīth has been narrated through a number of sources, most notably that of Imam Aḥmad, and scholars have graded it as authentic (ṣaḥīḥ) when its various chains are considered together.
The true reality of love is manifested in following the Prophet ﷺ. Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): "Say, [O Muḥammad], 'If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins'" [Āl ‘Imrān/31].
Love that is accompanied by following is true, fruitful love. As for love that leaves no trace in one's conduct and actions, it remains a mere claim, whose fruit remains incomplete.
Increasing in Sending Peace and Blessings Upon the Prophet ﷺ
Among the greatest manifestations of love for the Prophet ﷺ is increasing in sending peace and blessings upon him, in compliance with the magnificent divine command: "Indeed, Allah and His angels confer blessing upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace" [al-Aḥzāb/56].
Sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ is a magnificent act of worship, and it serves as a means of deepening one's connection to him in the heart of the Muslim, and of keeping his sīrah, his guidance, and his character ever-present in mind. The more a believer mentions the one he loves, the more that beloved's presence increases in his heart and consciousness.
It is related, on the authority of ‘Abd ar-Raḥmān ibn Sa‘d, that he said: "Ibn ‘Umar's leg went numb, so a man said to him: 'Mention the person most beloved to you.' He said: 'Muḥammad!' — and then he stood up and walked [normally again]." This narration is mentioned in al-Adab al-Mufrad by Imam al-Bukhārī.
Thus, love for the Prophet ﷺ was powerfully present in the hearts of the Companions (raḍiyallāhu ‘anhum), such that his mere mention would awaken within them feelings of yearning, reverence, and a desire to emulate him.
A Season for Practical Renewal
Rabī‘ al-Awwal offers a precious opportunity to rediscover the Prophetic sīrah, beyond mere occasions and outward displays. For the sīrah is not simply pages from the past — it is a comprehensive school for living, from which we learn patience in the face of hardship, wisdom in dealing with people, mercy toward the weak, justice in judgment, truthfulness in speech, and excellence (iḥsān) in one's dealings.
It is important that the study of the sīrah be transformed into a practical, educational project within the family, the community, and educational institutions — so that children read about the situations of the Prophet ﷺ, learn from his character, and then strive to apply these lessons in their daily lives.
The purpose of learning the sīrah is not simply to memorize the names of battles, events, and dates, but rather to discover, within each Prophetic situation, a moral value, an educational principle, or a human lesson that we can bring to life in our own reality.
Conclusion
In summary: the month of Rabī‘ al-Awwal is not merely a passing point in time, but rather a season of faith in which our covenant with the message is renewed, and in which the civilizational and moral need to draw from the wellspring of the Prophetic sīrah is reaffirmed.
Let us welcome this month by coming to know the sīrah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, by emulating his character, by holding fast to his sunnah, by perfuming our tongues with sending peace and blessings upon him, and by making our love for him a living reality manifested in our worship, our character, and our dealings.
Love for the Prophet ﷺ is not merely a phrase to be uttered — it is a covenant to be translated into knowledge, following, and action. And if we truly wish to be the best nation produced for mankind, then we must rediscover the Prophetic model in our lives, and make Rabī‘ al-Awwal a renewed starting point on the journey of emulating the loftiest example, our master Muḥammad ﷺ.
