On the month of Rajab

On the month of Rajab

Rajab is one of those sacred months, which Allah has chosen and given a special status.

Allah says in Soorah Tawbah (9): 36, "Verily, the number of months with Allah is
twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He
created the heavens and the earth; of them four (Dhul-Qidah, Dhul-Hijjah,
Muharram and Rajab) are Sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not
yourselves therein…"

Allah has commanded us to give special attention to the sanctity of these four months,
and refrain from committing sins in them.

Allah says in the Qur'aan: "O you who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the
Symbols of Allah, nor of the Sacred Month…" [Soorah al-Ma'idah (5):2]

meaning avoid sins and do not violate the laws of Allah for you are required to respect
and honor the sacred months - This prohibition includes both sinful deeds and incorrect
beliefs. However, we find numerous innovations widespread among the masses of people
with regards to the month of Rajab, some of them are… People fast abundantly in the
month of Rajab believing that fasting in this month will be rewarded more, since it is one
of the sacred months, although there is no authentic proof to support this practice.

Fasting is prescribed in Rajab as it is in other months; there is no authentic Hadeeth,

which states special virtues or extended rewards for fasting in Rajab. Another very
common innovation performed in the month of Rajab is Salaat al-Ragaaib, a prayer that
is performed on the first night of Rajab. Some liars fabricated this prayer in the fourth
century A.H. The Hadeeth brought forth to prove this innovated Salaah is a fabrication
according to the consensus of the scholars of Hadeeth.

It is also claimed that the Prophet's Night Journey (Isra wal-Miraaj) took place on the
twenty-seventh of Rajab and therefore the story of Meraj is recited, and celebrations are
commemorated on the twenty-seventh of Rajab. Some people also single out this night to
perform extra acts of worship. All these acts are baseless, because there is no proof that
Isra wal-Miraaj took place on the twenty-seventh of Rajab. Even if it were proven, then
commemorating such celebration is an innovation since nothing of this kind has been
reported from the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) or the Sahabah.

These are a few common innovations that are performed in the month of Rajab, however,
there are a number of others, which include, visiting graves specifically in Rajab, reciting
specific Du'aas in Rajab, frequently performing Umrah in Rajab, etc. We ask Allah to
protect us from all innovations, and make us amongst those who correctly follow the
Sunnah of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam), and venerate those things that
Allah has made sacred in the way that He has prescribed.

Ameen.