Month of Rajab

[Al Qadr]

There is no doubt that the month of Rajab is the key to the opening of the months of goodness and blessing.


Abu Bakr Warraq (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

‘Rajab is a month of cultivation, Shaban is month of irrigating the fields, and the month of Ramadhan is a month of reaping and harvesting.



Uthmân ibn Hakeem al-Ansaari narrated,

"I asked Sa`eed ibn Jubayr about the fast of Rajab, what was his opinion on it. He said, 'Ibn `Abbâs narrated that the Prophet :saw: used to fast until we said he would never break fast, and he used to break fast until we said he will never fast [again.]

Sahih Muslim.



Abu Dharr related that the Prophet :saw: said:

Whoever fasts the a day of Rajab it will be equivalent to the fast of one month; and whoever fasts seven days in it the seven gates of Hell will be closed for him; and whoever fasts ten days from it, Allah will change all of his evil deeds into good ones; and whoever fasts from it eighteen days a caller will call out: Allah the Exalted has forgiven you; therefore renew your good deeds

[Al Qadr]

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 419:

Narrated Abu Bakra:

The Prophet said:saw:
"(The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the Heavens and the Earths. The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa' da, Dhul-Hijja and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumadi-ath-Thaniyah and Sha ban."



Volume 6, Book 60, Number 184:

Narrated Abu Bakr:

The Prophet said :saw:
"Time has come back to its original state which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth; the year is twelve months, four of which are sacred. Three of them are in succession; Dhul-Qa'da, Dhul-Hijja and Al-Muharram, and (the fourth being) Rajab Mudar (named after the tribe of Mudar as they used to respect this month) which stands between Jumad (ath-thani) and Sha'ban."



Narrated Abu Bakra

The Prophet said :saw:
"Time has come back to its original state which it had on the day Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is twelve months, four of which are sacred, three of them are in succession, namely Dhul-Qa'da, Dhul Hijja and Muharram, (the fourth being) Rajab Mudar which is between Juma'da (ath-thamj and Sha'ban. The Prophet then asked, "Which month is this?" We said, "Allah and hisApostle know better." He kept silent so long that we thought that he would call it by a name other than its real name. He said, "Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijja?" We said, "Yes." He said, "Which town is this?" We said, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He kept silent solong that we thought that he would call it t,y a name other than its real name. He said, "isn't it the town (of Mecca)?" We replied, "Yes." He said, "What day is today?" We replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He kept silent so long that we thought that he would call it by a name other than its real name. He said, "Isn't it the day of Nahr?" We replied, "Yes." He then said, "Your blood, properties and honor are as sacred to one another as this day of yoursin this town of yours in this month of yours. You will meet your Lord,and He will ask you about your deeds. Beware! Do not go astray after me by cutting the necks of each other. It is incumbent upon those who are present to convey this message to those who are absent, for some of those to whom it is conveyed may comprehend it better than some of those who have heard it directly." (Muhammad, the sub-narrator, on mentioning this used to say: The Prophet then said, "No doubt! Haven'tI delivered (Allah's) Message (to you)? Haven't I delivered Allah's message (to you)?"




In Muslim, Ibn Majah, and (partly) Ahmad: `Abd Allah, the freed slave of Asma' the daughter of Abu Bakr, the maternal uncle of the son of `Ata', reported:

Asma' sent me to Abdullah ibn `Umar saying:
"The news has reached me that you prohibit the use of three things: the striped robe, saddle cloth made of red silk, and fasting the whole month of Rajab." Abdullah said to me: "So far as what you say about fasting in the month of Rajab, how about one who observes continuous fasting? And so far as what you say about the striped garment, I heard `Umar ibn al-Khattab say that he had heard from Allah's Messenger :saw:
"He who wears a silk garment, has no share for him (in the Hereafter)." And I am afraid that stripes were part of it. And so far as the red saddle cloth is concerned, here is Abdullah's saddle cloth [his] and it is red. I went back to Asma' and informed her, so she said: "Here is the cloak (jubba) of Allah's Messenger," and she brought out to me that cloak made of Persian cloth with a hem of (silk) brocade, and its sleeves bordered with (silk) brocade, and said: "This was Allah's Messenger's cloak with `A'isha until she died, then I took possession of it. The Apostle of Allah used to wear that, and we washed it for the sick so that they could seek cure with it."

