Milad an-Nabi: The Date of Milaad an-Nabee is Unproven and is Statistically Incorrect

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The scholars are agreed that the he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] was born in Rabee’ al-Awwal, this matter is agreed upon however they differed on the date. The majority said he was born on the 12^th, born and passing away on the same day which was a Monday (as was narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, 1387) [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him]. Others disagreed and held the opinion it was later in the month, and there is a considerable number of scholars who argued this view as well.

As-Suhaaylee also found discrepancies with the view that he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] passed away on 12^th Rabee’ al-Awwal. He argued that it was impossible that 12^th Rabee’ al-Awwal was a Monday. This is because the Day of ‘Arafah was on a Friday (as was narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, 8709) so this meant that Dhu al-Hijjah began on a Thursday. So if we count the days of the month then we will not find 12^th Rabee’ al-Awwal landing on a Monday, it would be impossible. If we counted Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharam and Safar as being 30 days each then 12^th Rabee’ al-Awwal would not fall on a Monday (TN: and we know for certain that he died on a Monday, this is uncontested because of the narration in as-Saheeh). Even if were to count some of the months as being 29 and others being 30 days, it will still not consolidate Monday being 12^th Rabee’ al-Awwal. Had Dhu al-Hijjah began on a Friday it would then be possible for 12^th Rabee’ al-Awwal to fall on a Monday (TN: Again, the fact that Dhul al-Hijjah in that year started on a Thursday is uncontested because of the narration in as-Saheeh).

In fact it was this very discrepancy, the author of the book at-Tawfeeqaat al-Ilhaamiyyah Fee Muqaaranah al-Tawaareekh al-Hijriyyah bi as-Sineen al-Ifranjiyyah (TN: a book that documents all the main events in Islamic history, correlating Hijri dates with the Gregorian calendar), was troubled by the conflicting dates, a book authored in 1311AH where he researched and studied Islamic events from the beginning of the Islamic calendar until 1500 (Gregorian), the authors name was Muhammad Mukhtaar Baasha from Egypt.

He states in his book;

The 10^th AH was the year of the final Hajj of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him]. If we say that the month of Dhu al-Hijjah began on a Friday then it is possible that 12^th Rabee’ al-Awwal fell on a Monday, however is it possible that Dhu al-Hijjah began on a Friday? If we say the month of Dhu al-Hijjah began on a Friday then that would mean that the Day of ‘Arafah would fall on a Saturday, and this is contradicts the narrations in as-Saheeh, and the scholars are agreed that the Day of ‘Arafah fell on a Friday. End Quote.

However, some scholars have tried to reconcile and say that Friday was the Day of ‘Arafah for the people of Makkah but the beginning of the month in Makkah differed to the beginning of the month in Madeenah and this how the majority of the scholars have defended their position, holding the view that the death of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] was on 12^th Rabee al-Awwal.

Others from the scholars held the view that he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] died on 2^nd of Rabee’ al-Awwal which would have been a Monday.

Whatever the case, there is a difference of opinion between the scholars in regards to the date of the Prophet’s [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] birth and death although it is known that he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] was born and he died on a Monday, as he said [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him], “That was the day I was born on (i.e. Monday).” [Narrated Muslim (1162)]

Some of the commentators stated that he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] was born on the 8^th of Rabee’ al-Awwal as it can be statistically proven.

As for celebrating the birthday of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] then this is an innovation, especially based on the fact that there is no concrete evidence to specify this date so how can they depend on this date? Even if we were to assume that he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] was born on 12^th Rabee al-Awwal then having this day as an ‘Eid, and using this day to get closer to Allaah, the Exalted and the Glorified, has no proof in the Sharee’ah.

[Sharh Al-Fiyyah al-‘Iraaqee Fee Uloom al-Hadeeth by Shaykh Abdul-Kareem bin Abdullah al-Khudayr (May Allaah Preserve him), Tape 56; 15-20 minutes]