The month of Rajab arrives as the seventh month of the Islamic lunar year, reminding us of the sanctity of time and the importance of seizing spiritual opportunities. This month, one of the sacred months, carries great virtues and calls upon us to pause and contemplate how to revere it in the best way, far from innovations and superstitions.
The Status of Rajab in Islamic Law: The month of Rajab is one of the sacred months that Allah has specifically mentioned in His Book, saying: “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.” [At-Tawbah 1 9:36]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) clarified these sacred months. Abu Bakrah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, time has returned to its original state as it was on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year is twelve months, four of which are sacred: three consecutive months – Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram – and Rajab Mudar, which comes between Jumada and Sha’ban.” [Agreed upon]
This hadith establishes the status of Rajab as one of the sacred months and emphasizes the importance of revering it. It is called “Rajab Mudar” because the tribe of Mudar was the most zealous of the Arabs in honoring it.
The Wisdom Behind Sanctifying Four Months: There is great wisdom behind sanctifying four months, including:
- Security and Social Peace: One of the most important reasons for prohibiting fighting in these months is to achieve security and peace in society and to provide people with the opportunity to travel, trade, and perform worship safely. The Arabs in the pre-Islamic period used to revere these months and cease fighting, contributing to the stability of the situation. This indicates the importance of security in people’s lives and the necessity of providing a suitable environment for worship and obedience.
- Spiritual and Devotional Preparation: These months serve as a period of spiritual and devotional preparation for worship and obedience. After the conclusion of the Hajj season in Dhul Hijjah, Muharram comes as the beginning of a new year, followed by Rajab as a standalone month that serves as an introduction to the months of Sha’ban and Ramadan. This sequence helps Muslims prepare spiritually and physically for these blessed seasons.
- Exalting the Signs of Allah: Reverencing the sacred months is part of exalting the signs of Allah. Allah says: “That [is the correct religion], and whoever honors the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.” [Al-Hajj 22:32] Therefore, honoring these months indicates the piety of hearts and reverence for Allah.
The Meaning of Reverencing Rajab:
Reverencing the month of Rajab, and the other sacred months, is not achieved through innovated celebrations or specific acts of worship that have no basis in authentic teachings. Rather, it is achieved through the following:
- Abstaining from Sins and Disobedience: Sins committed during these months are greater than in other months, and likewise, good deeds are greater. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, interpreted the verse, “so do not wrong yourselves during them,” as meaning: “in all months, then He singled out four months, making them sacred, and increasing their sanctity, making sin in them greater and righteous deeds and reward greater.”
- Increasing Acts of Worship: Such as prayer, fasting, charity, reciting the Quran, remembrance, seeking forgiveness, and supplication. Diligence in acts of worship during these months is a sign of reverencing them.
- Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness: The month of Rajab is a great opportunity for sincere repentance and returning to Allah, and purifying the heart from sins and disobedience.
Types of Wrongdoing Prohibited in the Sacred Months:
The wrongdoing prohibited in the sacred months includes three main types:
- Wronging Oneself: This includes all sins and disobedience committed by a person, such as lying, backbiting, slandering, drinking alcohol, consuming haram (forbidden) things, and more. A person wrongs themselves by committing these sins, which distance them from Allah and expose them to His punishment.
- Wronging Others: This includes all types of aggression against the rights of others, such as killing, stealing, oppression, tyranny, and violating the honor or property of others. The sacred months emphasize the importance of preserving the rights of others and avoiding their oppression.
- Wronging in a General Sense: This includes everything that contradicts the law, morality, and noble human values, such as vulgar speech, rudeness, and transgressing the limits of etiquette and morals.
Examples from the Prophet’s Biography of Reverencing the Sacred Months:
- The Prophet’s Diligence in Performing Umrah: Some historians mentioned that the Prophet performed Umrah four times, one of which was in the month of Rajab. This indicates the virtue of this month.
- The Prophet’s Emphasis on the Sanctity of Fighting: He used to send messengers and delegations to invite people to Islam during these months safely, which shows the importance of security and peace in these months.
The Relationship Between Rajab, Sha’ban, and Ramadan:
- Rajab: The Key to Goodness: Rajab is considered a key to the months of goodness and blessings, as it prepares the souls to welcome the month of Sha’ban, which in turn is a prelude to the month of Ramadan.
- Sha’ban: The Month of Raising Deeds: Sha’ban is the month in which deeds are raised to Allah. As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “That is a month about which people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which deeds are raised to the Lord of the Worlds, so I love for my deed to be raised while I am fasting.” [An-Nasa’i]
- Ramadan: The Month of the Quran, Standing in Prayer, and Mercy: Ramadan is the month of the Quran, standing in prayer, fasting, mercy, forgiveness, and liberation from the Fire.
Misconceptions About Rajab:
Some people have developed misconceptions about the month of Rajab, including:
- The Specific Prayer of Raghaib: There is no authentic evidence from the Prophet (peace be upon him) or his companions of a specific prayer called the Prayer of Raghaib in the month of Rajab. It is an innovated and rejected prayer.
- The Belief in a Special Virtue for Fasting the Entire Month of Rajab: There is no authentic hadith indicating the virtue of fasting the entire month of Rajab. However, the virtue of fasting in general is established, and it is recommended to increase fasting during the sacred months.
- Celebrating the Night of Isra and Miraj in Rajab: The specific night of Isra and Miraj has not been definitively established, and celebrating it in a particular way has no basis in the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him). It is more appropriate to affirm its occurrence in this month without specifying a particular celebration.
The Correct Approach to Dealing with Rajab:
The correct approach to dealing with Rajab, and the other sacred months, is to follow the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and emulate the pious predecessors. This can be achieved through:
- Exerting oneself in acts of worship in general: without specifying acts of worship that have no basis in authentic teachings.
- Utilizing time in remembering Allah, supplicating to Him, and seeking repentance and forgiveness.
- Avoiding innovations and superstitions and adhering to what has been authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Additional Important Points:
- Focusing on righteous deeds: Regardless of the authenticity of the hadiths regarding the specific virtue of the month of Rajab, righteous deeds at all times are sought after and rewarded. Their reward is even greater during blessed times such as the sacred months. Let us be keen to increase acts of worship and obedience and draw closer to Allah in this month and others.
- Avoiding innovations and newly invented practices: It is important to avoid innovations and newly invented practices that have no basis in the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and to limit oneself to what has been authentically reported of his actions and words. Indeed, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace be upon him).
- Remembering the importance of preparing for Ramadan: The month of Rajab is a great opportunity to remember the importance of preparing for the blessed month of Ramadan through repentance, seeking forgiveness, and renewing one’s intention and determination to obey and worship.
