Below is an excerpt from the book ‘The Misrepresented Prophet’ (Available now):

He is Muhammad, the son of Abdullah the son of Abdul Muttalib the son of Hashim the son of Abdi Manaf the son of Qusay the son of Kilab the son of Murrah the son of Ka’b the son of Lu’ay the son of Ghalib the son of Fihr the son of Malik the son of An-Nadr the son of Kinanah the son of Khuzaymah the son of Mudrik the son of Il’yas the son of Mudar the son of Nizar the son of Ma’ad the son of Adnan.[[1]]

He was born in the year of the elephant; however the month and day is disputed amongst the historians.

One of the earliest historians who documented his life is Muhammad Ibn Ishaq (85 A.H), who stated that Qays Ibn Makhramah [رضي الله عنه] said:

ولدتُ أنا ورسولُ اللَّهِ صلَّى اللَّهُ عليْهِ وسلَّمَ عامَ الفيلِ

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and myself were born in (the) year of the Elephant”[[2]]

The majority of historians state that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born in the month of Rabi’ Al-Awwal, with a minority opinion stating that he was born in the month of Ramadan, however Ibn Kathir mentions that this statement is strange (and not reliable).

The day on which he was born is heavily disputed amongst the historians:[[3]]

·         Ibn Abd Al-Bar and Al-Waqidi stated that he was born on the 2nd of Rabi’ Al-Awwal

·         Al-Humaydi, Ibn Hazm, Malik, Aqeel, Az-Zuhri & Ibn Dihya stated that he was born on the 8th of Rabi’ Al-Awwal

·         Ibn Asakir stated that he was born on the 10th of Rabi’ Al-Awwal

·         Ibn Ishaq stated that he was born on the 12th of Rabi’ Al-Awwal, as mentioned in the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah that Jabir Ibn Abdullah and Abdullah Ibn Abbas [رضي الله عنهما] narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was born in the ‘Year of the Elephant, Monday 12th of Rabi’ Al-Awwal’

The most famous opinion regarding the date of birth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is that he was born on the 12th of Rabi’ Al-Awwal, however this is not a strong opinion as the evidence is lacking and it is more probable that he was born on the 8th or 9th of Rabi’ Al-Awwal.

We can conclude by stating that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born on the 8th of Rabi’ Al-Awwal as narrated by Ibn Abbas and Muhammad Ibn Jubayr Ibn Mut’im [رضي الله عنهما], with Imam Al-Qutb Al-Qastilani stating that ‘the 8th of Rabi’ Al-Awwal was chosen amongst the majority of those who were the most learned in the field of history’.[[4]]

[1] “2020 أين ومتى ولد الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم - موضوع.” موضوع

[2] “في أي عام ولد الرسول - موضوع.” موضوع, موضوع, 2018

[3] “2014, https://islamqa.info/ar/answers/147601”

[4] Taj, Ejaz. “Birthday of the Prophet (Sall Allāhu ʿalayhi Wa Sallam).” Islam21c, 2 Jan. 2012, www.islam21c.com/translations/2231-birth-day-of-the-prophet/