Rabi' al-Thani
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Rabi' al-Thani (Arabic: ربيع الآخر or ربيع الثاني) is the fourth month of the Islamic calendar, a lunar calendar consisting of twelve months. It follows Rabi' al-Awwal and precedes Jumada al-Ula.
Like other months in the Islamic calendar, Rabi' al-Thani has either 29 or 30 days, depending on observation of the new moon or astronomical calculation. The Islamic year is approximately 10 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, so Rabi' al-Thani does not remain fixed in the Gregorian calendar but shifts backward each year.
Name and meaning
The Arabic word "rabi'" is understood to mean a season of spring or a time of flourishing. The names of the Islamic months derive from seasons and events in pre-Islamic Arabia, when the months were associated with specific times of year. After the calendar became fully lunar, the names were retained but no longer corresponded to their seasonal meanings. "Al-Thani" means "second," while "al-Akhir," also used, means "the last."
Position in the calendar
The Islamic calendar begins with the year of the Hijra, marked by the Prophet Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina. The months in order are: Muharram, Safar, Rabi' al-Awwal, Rabi' al-Thani, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada al-Akhirah, Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qi'dah, and Dhu al-Hijjah.
Observances and customs
Rabi' al-Thani is not among the months specifically designated by Islamic law as having particular honor, nor does it have obligatory observances attached to it. However, various Muslim communities and groups do commemorate occasions associated with the month, particularly events related to Sufi saints whose histories are connected to this month. These observances vary by region and are not universally shared among all Muslims.