The Sacred Month of Rajab
Prepared by M.Tahir Farrath([email protected])
Bis-Mil LAAHIR Rohmaanir Rohiim. Al-Hamdu lil-LAAHI
Robbil 'Aalamiin, was Solaatu was Salaamu 'alaa Sayyidinaa Muhammad,
wa 'alaa Aalihii wa Oshaabihii Ajema'iin.
In the Name of ALLAAH, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. All
praise belong to ALLAAH - Lord of all the worlds, and Salutations and Peace be
upon our master Muhammad, and upon his family and all his companions.
Al-Hamdu
lil-LAAH, we saw the start of the Islamic Month of Rajab, and following it,
will be the month of Sha’baan. This is an indication to us that there are less
than two months left before the Blessed month of Romadaan. So, the time has
come for us to finalise our fasting debts, settle our differences, reform and
be dutiful about performing acts of righteousness. It is said that when our
Nabiy Muhammad, Sollal LAAHU ‘alayhi wa Sallam, sighted the moon
of Rajab, he supplicated thus:
ALLAAHUMMA Baarik lanaa fii Rojab wa Sha’baan wa
Ballighnaa Romadaan
“O
ALLAAH, Cause the months of Rajab and Sha’baan to be a blessing for us, and let
us reach the month of Romadaan”.
It
is therefore said that Rajab is the month to sow seeds, Sha'baan is the month
wherein one should water it, and Romadaan is the month to reap and
benefit of its harvest. In this month it is also said that Nabiy Nuuh(A.S.)
sought Protection while in the Ark during the Tremendous Flood and that ALLAAHU
Subehaanahuu wa Ta’aalaa Grants HIS Rohmah (Mercy) and Maghfiroh
(Forgiveness) to the Ummah of Nabiy Muhammad (S.A.W.S.). This is the
month in which the night known as Laylatul Mi'raaj is found, which is the night
of the Heavenly Ascension. And although there are various opinions as to when
the Mi'raaj was, it is generally believed that it took place in this month, for
in it the Solaah became Fard on the Ummah.
The
Islamic months are well established among the Muslim Ummah as calculated in
accordance with the movements of the moon as opposed to the sun. So, before we
proceed with the Israa_ wal Mi’raaj, let us look specifically at the month of
Rajab itself. Rajab being the 7th Islamic month is among the
Ash-Shahrul Hurum, which means that it is one of the four Sacred Months,
for ALLAAH Says:
Inna ‘Iddatash Shuhuuri ‘indal LAAHITH-naa ‘Asharo
Shahron-fii Kitaabil LAAHI Yawma Kholaqos Samaawaati wal Ordo minhaa
Arba’atun Hurum. Thaalikad Diinul Qoyyimu, fa-laa Tadhlimuu
fii-hinna Anfusakum…
“Verily, the
number of months (in a year) with ALLAAH are twelve months, so it was Ordained
by ALLAAH on the Day when HE Created the heavens and the earth; (and) of them
four are Sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…”
(9.Tawbah:36)
As
would be noted that the names of the months are not given, but mentioned by
implication. Nonetheless, the Sacred Months are mentioned in a Hadiith
as reported by Abuu Bakroh, Rodiyal LAAHU ‘anh, who said that when
Rosuulul LAAH (S.A.W.S.) gave the “farewell sermon”, he (also) said:
Az-Zamaanu
qodis-Tadaaro Ka-Hay-atihii Yawma Kholaqol LAAHUS Samaawaati wal Ord.
As-Sanatuth-Naa ‘Asharo Shahron, minhaa Arba’atun Hurumun, Thalaathun
Mutawaaliyaatun: Thul Qo’dati wa Thul Hajjati wal Harromu
wa Rojabu Mudorol Lathii bayna Jumaadaa wa Sha’baan(a)…
“Time has completed its cycle as it was Formed the
Day ALLAAH Created the heavens and the earth. The year has twelve months, of
which four are Sacred, three consecutive months: Thul Qo’dah, Thul
Hijjah and Muharrom and Rojab of Mudor which comes between
Jumaadaa and Sha’baan”.
