In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allāh alone, and blessings and peace be upon the one after whom there is no prophet: when was the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) born? The scholars of history and biography differed regarding when the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) was born. There are several opinions: Firstly, they differed on the year of his birth (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam): The majority believe that his birth (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) was in the Year of the Elephant, which is the opinion of Ibn ʿAbbās (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu). It is said to have been fifty days after the event of the Elephant, which is the opinion of al-Suhaylī al-Mālikī. It is also said to have been fifty-five days after, as narrated by al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Dimyāṭī al-Shāfiʿī. Some say a month after, and others say forty days after, as narrated by Mughlāṭāy al-Ḥanafī and Ibn Sayyid al-Nās al-Shāfiʿī. Imām al-Zuhrī said it was ten years after the Elephant, while others said fifteen years before the Elephant, and yet others have different opinions.

Secondly, they differed on the month in which he (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) was born: Some said it was in the month of Ṣafar, and others said Rabīʿ al-Ākhir, as narrated by Mughlāṭāy al-Ḥanafī. Some said Rajab, and others said Ramaḍān, as narrated by al-Yamārī al-Shāfiʿī and Mughlāṭāy al-Ḥanafī. It is also narrated from Ibn ʿUmar (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu), and it aligns with those who said his mother conceived him during the days of Tashrīq. The most unusual opinion is that he was born during the days of Tashrīq.

Thirdly, they differed on the day of his birth (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam): Some said it is not specified, while others said it was in Rabīʿ al-Awwal, without specifying the day, as reported by al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Qasṭallānī al-Shāfiʿī in "al-Mawāhib al-Ladunniyyah." Some said it was on a Monday, and this is the majority opinion. Others said it was on the second night of Rabīʿ al-Awwal, as stated by Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr al-Mālikī and narrated by al-Wāqidī from Abū Maʿshar Najīḥ al-Madanī. It is also said to have been on the eighth night of Rabīʿ al-Awwal, as narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās and Jubayr ibn Muṭʿim (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhum). This was chosen by Ibn Ḥazm, and Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr reported that historians confirmed it. Al-Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad al-Khwārazmī affirmed it, and al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Dihyah al-Kalbī favored it, saying it is the only correct opinion, and all historians agreed on it. Al-Quṭb al-Qasṭallānī stated it is the choice of most ḥadīth scholars, and it is the choice of