by Asma bint Shameem
Alhamdulillaah, the month of Rajab is upon us.
The seventh month of the Islaamic lunar calendar, Rajab is one of the ‘sacred’ months.
Rajab, Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram are called “sacred months” because Allaah Himself calls them so.
🍃He 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.
That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein”
[al-Tawbah 9:36]
How do we know which four months are these sacred months?
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam told us so in his Final Sermon at Hajj.
🍃He 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 and Sha’baan.”
(al-Bukhaari)
🔺So what does “SACRED” mean?
‘Sacred’ means that:
1. Fighting in these months is forbidden unless initiated by the enemy.
2. Sinning and doing bad deeds is WORSE in these months than at other times.
That’s because Allaah uses the words:
“wrong not yourselves therein”
[al-Tawbah 9:36]
As it is, being involved in sin and disobedience is a very GRAVE issue.
But doing bad deeds and committing sins in these sacred months is especially WORSE in the sight of Allaah, than in other months because these months are sacred.
And the month of Rajab is one of them.
🍃Ibn ‘Abbaas said about the Aayah: “so wrong not yourselves therein” [Soorat at-Tawbah 9:36]:
“(The command not to wrong yourself) applies in ALL months, then Allaah singled out four months and made them sacred, and emphasised their sanctity, and He made sin during these months more grave.”
🍃 Ibn Rajab said that some scholars regarded Rajab as the MOST sacred of ALL the months.” (Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif)
So be CAREFUL NOT TO SIN, especially in this month.
🌷Rajab is “PREPARATION”
The month of Rajab is actually a “preparation” for the great and phenomenal month coming up soon In Shaa’ Allaah, the Blessed Month of Ramadhaan.
🍃Abu Bakr Al-Balkhi said:
“Rajab is a month of planting seeds,
Sha’baan is the month of irrigation and Ramadhaan is the month of harvest.”
🍃 He also said:
“The likeness of the month of Rajab is that of the wind, the likeness of Sha’baan is that of the clouds and the likeness of Ramadhaan is that of the rain; whoever does not plant and sow in Rajab, and does not irrigate in Sha’baan, how can he reap in Ramadaan?
Now Rajab has passed, so what will you do in Sha’baan if you are seeking Ramadhaan?
This is how your Prophet and the early generations of the ummah were in this blessed month, so what will you do?” (Latā’if al-Ma’ārif)
So we should be preparing for the upcoming blessed month of Ramadhaan now and getting ready, mentally and spiritually, by taking account of ourselves, making sincere Taubah, and planning and anticipating the month of repentance, forgiveness and ibaadah.
🔺Important Note:
Just because a month is sacred does NOT mean that we need to do extra ibaadaat or any special duaas or fasts.
There are NO SPECIAL ibaadaat for the month of Rajab that are proven from the authentic practice or teachings of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam.
All the ahaadeeth about EXTRA ibaadaat or any SPECIAL FASTING in Rajab, doing any special duaas or adhkaar or prayers are either WEAK or FABRICATED.
🍃 Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim said:
“Every hadeeth which mentions (special) fasting in Rajab and praying during some of its nights is FALSE and FABRICATED.” (al-Manaar al-Muneef, p. 96)
In fact, Umar Radhi Allaahu anhu used to forbid fasting in Rajab because it involved resemblance to the Jaahiliyyah.
🍃 Kharashah Ibn al-Harr said:
“I saw Umar smacking the hands of those who fasted in Rajab until they reached out for food, and he was saying, This is a month which was venerated in the Jaahiliyyah.” (Al-Irwaa’ 957)
🍃 Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim said:
“The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam did not fast for three consecutive months (i.e., Rajab, Sha’baan and Ramadhaan) as some people do, and he never fasted Rajab at all, nor did he encourage people to fast this month.”
🍃 Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said:
“No saheeh hadeeth that may be used as evidence has been narrated concerning the virtues of the month of Rajab or fasting this month or fasting in any specific part of it, or observing Qiyaam al-Layl specifically during this month. Imaam Abu Ismaa’eel al-Harawi al-Haafiz has already stated this before me, and we have narrated this from others also.”(Tabayyun al-‘Ajab bimaa wurida fi Fadl Rajab)
🍃 Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“There is NO SAHEEH HADEETH that speaks of the virtues of Rajab.
The month of Rajab is NO DIFFERENT from the month of Jumaada al-Aakhirah that comes before it, except that it is one of the sacred months only.
Otherwise there is no fast that is prescribed in this month, and no prayer or ‘umrah or anything else that is prescribed.
IT IS LIKE ALL OTHER MONTHS.”
[Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh (174/26)]
🔺 Conclusion
1.Be EXTRA CAREFUL of sins throughout this sacred month of Rajab.
Train yourself to control your eyes, ears, tongue, and hands.
Watch your actions and your thoughts.
And “prepare” yourself for the upcoming blessed month of Ramadhaan
2.There are no “Special” ibaadaat for the month of Rajab.
But as for the ibaadaat that you do ROUTINELY throughout the year, there’s nothing wrong with continuing that.
And Allaah knows best
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