<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Rabīʿ al - ʾawwal (ربيع الأوّل) is the third month in the Islamic calendar . During this month, many Muslims celebrate Mawlid - the birthday of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad . Although the exact date is unknown, Sunni Muslims believe the date of birth of Muhammad to have been on the twelfth of this month, whereas Shi'a Muslims believe him to have been born on the dawn of the seventeenth day . The Prophet himself never celebrated the mawlid, instead encouraged Muslims to fast Monday's of every week due to his birthday being "on a Monday". The name Rabī' al - awwal means the first (month) or beginning of spring, referring to its position in the pre-Islamic Arabian calendar . Hence this is considered to be a very blessed month . </P> <P> The word "Rabi" means "spring" and Al - awwal means "the first" in Arabic language, so "Rabi' al - awwal" means "the first spring" in Arabic language . The names seems to have to do with the celebration events in the month as "spring" is the end to winter (symbol of sadness) and consequently the start of happiness . The Arabic calendar being lunar calendar, the month is naturally rotating over years and Rabī' al - awwal can be in spring or any other season every now and then, so the meaning cannot be related to the actual season . </P>

What is the meaning of rabi ul awal