The word "Rabi" means "spring" and Al-awwal means "the first" in theArabic language, so "Rabi' al-awwal" means "the first spring" inArabic. The name seems to have to do with the celebratory events in the month, as spring marks the end of winter (a symbol of sadness) and consequently the start of happiness. As the Islamic calendar is a purelylunar calendar, the month naturally rotates over solar years, so Rabīʽ al-awwal can fall in spring or any other season. Therefore, the month cannot be related to the actual season of spring.[1]
And it's mentioned in the Arabic lexicons that Arabs add the word "month" to Rabi' al-Awwal,Rabi' al-Akhir andRamadan months only, and most of them allow adding the word "month" to the other months too.[2][3][4]
Celebrants holdmahfils on Mawlid in whichreligious poetry is recited in praise of Muhammad accompanied by a feast. Other customs affiliated with Mawlid are supererogatory fasting, Music anddhikr.
The Mawlid observance is a recognized national holiday in most Muslim-majority countries of the world. It is generally approved byShia Muslims as well as three Sunni schools of law,Hanafi,Maliki andShafi'i. However, theDeobandi andSalafi movements andHanbali school consider the Mawlid a reprehensiblebid'a (innovation) and prohibit its observance. Some denominations ofIslam do not approve of the commemoration of Muhammad's birthday, as they claim that there is no evidence from the Prophet and his companions that supports this day.
TheIslamic calendar is a purelylunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of anew moon is sighted. Since the Islamiclunar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than thesolar year, Rabī‘ al-Awwal migrates throughout the seasons. The estimated start and end dates for Rabī‘ al-Awwal are as follows (based on theUmm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia[5]):
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