[Al Qadr]

Title: Month of Rajab: Names & Merits


Question: Dear scholars, as-Salamu `alaykum. Many people are of the opinion that fasting, observing additional Prayer, and visiting graves are recommended acts in the month of Rajab, and they cite many hadiths in this regard. I would like to know whether these hadiths are authentic and what is the true worth of this month. Jazakum Allah khayran.


There are some months as well as some places that have more worth in Almighty Allah’s sight than others. But the merit of a certain place or time in Islam is established only through authentic proofs. Hence, on quoting a certain hadith, one is to make sure of its authenticity so that no false hadiths are reported to have been said by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Many of the hadiths reported about the worth and merit of Rajab are either weak or fabricated. However, we should remember that there are many important events in Islamic history that took place in the month of Rajab, such as the Night Journey and Ascension (Israa’ and Mi`raj), the Battle of Tabuk, and the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque from the crusaders at the hands of Salah Ad-Din Al-Ayyubi. Muslims should recall these great victories and derive lessons from them.

Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states:

Al-Hafidh Ibn `Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Hajar Al-`Asqalani, an eminent scholar, wrote a detailed study entitled “Tabyeen Al-`Ajab bima Warada fi Fadl Rajab.” Ibn Hajar included in this study almost all the hadiths reported about the merit of Rajab and the rewards entailed by observing fasting and optional Prayer during it, classifying these hadiths into either weak or fabricated ones.

He also mentioned that Rajab has eighteen names, the most famous of which are these: Al-Asamm (“the Deaf Month”). It was called so because no rattle of weapons was heard during it, it being one of the sacred months in which fighting is prohibited. It was called also Al-Asabb (“the Poured-in Month”), because mercy is poured on people during it. It was called also “the Iron Remover.” In this regard it was reported that Abu Raja’ Al-`Utaridi said, [I]“We used to worship stones [before Islam]. But when we found a better stone than the first one, we would throw the first one and take the latter. If we could not get a stone then we would collect some earth (soil), then bring a sheep and milk that sheep over it, and perform Tawaf around it. When the month of Rajab came, we used (to stop the military actions), calling this month the Iron Remover, for we used to remove and throw away the iron parts of every spear and arrow during it” (Al-Bukhari).

The merit of Rajab is like the merit of the rest of the other sacred months. Allah Almighty says: (Lo! the number of the months with Allah is twelve months by Allah’s ordinance in the day that He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred: that is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves in them) (At-Tawbah 9: 36).

The names of these sacred months are mentioned in an authentic hadith said by the Prophet ( :saw: ) in the Farewell Pilgrimage. According to this hadith, the sacred months are four, three in succession—that is, Dhul-Qi`dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram—and the fourth is Rajab, which comes between Jumada Thani and Sha`ban.

According to the above verse, Allah Almighty has ordered the Muslims not to wrong themselves (or others), especially in these sacred months. So no fighting between tribes was to be waged during these months, so that people would guarantee that the way to the Sacred House be safe. This is indicated by Almighty Allah’s saying in another verse: (Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them) (At-Tawbah 9: 5).


Another manifestation of not wronging oneself in the sacred months is to avoid committing sins or wronging others. Some scholars derived from Almighty Allah’s ordering Muslims not to wrong themselves especially in the sacred months that the blood money paid in the case of killing a person by mistake is to be increased by one third if this act is committed during the sacred months. But it is to be noted that the fatwas of those scholars are not based on direct evidence from the Qur’an or Sunnah.