This
was to re-establish the Sacred Months, which the Arabs during the Jaahiliyyah period (the days of ignorance) changed whether they were in
a state of war or not. This tampering of its order is referred to in Aayah 37
of Suuroh Tawbah as follows:
Innaman
Nasii-u Ziyaadatun-fil Kufri Yudollu bi-hil Lathiina Kafaruu Yuhilluunahuu
‘Aaman-wa Yuharrimuunahuu ‘Aaman-Liyuwaati-uu ‘Iddata maa Harromal
LAAHU fa-Yuhilluu maa Harromal LAAH.
“The postponing
(of a Sacred Month) is indeed an addition to disbelief: thereby the
disbelievers are led astray, for they make it lawful one year and forbid it
another year in order to adjust the number of months Forbidden by ALLAAH, and
make such forbidden ones lawful”.
It
was found that the tribe of Mudor were a people who did not tamper with its
timing, and unlike the rest, they venerated it and respected it so much that
the month was attributed to them. According to commentators, the word Rajab
from it root means to support or strengthen with something, and from the phrase
Rojabetush Shay_ which then means “I venerated it (or the thing)”, it was a
veneration that conformed with the Sharii’ah(Law). But the Arabs during the
Jaahiliyyah period called the month Munassilul Asinnah (the one that causes the
sharp heads of weapons to be taken off). The significance of this was that when
the month of Rajab came, they would remove the metal heads from any spear or
arrow and put it aside. Thus, they also venerated
these Sacred Months, especially the month of Rajab, and would not wage war
during it.
The Sacred Months are specially Sanctified, for
ALLAAH Says:
Yaa Ayyuhal Lathiina Aamanuu Laa Tuhilluu
Sha’aa-irol LAAHI wa Lash Shahrol Haraam(a)…
“O you who believe!
Violate not the sanctity of the Symbols of ALLAAH, nor of the Sacred Month…”
(5.Maa-idah:3)
This means that the believers are not to violate the
sanctity of these months, and in particular the month of Rajab, and this
prohibition includes vile deeds and beliefs in accordance with the already
given Aayah of Suuroh Tawbah wherein ALLAAH Says “fa-laa Tadhlimuu fii-hinna
Anfusakum…(so wrong not yourselves therein…)”.
During
the Jaahiliyyah period, the Arabs used to slaughter a sacrifice during Rajab as
an act of worship towards their gods and idols. It was also a custom of theirs
to find a rock, but should they find a better rock, they would throw the first
one aside and make use of the other. If they could not find a rock, they would
form a pile from dirt, and then milk an ewe over it. Thereafter, they would
perform the Towaaf (circumambulation) around it. With the advent of
Islaam, these were all abolished.
(NB: The Fuqohaa_(jurists)
differed on the rulings of offering sacrifices during Rajab. The majority among
the Hanafiyyah, Maalikiyyah and Hanaabilah state that the
sacrifice of ‘Atiiroh was abrogated. Their evidence is in accordance with a Hadiith
from Abuu Huroyrah(R.A.) as recorded in Bukhaariy and Muslim that the
Nabiy(S.A.W.S.) said:
Laa Faro’a
wa Laa ‘Atiirot(a)
“There
is no Faro’ (sacrifice of a camel’s first born) and no ‘Atiiroh (sacrifice of a
goat)”.
