The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 1 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATH~R 143
Khaytham b. Sulayman, the ha$&, related from Khalaf b. Muhammad
Kirdaws al-Wasip, from al-Mu'alla b. 'Abd al-R&ma, from 'Abd al-@amid b.
Ja'far, from al-Znhri, from Wbayd Allah b. 'Abd All&, from Ibn 'Abb% who
said, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) was born on a Monday in Rub8 al-Awwal
and revelation of his prophethood came down to him on Monday, the first of
Rub8 al-Awwafi also the Qur'a chapter al-Baqara (The Cow; 11) was revealed on
a Monday in Rabic al-Awwal."
This is very strange. It is Ibn 'Asakir who related it.
Al-Zubayr b. Bakks stated, "His mother became pregnant with him during
uyyam al-tashriq, the celebratory feast in the vale of AbB Talib, near
al-jumrat al-wusp, the central stoning pile at Mina. He was born in Mecca in the
house known as that of Muhammad b. Ynsuf, brother of al-Hajjaj b. Ytisuf, on
the 12th of Ramadan."
The ha$& Ibn 'Asair recounted this from a line through Muhammad b.
Wthma b. Wqba b. Makram, from al-Musayyab b. Sharik, from Shu'ayb h.
Shu'ayb, from his father, from his grandfather, who said, "The Messenger of
God (SAAS) was collceived on the day of 'Ashiirt?, the 9th or 10th day of
Muhmam, and he was born on Monday, the 12th of Rarnadzn in the 23rd year
after the attack on Mecca by the troops with elephants."
Other sources relate that al-Khayzuran, the mother of Haan al-Rashid, when
she performed the pilgrimage, ordered the conversion of this house into a
mosque. It is known by her name to this day.
Al-Suhayli gave the date of his birth as the 20th of Nisan, April. This was the
most appropriate time and season; and that was in the year 882 of the era of
Alexander, according to those who use astronomical almanacs.
And they claim that the ascendant was at twenty degrees from Capricorn, and
that Jupiter and Saturn were joined together at a position within three degrees of
Scorpio, a position in the middle of the heavens. This was in correspondence
with the stages of Aries. The birth occurred as the moon first arose at the beginning
of the night. Ibn Dihya transmitted all this; but God knows best.
According to Ibn Ishaq, his birth occurred in the year of the elephant.
And this is what is well known to the people at large. Ibrahim b. al-Mundhir
al-Hizm said, "And this is something about which our scholars have no doubt,
the fact that he was born in the year of the elephant; and that he received his
mission as a prophet at the beginning of the 40th year after the attack with
elephants."
57. The tern was applied to the three days following the Day of Immolation during the IIajj
festival.