Rabi al-Awwal is a month that naturally draws our hearts toward the beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It’s the month in which he was born, and it invites us to reflect on who he was not only as the Messenger of Allah, but as a mercy to mankind, a guide, and a companion in our journey of faith.
As part of these reflections I want to share three simple actions we can take to maximize the blessings of this month as well as create or deepen a personal and heartfelt relationship with the Messenger of Allah.
1. Learning and Reflecting on His Seerah
The Prophet’s life is more than history, it’s a guidance for us as believers. His story is the living Qur’an, as his wife Aisha (RA) described.
As a convert, it took me a lot of time to learn to love our Prophet. I didn't grow up hearing his name and stories of his life, so I had to start from scratch at the age of 20. Slowly but surely, I learned more and more about his life and who he was. And the more I learned, the more I began to love and admire him.
Action: Set aside 10 minutes a day in Rabi al-Awwal to read or listen to the Seerah. Just 10 minutes to read or listen, and reflect on what you learned as you go about your day.
2. Sending Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ
Allah reminds us in the Qur’an:
“Indeed, Allah showers His blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels pray for him. O believers! Invoke Allah’s blessings upon him, and salute him with worthy greetings of peace.”
— Qur’an 33:56
This verse always is such a powerful reminder: Allah Himself sends blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, and then He invites us to join in.
Action: During Rabi al-Awwal, try to weave salawat into ordinary moments - while folding laundry, cooking, or walking outside. If you have times of day already set aside for dhikr, add salawat into that practice.
It’s a beautiful way of keeping him close to our hearts, of remembering his character, and of longing for his intercession.
3. Reviving His Sunnah in Daily Life
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever revives a Sunnah of mine that dies out after me, he will have a reward similar to whoever acts upon it without diminishing anything from their rewards.”
— Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi
There are countless acts that are considered sunnah, and sometimes it feels overwhelming. However, I’ve learned that even choosing one small practice can transform my day. When I practice a sunnah, however small, I feel closer to him, like I’m walking in his footsteps in some small way.
I have suffered from chronic migraines my whole life and I distinctly remember learning as a very new convert how the Prophet wrapped his head and the remedies that he used for headaches. From that day on even something as painful as a migraine became a moment for me to remember RasulAllah and thank Allah for being able to follow one of his sunnahs.
Action: Find one sunnah act that you don't usually practice (common ones are saying Bismillah before eating, smiling at others, eating with the right hand, praying extra rak‘ahs of sunnah prayer, etc.) and work on making it a new habit in your everyday life.
Whenever you do that action, remind yourself of why it is you're doing something in that exact way.
These simple acts shape our character and consistently remind us that faith is not just in the big acts, it’s in the everyday details.
Rabi al-Awwal is not only about remembering that the Prophet ﷺ was born; it’s about rekindling our relationship with him in a way that makes his presence felt in our lives today. By sending salawat, immersing ourselves in his seerah, and reviving his sunnah, we move closer to embodying his character.
Ya Allah, make us people who not only love the Prophet ﷺ but live by his example, and gather us with him in the hereafter. Ameen.