Observing voluntary fasting in the sacred months, including Rajab, is recommended. In this regard, Abu Dawud reported on the authority of Mujibah Al-Bahilyyah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to her father or uncle, “Observe fasting for some days in the sacred months and leave fasting for other days.” He ( :saw: ) said this three times, folding three fingers of him and then unfolding them each time. The Prophet’s using three fingers here is meant to assert his recommendation of fasting during these months, and not to indicate the number of the days to observe fasting therein.

Hence, doing good deeds, including fasting, in Rajab is generally praiseworthy like doing so in the rest of the sacred months. According to Ibn Hajar, there is no hadith, whether authentic or good, reported to the effect that observing fasting in Rajab entails a special reward.


Among the weak hadiths circulated about the special rewards entailed by fasting in Rajab is this: “There is a river in Paradise called Rajab; its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. He who observes fasting of a day from the month of Rajab is like him who observes fasting for a whole month; he who observes fasting of seven days from it will be given refuge against the seven gates of the Fire; he who observes fasting of eight days from it, the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him; and he who observes fasting of ten days from it, his bad deeds will be turned into good ones.”

There is another long hadith reported in this regard, in the context of which it is reported “Rajab is Almighty Allah’s month, Sha`ban is my month, and Ramadan is my Ummah’s month.” This hadith was said to be fabricated. It was also mentioned in Al-Jami` Al-Kabir by As-Syuti that this hadith was reported by Abu Al-Fat-h ibn Abu Al-Fawaris in his book Amali as a mursal hadith (a hadith which a Successor has directly attributed to the Prophet without mentioning a Companion).

Of the fabricated hadiths reported about the praiseworthiness of offering special Prayers during Rajab is this: “He who performs the Maghrib Prayer in the first night of Rajab, and then offers twenty rak`ahs, two by two, reciting in each rak`ah surat Al-Fatihah and surat “Qul huwa Allahu Ahad,” Allah Almighty will guard him, his family, his wealth, his children; he will also be given refuge against the punishment of the grave and will pass over the bridge above Hell like lightening without being brought to account or exposed to punishment (in the Hereafter).”

Ibn Hajar dedicated in the study referred to above, a whole chapter for the hadiths reported about prohibiting fasting the whole month of Rajab. He then said, “This prohibition applies to the person who observes fasting during it out of following the pre-Islamic tradition of sanctifying this month. But if he observes fasting in this month for Allah’s sake without obligating himself to fast certain days from it, or to offer night vigil Prayer in certain nights of it, there is nothing wrong in this. The prohibition meant here is analogous to the prohibition referred to in the Prophet’s hadith ‘Do not single out the night (preceding) Friday among the nights for Prayer and do not single out Friday among days for fasting.’ ”

As for him who observes fasting in Rajab, believing that fasting during it is more praiseworthy than fasting in the other months, this is controversial among scholars, but Ibn Hajar was of the opinion that this is not permissible.

Ibn Hajar also quoted Abu Bakr At-Tartushi as saying in Al-Bida` wa Al-Hawadith, “It is not recommended to observe fasting in Rajab if this is done out of one of three intentions, one of which is to do so out of believing that its fasting is obligatory like the fasting of Ramadan, or it is a regular act of Sunnah, or that its fasting is more rewarded and praiseworthy than fasting in the other months. If anything of the kind had been true, the Prophet ( :saw: ) would have clarified it. According to Ibn Dihyah, fasting in general is a good act, but it should not be observed in Rajab out of believing that it entails special rewards then. `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would not recommend fasting in Rajab out of this belief.”

Concerning visiting graves in Rajab, many people, especially women, are used to visiting graves on the first Friday of Rajab. There is nothing in Shari`ah that recommends such an act, and doing so does not entail a reward better than that entailed by visiting graves on any other ordinary day.

