The National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) revealed the astronomical date of the Prophet’s birthday (Mawlid) as falling on Monday 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal corresponding to October 18.
According to the calculations prepared by the Institute the crescent of the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal comes immediately after the conjunction at exactly one o’clock and six minutes in the afternoon Cairo local time on Wednesday 29 of Safar for the year 1443 AH corresponding to October 6, which is the day of sighting.
The first of the month of Rabi` al-Awwal for the year 1443 AH will be on Thursday, October 7.
The date of the Prophet’s birthday is linked to the Hijri calendar system, a system that depends on the lunar month – the length of time that the moon takes in a complete orbit around the Earth.
The Hijri, Lunar or Islamic calendar depends on the lunar cycle to determine the months, and some Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia have take it as the official calendar of the state.
Established by Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, it used the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina on Rabi’ al-Awwal 12 (September 24, 622 AD) as a reference for its first year in it, which is is the reason behind calling it the Hijri calendar.
Celebrations of the Prophet’s birthday differ from one Islamic country to another, according to customs and traditions, all Muslims consider a day of peace and love as it is the day of the Prophet’s birth.
Dessert is an important part in holding the many celebrations, which begin with the establishment of marques and the display of sweets a month before the date of the birthday.
Egyptians eagerly buy and present gifts to their loved ones.
