اِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُوۡرِ عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ اثۡنَا عَشَرَ شَهۡرًا فِىۡ كِتٰبِ اللّٰهِ يَوۡمَ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضَ مِنۡهَاۤ اَرۡبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ
“Surely, the number of months according to Allah is twelve (as written) in the Book of Allah on the day He created the heavens and the Earth, of which there are Four Sacred Months.” [Surah At-Tawbah, v.36]
Commentary
The Noble Prophet ﷺ explained these months by saying: “Three months are consecutive – Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab.” [Bukhari, 3197]
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas رضى الله عنه is reported to have said, “Allah Ta’ala offered distinction to four months. He has made them sacred and has increased their sacredness. He has made sinning in them more sinful, and good deeds carried out during these months more rewarding.” [Lataiful Ma’arif, pg. 221].
Imam Qatadah (May Allah have mercy on him) said: “Indeed, sinning during these months is more severe than other months, even though sinning, in any case, is transgression.” [Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Tawbah, v.36]
Sayyiduna Anas Ibn Malik رضى الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would recite the following supplication when the Month of Rajab would commence:
اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَناَ فِيْ رَجَب وَشَعْبان وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَان
Allahumma barik lana fi Rajab wa Sha’ban wa balligh-naa Ramadan.
Translation: Oh Allah! Grant us Barakah (Blessing) during (the months of) Rajab and Sha’ban, and allow us to reach Ramadan.
Imam Shafi’i (May Allah have mercy on him) has stated: “I have heard that duas are accepted by Almighty Allah on five nights:
1) The night of Jumu’ah,
2 and 3) The nights of the two ‘Eids,
4) The first night of Rajab,
5) The middle (15th) night of Sha’ban
[Lataiful Ma’arif, pg. 1264; al-Yawaqeet al-Ghaliyah v.2 pg.321]
The month of Rajab is most famous for the miraculous event known as the Night Journey & Ascension of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ to the heavens. In Arabic this is known as Israa wa Mi’raj.
The exact date is unknown. There are various opinions: Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-Thani, Rajab, Ramadhan, Shawwal. [Seeratul-Mustafa, v. 1 pg. 288]
The celebration of the 27th night of Rajab, being a virtuous night, and fasting on the 27th day of Rajab has no basis in the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet ﷺ.
Apart from the regular daily obligatory and sunnah acts of worship, there are no specific acts of worship/ibaadah that are prescribed for the month of Rajab. One may engage in whatever form of ibaadah one is comfortable with.
Significant Historical Events in the month of Rajab
- Rajab 9H – The Battle of Tabuk under the leadership of the Noble Prophet ﷺ.
- During the reign of Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab رضى الله عنه, Damascus was conquered by the Noble Companions. This happened in Rajab 14H/Sept. 635.
- Rajab 15H – Battle of Yarmouk. This was a decisive battle in which the Muslim army of 30,000 under the command of Sayyiduna Khalid bin Waleed رضى الله عنه defeated the mighty Byzantine army of 100,000. After this loss, Heraclius lost all hope of resisting and, along with his generals, left the land of Sham.
- Salahuddin entered Jerusalem on Rajab, 27, 583H/Oct. 2, 1187.
By Mawlana Mushtaq Shaikh