Muslims should, rather, remember the important events that took place in the history of Islam during this month, such as the Night Journey and Ascension, the Battle of Tabuk, and the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque from the crusaders at the hands of Salah Ad-Din Al-Ayubi (AH 538). Muslims should derive lessons from this glorious history, so that they may reunite and seek to liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque anew from its recent brutal occupiers.

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503548932

[ibn suleman]

:jkk:

[Khadija222333]

Subhan Allah Jizakillah for posting sis.

[Al Qadr]

:jkk:

Subhan Allah Jizakillah for posting sis.

shukran/afwan/ :jkk:

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said: "Rajab is a great month of Allah (SWT), unmatched by any other month in the respect and significance (accorded to it); war with the infidels during this month is prohibited; Verily, Rajab is Allah's month, Sha'ban my month and Ramadan the month of my Ummah; whosoever fasts a day in the month of Rajab will be granted the great reward of Ridwan (an angel in heaven); the wrath of Allah (SWT) shall be distanced and a door of the Hell shall be closed."


Hazrat Salman Al-Farsi narrates that the Final messenger of Allah, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said that there is a day in the month of Rajab on which if a person fasts and does Qiyaamul Lail (night vigil) on that night, he will receive rewards like a person who fasts for 100 years and does Qiyaamul Lail for nights of 100 years. This night is the night of the 27th (Rajab) and the day of the 27th (Rajab). This is the day on which the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) was appointed to Messenger hood.



Rajab is one of the four months declared sacred by Allah (SWT) in the Glorious Qur'an.

Special prayers and Aamal that can be prayed and carried out on any day or daily for this seventh month of Islamic lunar calendar reached us on the authority of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), Imam Ali (as), Imam Zainul Abideen (as), Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) and Imam Sahib Zaman (as), are given below:

1. The month of Rajab, in its superabundant favors and benefits, reverence and sanctity, is next to none. It is linked to Almighty Allah (SWT) as Sha'ban to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and Ramadan to his Ummah (Muslim Community).

2. Who so observes fast (even one day) during the month of Rajab gets Allah's pleasure.

3. Ask forgiveness and turn repentant to Allah (SWT) as much as you can because mercy drops from the heaven like a gentle rain in the month of Rajab (also known as "As'abb" - pouring out, full of love and kindness).

4. Allah (SWT) shall forgive and have mercy on him who recites:

Astaghfirulaahallad'ee Laa Ilaaha Ilaa Huwa Wah'dahoo La Shareeka Lahoo Wa Atoobu Ilayh (I ask forgiveness of Allah, who is "There is no God save He, and no other; has no partner"; and I turn repentant to Him)

at least 100 times (400 times will accrue more rewards), and recites "Laa Ilaaha Illallaah" 1000 times, during the month of Rajab, and gives alms in the name of Allah at the completion.

5. Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas at least 100 times (1000 or 10000 times will accrue more rewards) in the month of Rajab.




Useful points for this month of Rajab - An Important Spiritual Month:

Ask forgiveness and turn repentant to Allah (SWT)

1) Fasting: It is highly recommended to fast in this month of Rajab even for one day at least. A hadith says: Whosoever fasts a day in Rajab, the fire of hell will be away from him a distance of one year's journey, and whosoever fasts 3 days in Rajab, will be entitled for Paradise. Imam Ali (as) used to fast the whole month of Rajab.

2) Seeking Forgiveness (Al-Istighfaar, Istighfar): The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to say: Rajab is a month of seeking forgiveness, so seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT); He is verily the Forgiver, the Merciful. It is highly recommended to repeat 'Astaghfirullaah wa as-aluhut tawbah'

3) Sadaqa and Charity: There is a big reward for Sadaqa and charity in the month of Rajab. Those who cannot fast may give Sadaqa to the poor every day, or recite 'Subhana Ilalahil Jaleele Subhana Man la Yanbaghil Tasbeeho Illa Lahoo; Subhanal A'azzinil Akrame; Subhana Man Labisal Izza wa Howa Lahoo Ahlun.'

