Night of 17th Rabī‘ al-awwal
At the seventeenth night of Rabi’ al-Awwal, the Holy Prophet (sawa), the Seal of the Prophets, was born. It is thus a very blessed night.
Sayyid Ibn Tawus has narrated that one year before Hegira, the Holy Prophet (sawa) ascended to the seven heavens at the seventeenth night of Rabī‘ al-awwal.
Day of 17th Rabī‘ al-awwal
The seventeenth of Rabī‘ al-awwal is the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah – may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his Household. This is the famous opinion adopted by the Imamiyyah scholars. It is well-known that the Holy Prophet (sawa) was born in Makkah, in his house, at the break of the morning of Friday in the year known as “The Year of the Elephant” during the reign of the Anushirwan, the fair king of Persia (also called Khosrow the Just).
Also, on the seventeenth of Rabi’ al-Awwal, AH 83, Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (as) was born. This event has added further honor to this day.
In brief, the devotional acts that should be practiced on this holy day are as follows:
Ghusl
It is recommended to bathe oneself on this day.
Fast
It is recommended to observe fasting on this day, since this brings about many rewards. In this respect, it is narrated that to observe fasting on this day brings about the reward of observing fasting for a whole year. It is, in fact, one of the four days the observance of fasting on which has been exclusively confirmed.
Ziyarah of Holy Prophet (saws)
It is recommended to visit the tomb of the Holy Prophet (saws) from near or remote distance.
Ziyarah of Amir al-Mu'mineen (a)*
It is recommended to visit the tomb of Imam Ali Amir al-Momineen (as) with the form of Ziyarah that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(عليه السلام) taught to Muhammad ibn Muslim. This form will be cited in the coming book of Ziyarat.
Amaal
It is recommended to offer, in the forenoon, a two rakaat prayer and to recite at each of which Surah al-Fātiḥah once and repeat Surah al-Qadr ten times and Surah al-Tawḥīd ten times. After accomplished, it is recommended to sit in one’s place of prayer and say the supplication that begins with the following statement:
اللّهمّ انت حىّ لا تموت
Because I could not find this lengthy supplication reported from any of the Holy Infallibles (عليه السلام), I will not mention it herein for fear of lengthiness. Yet, it is found in the book of Zad al-Ma’ad.
Honor this day
Muslims are advised to honor this day; they may give alms, do righteous deeds, spread amongst the brethren-in-faith, and visit the holy mausoleums. In Iqbal al-Aa’mal, Sayyid Ibn Tawus has expatiated upon the necessity of honoring this day, saying,
I noticed that Christians and some Muslims honor the birthday of Prophet Jesus (عليه السلام) in a matchless, remarkable way. I thus wonder how those Muslims accept to honor the birthday of their Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) in a way less than their honoring another Prophet!
