THE MONTH OF RAJAB
_A Welcoming Month for Ramadhān_
Allah Ta’aala gives preference of one thing over the other. Sometimes Allah shows us the superiority of a certain land, city, night and day over the other. Likewise, amongst the month, one has priority over the other in the sight of Allah. Allah mentions in the Qur’aan:
*_إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ.._*
_[سورة التوبة آية ٣٦]_
*_Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves (especially in these sacred months).._*
_[Surah Tawbah Verse 36]_
Here the twelve months are referring to the Islamic month /calendar. And this is what a Muslim should give great importance as well.
We come to know of the four sacred ones through the Hadith of Rasūlullah *ﷺ* :
عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ *“..السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا، مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ، ثَلاَثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ، وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ”* _(بخاري)_
*“..A year consists of twelve months. Among them are four which are sacred. These are consecutive: Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram and then Rajab”* _(Bukhari)_
*What should be done in the month of Rajab?*
_▪️ Strive more to stay away from committing sins_
Due to the sanctity of these four months, Allah Ta’aala has emphasised that one should take more precautions and stay away from all types of sins during these months. So just like the other three months, Rajab also is very auspicious. Allah Ta’aala has ordered us not to transgress ourselves during this month by committing sin. The sanctity of this month aggravates the sin we commit compared to other month.
_▪️Start preparing for Ramadhān_
We should also prepare for Ramadhān.
*كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ رَجَبٌ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَجَبٍ وَشَعْبَانَ وَبلغنا رَمَضَانَ* _(والبزار في مسنده، والطبراني في الأوسط، والبيهقي في الشعب)_
Nabi *ﷺ* would read at the appearance of the moon of Rajab:
*اَللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَجَبَ وَشَعْبَانَ وَبلغنا رَمَضَانَ*
*“Allahhumma barik lana fii rajaba wa Sha’bāna wa ballighnā Ramadhān.”* _(Musnad Bazzār, Tabrani, Shu’abul Imaan)_
Translation:
_“Oh Allah bless for us the month of Rajab and Sha’baan and make us reach Ramadhaan (safely).”_
Preparation of Ramadhān starts from now.. start increasing our optional salaah, Dhikrullah, Tilāwah of Qur’aan etc.
*_What should not be done in the Month of Rajab?_*
Unfortunately, due to lack of knowledge/ignorance, people has attached a lot of things and innovation to the Month of Rajab.
Remember, Ibaadah/Allah’s worship is only what Allah’s messenger has taught us. Nothing more and nothing less.
Some of the innovation and incorrect customs are as follows:
*▪️41 times Surah Mulk*
_There are some who practice a certain custom on each Friday of Rajab or on other days (during this month) whereby for purposes of Isāle Thawāb
(conveying reward to the deceased) they recite Surah Mulk 41 times on sweet rotis
(an indian delicacy made from flour) and they then partake of the roti._
_This particular method of Isāle-Thawāb (conveying reward) is fabricated and incorrect. The Shari’ah has not specified any such method of Isaale-Thawāb._
*▪️Reward of a 1000 fast*
_Some people regard fasting on the 27th of Rajab to be necessary and the reward acquired equal to a thousand fasts. Some even refer it to as the fast of Sayyiduna Maryam (Alaihas Salaam)._
_This is absolutely baseless and such an erroneous belief denotes weakness in faith._
*▪️Salātur Raghā-ib!*
_Some people perform a certain Salāh on the first Thursday night of this month,
whilst others perform this Salaah on the 27th night which they call Salaat-ur Raghaa-ib._ _This Salaah comprises of twelve rakaats and in each rakaat they recite Surah Fātiha followed by a Surah. Upon completing the twelve rakaats they remain seated on their places and recite Surah Fatiha seven times followed by a specific Du’aa four times and the following morning they fast._
_They believe that this act warrants reward equal to a hundred years of virtuous deeds. This is absolutely baseless and false. Such a virtue is not recorded in any Hadith of Rasūlullah *ﷺ*. Had there been any special merit of any form of Ibādah, then surely the companions of Rasūlullah *ﷺ* would have surely recorded it._
*▪️Celebrating The night of 27th of Rajab*
_The night of Me’raj (ascension) is indeed a great night. A journey which Rasūlullah *ﷺ* did physically. However, there’s no mention in the Ahaadith that Rasūlullah *ﷺ* or any of his companions (رضي الله عنهم) has commemorate or celebrate this night after He *ﷺ* has come back from Me’rāj._
_In fact, there is no clear evidence on which night or month did the the miraculous journey took place._
*▪️Holding talks at the masjid*
_Some masājid hold talks on this particular night with the (good) intention that people comes to the masjid specifically on this night and they may benefit._
_This should also be discouraged. Because it’s indirectly encouraging people to commemorate and give special importance to this uncertain night._
_By seeing the imaam of the masjid is having a special talk in masjid on this night, will reassure them that this is a night of great merit (regardless what we say in that speech). Whereas there is no greater merit than the Salāh of Fajr daily. These practices and beliefs shouldn’t be entertained by neither the Imaam and the trustees of the Masājid._
Maulana M. Zaheer
26 Rajab 1442
09 March 2021