4) Repeating 'Laa ilaaha illa-Allah' 1000 times.

5) Repeating 'Astaghfirullaaha zul jalale wal Ikraam min jamee al zonoobe wal aathaam' 1000 times.

6) Repeating Sura Al Tawheed 'Qul-ho-wallaho Ahad' or Surah Al-Ikhlas 1000 times to get the reward of 1000 Angels and blessings on the reciter, his / her children, family and neighbours.

7) It is recommended to recite Sura Al Tawheed 'Qul-ho-wallaho Ahad' or Surah Al-Ikhlas 100 times every Friday in the month of Rajab.

Praise be to the Almighty Allah (SWT) and thanks to Him for granting us yet another opportunity to cleanse ourselves of our sins and oversights. (Rajab Aamal and Dua)


read more here: http://www.ezsoftech.com/islamic/07.asp

[RAJMIN]

is today the first day of rajab?

[Al Qadr]

is today the first day of rajab?

Hmm, yea, Rajab started y'day after maghrib.

[RAJMIN]

aw thats so goo dto knw cos gess wot, im fastin today, i just decided to kep a fast n its just such a coincidence that is the first day fo rajab...

[Al Qadr]

May Allaah accept your fast ameen.

Some believe it is biddah to fast on rajab? :confused: :mad: how is a fast biddah :S plus its monday, Prophet :saw: used to fast Mondays aswell. Hmmm. wahabis

Fasting isn't celebrating though :S some believe fasting on rajab is celebrating and therefore haraam?

[RAJMIN]

bt even in the articles above it says its gud to fast in the month of rajab??
depends on ur intention i guess.... i dnt think its bidah, i mean i didnt even knw it was the month of rajab..

[heaven2002]

bump

[aboosait]

bt even in the articles above it says its gud to fast in the month of rajab??
depends on ur intention i guess.... i dnt think its bidah, i mean i didnt even knw it was 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:

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.

Salaat al-Ragaaib:

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.

Celebrating Isra wal-Miraaj:

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.

AHYA.ORG - Authentic Islamic Resources and Information

[LostInThought]

There is no doubt that the month of Rajab is the key to the opening of the months of goodness and blessing.


Abu Bakr Warraq (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

‘Rajab is a month of cultivation, Shaban is month of irrigating the fields, and the month of Ramadhan is a month of reaping and harvesting.



Uthmân ibn Hakeem al-Ansaari narrated,

"I asked Sa`eed ibn Jubayr about the fast of Rajab, what was his opinion on it. He said, 'Ibn `Abbâs narrated that the Prophet :saw: used to fast until we said he would never break fast, and he used to break fast until we said he will never fast [again.]

Sahih Muslim.



Abu Dharr related that the Prophet :saw: said:

Whoever fasts the a day of Rajab it will be equivalent to the fast of one month; and whoever fasts seven days in it the seven gates of Hell will be closed for him; and whoever fasts ten days from it, Allah will change all of his evil deeds into good ones; and whoever fasts from it eighteen days a caller will call out: Allah the Exalted has forgiven you; therefore renew your good deeds



please post references to these hadith.

[aboosait]

please post references to these hadith.

Jazakallahu Khair.

I am reminded of the following verse from the Qur'an which I would like to share with you immediately as a reminder.

وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نِبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الإِنسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا وَلَوْ شَاء رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ

(6:112)

Al-An'am (The Cattle)

6:112 Likewise did We make for every Messenger an enemy,- evil ones among men and jinns, inspiring each other with flowery discourses by way of deception. If thy Lord had so planned, they would not have done it: so leave them and their inventions alone.

[khanbaba]

http://www.albalagh.net/general/rajab.shtml

[aboosait]

http://www.albalagh.net/general/rajab.shtml

Jazakallahu Khair.

[Al Qadr]

:smack: Forgot about this thread...