VIRTUES & INNOVATIONS OF RAJAB

 

The month of Rajab is one of the sacred months of which Allaah says :

“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. 1st, 7th, 11th & 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein”[9:36].

Abu Bakar (radiallahuanihu): the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months, Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumaada & Sha’baan. Bukhaari,

These months are called sacred for (2) reasons:

1- Fighting therein is forbidden unless initiated by the enemy

2- Transgression of the sacred limits therein is worse than at other times.

Allaah says “wrong not yourselves therein” [9:36]

Although committing sins is  forbidden at other times, in these months it is more forbidden.

There is no saheeh hadeeth to indicate that there is any special virtue in fasting all or part of the month of Rajab. What some people do, singling out some days of Rajab for fasting, believing that they are better than others, has no basis in sharee’ah.

But there is a da’eef report from the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) which indicates that it is mustahabb to fast during the sacred months ( Rajab is one of the sacred months). The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Fast some days of the sacred months and not others.” Abu Dawood, 2428; classed as da’eef by al-Albaani in Da’eef Abi Dawood.

Even if this hadeeth were saheeh, it indicates that it is mustahabb to fast during the sacred months. So if a person fasts during Rajab because of this, and he also fasts in the other sacred months, there is nothing wrong with that. But singling out the sacred month of Rajab or some specific  days of it  for fasting or other worships  is not right.

As for fasting & special prayers in Rajab in particular, the ahaadeeth concerning that are all da’eef (weak), and in fact mawdoo’ (fabricated). The offering of salatul ar-raghaaaib on first Friday of Rajab preceded by fasting on Thursday is one of them.

Fasting on the twenty-seventh of Rajab and spending that night in prayer is a bid’ah (innovation), and every bid’ah is a going astray. Celebrating the night of the Isra’ and Mi’raaj http://www.islamqa.info/en/60288

There is no report from the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) to suggest that there is any particular virtue in performing ‘Umrah in the month of Rajab, or that it is encouraged.

Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “ ‘Umrah in Ramadaan is equivalent to Hajj.” It is proven that there is a particular virtue in performing ‘Umrah in the month of Ramadaan, and in the months of Hajj, which are Shawwaal, Dhu’l-Qa’dah and Dhu’l-Hijjah (Bukhaari).

‘Aa’ishah (radiallahuaniah): The Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) never performed ‘Umrah in Rajab. But if a person goes for ‘Umrah during Rajab without believing that there is any special virtue in that, but it just so happens that it is easy for him to travel at that time, there is nothing wrong with that.

One of the popular hadiths about virtues of Rajab that is very odd & extremely weak is this: “When Rajab began, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha‘baan, and let us reach Ramadan.” See proof of its weakness in this link www.islamqa.info/202017. Al-Nawawi said: The prayers of Rajab and Sha‘baan are two reprehensible innovations. End quote from al-Sunan wa’l-Mubtada‘aat, p. 144

Imam Ahmad & all other great & competent scholars say “The basic principle with regard to  all acts of worship is TAWQEEF” i.e. ALL ACTS OF IBADAH INCLUDING  (DUA,DHIKR, FASTING ETC)  ARE FORBIDEN UNTIL SANCTIONED BY THE QURAN & AUTHENTHIC HADITH; THERE IS NO ROOM FOR OPINIONS,EMOTIONS & INNOVATIONS. It is not permissible to do any act of worship in terms of TIME or PLACE or TYPE or NUMBER or MANNER of worship except on the basis of “TAWQEEF”.ON THE OTHER HAND, ALL WORDLY (NON WORSHIP) MATTERS, ARE PERMITTED EXCEPT WHAT THE QURAN & AUTHENTHIC HADEETH PROHIBIT. THIS IS A PRINCIPLE EVERY MUSLIM SHOULD MEMORISE. Details of tawqeef . www.islamqa.info/en/147608.

References:  www.islamqa.info/en/13729  www.islamqa.info/en/154850 www.islamqa.info/en/49884  www.islamqa.info/en/49675  http://www.islamqa.info/en/147608 https://islamqa.info/en/cat/2038  www.islamqa.info/en/158362 http://www.islamqa.info/en/60288.

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