by later astronomers to have been the ninth of Rabi al-Awwal.

As for Badr, the well-known view among historians is that it occurred on the seventeenth of Ramadan. Yet whether the date is historically sound or not is of no concern to us. What concerns us is this: did the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions take such days as Festivals?

The answer is no. Thus, if we were to take them as Festivals, that would imply one of two things:

First, that the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions were ignorant of the virtue contained in these days.

Second, that they knew of it, but did not make its virtue known and concealed it from the people. Both possibilities are evil. That is, if we were to accuse the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions of not knowing the virtue of these days, we would be describing them as ignorant, while these latter-day people would be more knowledgeable than they were concerning the virtue Allah, Most High, assigned to these occasions. And if we were to say that they knew, but refrained from doing so in order to conceal the truth and mislead people, that too would be a grave evil. How could the Messenger, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, know that these occasions were to be Festivals, yet not prescribe them for the Ummah, when Allah, Most High, said to him:

“O Messenger, convey what has been sent down to you from your Lord. If you do not, then you have not conveyed His message.” [al-Ma'idah 5:67]

If such momentous occasions as the birth of the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, the Battle of Badr, the Ascension, and others have no Festivals, then it is even more fitting that lesser occasions should not have Festivals. In this matter, the guidance of the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, suffices us; for the Prophet’s guidance is the best guidance, as he would proclaim in every Friday sermon: “The best guidance