The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
The Blessed Birth of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)
After the father of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Abdullah, married his mother, Aaminah, they stayed in Shi’b-e-Abi Taalib (the Valley of Abu Taalib), and it was in this place that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was conceived. (Sharuhuz Zurqaani 1/193)
It was during the period when Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was in the womb of his mother that his father, Abdullah, went with the trade-caravan of the Quraish to Shaam. On the return journey, while they were passing Yathrib (Madinah Munawwarah), Abdullah fell ill. Due to his illness and weakness, he was unable to travel and thus stayed in Madinah Munawwarah where he passed away one month later. At that time, Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was still in the womb of his mother. (Sharuhuz Zurqaani 1/206)
There are different reports regarding the age of Abdullah at the time of his demise. Some Ulama have mentioned that he was 18 years old, others have mentioned that he was 25 years old, and yet others say that he was 30 years old. However, the preferred opinion, according to Haafiz Ibnul Hajar Asqalaani, Allaamah Suyooti and Haafiz Alaa’ee (rahimuhumullah) is that he was 18 years old at the time of his demise. (Sharuhuz Zurqaani 1/193 & 1/204)
As for the mother of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Aaminah, then she passed away when he was six years old. (Sharuhuz Zurqaani 1/307)
At the time of his demise, Abdullah’s estate consisted of a slave girl, Umme Ayman, whose name was Barakah, five camels and a flock of goats – all of which was inherited by Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) after his mother’s demise. (Tabaqaat Ibnu Sa’d 1/80)
The majority of the Ulama are of the opinion that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was the only child born to his parents. (Majma’u Bihaaril Anwaar 1/265)
The Date of the Birth of Rasulullah (sallallau ‘alaihi wasallam)
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was born on a Monday at the time of dawn in the home of Abu Taalib in the Holy City of Makkah Mukarramah in the Year of the Elephant and in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal – corresponding to April 570 AD. (Sharhuz Zurqaani 1/250-251 & Seerah Halabiyyah 1/62)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) has mentioned that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was born in the Year of the Elephant (the year in which Abrahah marched towards the Ka‘bah with the sinister intention of destroying it). (Sharhuz Zurqaani 1/243)
In regard to the exact date of the blessed birth of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), the most well-known view is that he was born on the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal. However, according to the majority of the Muhadditheen and historians, the preferred view is that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was born on the 8th of Rabi-ul-Awwal. (Sharhuz Zurqaani 1/246)
