Time to celebrate

Mawlid falls in the month of Rabi' al-awwal in the Islamic calendar. Shias observe the event on the 17th of the month, coinciding with the birth date of their sixth Imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq, while Sunnis observe it on the 12th of the month. The corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar varies each year.

Gregorian Year	12th of Rabi'-al-Awwal (Sunni)	17th of Rabi'-al-Awwal (Shi'a)
2010	February 27	March 3
2011	February 15	February 20
2012	February 4	February 9
2013	January 24	January 29