However, the Shaafi’iyyah state
that ‘Atiiroh has not been abrogated, and regard it as Mustahabb(recommended)
and this was also the view of Ibn Siiriin. Furthermore, Ibn Hajar said:
“This is supported by the Hadiith from Nubayshah(R.A.) as recorded in
Abuu Dawuud, an-Nisaa’i, and Ibn Maajah, which is classed as Sohiih
by al-Haakim and Ibn al-Mundhir”. The content of the Hadiith is
as follows:
“A man called out to the Messenger
of ALLAAH (Sollal LAAHU ‘alayhi wa Sallam): We used to offer the
sacrifice of al-‘Atiiroh during the Jaahiliyyah in the month of Rajab. What do
you command us to do? He said, Offer sacrifices, no matter which month is it…”
Ibn Hajar commented
further: “The Messenger of ALLAAH (Sollal LAAHU ‘alayhi wa Sallam) did
not abolish it in principle, but he abolished the idea of making this sacrifice
especially in Rajab”.)
Having
made mention of any sacrificial relevance, there is the celebration of first
day of Rajab and the tradition of performing Solaatur Raghaa-ib(Prayer for
desires), which is said to consist of twelve Roka’aat performed in pairs with
six Salaams, and in each Roka’ah to recite Suurotul Qodr three times followed
by Suurotul Ikhlaas. Most of the ‘Ulamaa_(scholars) hold that this is
based on an unauthentic Hadiith and no importance should be attached to
it.
Except
for a narration stating “Fast during the Sacred Months”, nothing
conclusive could be derived from any Hadiith to show that there is a particular
virtue for fasting during the month of Rajab. Thus, the fasting that may be
performed in this month would be the same as those prescribed for other months,
namely fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, and the three days of al-Biid(white
days i.e. the 13th, 14th and 15th of every
month), fasting alternate days, and fasting Sirorush Shahr. Some “Ulamaa_ say
that Sirorush Shahr refers to the beginning of the month while others refer to
it as the middle or end of the month. However, ‘Umar (R.A.) used to forbid
fasting in Rajab if it resembled the Jaahiliyyah and it was reported that
Kharoshah 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 during the
Jaahiliyyah”.
The
same applies to a person who goes for ‘Umroh(visiting the House of ALLAAH i.e.
the lesser Hajj) during Rajab without the belief that this has any
particular virtue other than it being a coincidence or that it is easier for
him to do so during this month. Similarly, there is also no basis for singling
out certain days of Rajab for specific deeds, supplications, prayers,
celebrations, visiting graves or for anything else.
There
are reports that major events happened in the month of Rajab, such as the
Prophet (S.A.W.S.) being born on the first night of Rajab, and that he received
his Mission on the 25th or 27th of this month. Most of the ‘Ulamaa_ have
considered the reports as weak and not Sohiih(authentic).
These also would not relate with Rosuulul LAAH’s(S.A.W.S.) statement when he
was asked about fasting on Mondays and said:
Fiihi Wulidetu wa fiihi Unzila ‘alayya
“I was born therein and therein Revelation descended
upon me”.
Among
the other things that take place during this month are the distribution of
specially baked bread on the 17th to friends and neighbours after
reciting verses and supplications on them; on the 22nd to distribute
meals in special bowls among people; the recitation of the story of the
Mi’raaj, and celebrating the commemoration of it on the twenty-seventh of Rajab
- some with music and much interminglingg between sexes; or singling out this
night to perform extra acts of worship such as the Qiyaamul Layl(Standing – in
prayer for – the night). Though it might be proven that the Israa_ and Mi’raaj
occurred on this date, there is no record of any rejoicing for this day.
However, Imaam Nawawiy and Imaam Raafi'iy have stated that the Mi’raaj took place on the 27th. So, whosoever decides to do a perceived righteous act, then let him seek its reward from ALLAAH, but indeed such a perceived act will appear to have no merit if
done collectively - and ALLAAH Knows Best!
We therefore make
Du’aa_(supplication) as our Nabiy Muhammad(S.A,W.S.) did as follows:
ALLAAHUMMA Baarik lanaa fii Rojab wa Sha’baan wa
Ballighnaa Romadaan
“O
ALLAAH, Cause the months of Rajab and Sha’baan to be a blessing for us, and let
us reach the month of Romadaan”.
Aamiin
!!