those with the most knowledge in this matter. Al-Quḍāʿī reported the consensus of the astronomers (timekeepers) on it. It is also said to be on the ninth day, which is the opinion of the Egyptian astronomer al-Bāshā, who has a scientific treatise on this, where he studied the topic astronomically, and it was favored by Shaykh ʿAlī al-Ṭanṭāwī, who praised his treatise. It is also said to be on the tenth day, which is the opinion of al-Shaʿbī and Muḥammad al-Bāqir, and it was authenticated by al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Dimyāṭī al-Shāfiʿī. It is said to be on the twelfth day, which is the opinion of Ibn Isḥāq. It is also said to be on the seventeenth day, as reported by Ibn Diḥyah from some of the Shīʿah. It is said to be on the eighteenth day, and it is said to be on the twenty-second day, as narrated by Abū Rāfiʿ from his father Muḥammad ibn Ḥazm al-Ẓāhirī.

Fourthly, there is a difference of opinion regarding the time of his birth (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam): It is said that the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) was born during the day, and it is said at dawn, and it is said at the rising of the stars of al-Ghifar, and it is said he was born at night, as narrated by al-Ḥākim from the Mother of the Believers ʿĀʾishah (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhā). And Allāh, the Exalted, knows best. My dear brother, what does the Companions' (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhum) concern with recording the date of the birth of the Master of the Messengers, the Messenger of Allāh Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) indicate? The answer: It indicates that a Muslim is not required to be concerned with the date of the birth, nor to be meticulous in recording it. Rather, he is obligated to consider how he is in his love for the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam), his adherence to his sharīʿah, his emulation of his sunnah, his guidance by his guidance, and his eagerness to embody his character. So where are we, my dear brother, in what Allāh has obligated us towards our Prophet Muḥammad (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam)? This is what every Muslim should consider how he is in relation to the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam).

Did they celebrate? This question arises every time the month of Rabīʿ al-Awwal approaches the Muslims, which is: Did the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) celebrate the birth, did his Companions celebrate, and did the righteous predecessors of this ummah, may Allāh have mercy on them, celebrate? We leave the answer to the scholars: The eminent scholar ʿUmar ibn ʿAlī al-Sikandarī al-Mālikī, known as al-Fākihānī, may Allāh have mercy on him, said: I do not know of any basis for this birth celebration in the Book or the sunnah, nor is it transmitted as a practice from any of the scholars of the ummah, who are the exemplars in religion... Rather, it is an innovation introduced by the idle