The Virtues of Rajab and Certain Misconceptions

As-Salaam 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh. Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah When the month of Rajab comes upon us, we begin to feel the closeness of the blessed month of Ramadan. This feeling which we are accustomed to for the sacred month of Rajab is so real and widespread. In some places in Nigeria, the month has become popularly known as Month of Fasting for the elderly. The Yorubas called it “Awe Arugbo”. Many people fast the entire month of Rajab or half of it. The elderly and able make it a point of duty to fast.

As we know the sacred months are: Rajab, Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram. This is based on the saheed hadith ( Al-Bukhaari, 4662 and Muslim, 1679) and Quranic verse given below.

The scholars comment that these months are called sacred for two reasons:

1. Because fighting therein is forbidden unless initiated by the enemy 2. Because transgression of the sacred limits therein is worse than at other times. The Virtues of Rajab and Certain Misconceptions

Hence Allaah has forbidden us to commit sins during these months, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And

fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him]. [al-Tawbah 9:36]

The emphasis is “so do not wrong yourselves during them”. Scholars have unanimously agreed that committing sins is haraam and forbidden during these months and at other times, but in these months it is more forbidden.

The great scholars of Islam have also commented that practice of singling out fasting the month of Rajab cannot be authentically traced to the prophet. There is no saheeh hadeeth to indicate that there is any special virtue in fasting all or part of this month.

Some of the Shuyukh (i.e. plural of Sheikh) that commented on this misconception of fasting Rajab like we do in Ramadan include Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar, Shaykh Sayyid Saabiq and Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on all of them). They all agreed that the ahadith quoted by the advocates of holding the month of Rajab as a month of special fasting are weak and mostly fabricated. Sheikh bin Uthaymeen commented when asked about it that “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.”

So brothers and sisters in Islam, let us remain guided and stay within the limit of Allah and His Rosul with regards to the fasting of the month of Rajab. However, it is correct to say as advised by scholars that those who are given to monthly fasting can do so in this month of Rajab, just as they fast in the other months. May Allah Ta’ala accept our fasting and all our Ibadah. We also seek Allah guidance in doing away with sins especially in these sacred months. Ameen.

Subhanakal lahomma wabihamdik. Ash-hado alla-ilaha-illa ant. Astaghfiroka w'atoobo-ilayk.

Glory be to You, Oh Allah, and all praise! I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and to You, I do repent.