All praise is due to the Rabb of the worlds, and May Allaah exalt the mention on His chosen Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu `alayhe wa sallam), and upon his family, his Companions, and those who truly follow them until the Day of Judgment.
Allaah has commanded us to give special attention to the sanctity of these four months (Dhul-Qadah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab), and refrain from committing sins in them and not to violate the laws of Allaah, upon us is to respect and honor the sacred months. However, we find numerous innovations widespread among the general masses especially with regards to the month of Rajab.
Aayesha (radi allaahu anha) reported : the Messenger of (sallallaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said : "Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours [i.e., Islam] that is not a part of it, will have it rejected." (Related by both Imaam Al-Bukhari & Imaam Muslim) In another narration "Whoever does an action which is not a part of this matter of ours will have it rejected." (Related by Imaam Muslim)
The various innovations which are common in this sacred month of Rajab :
- Celebrating Prophet's Night Journey (Isra' and Mi'raaj)
- Kunday (Preparing & Distributing kheer puri)
- Performing Salaat al-Raghaaib
- Observing Voluntary Fast
- Visiting Graves
- Frequently Performing Umrah
Now, let us examine the reality of the above practices.
1. Celebrating Prophet's Night Journey (Isra' and Mi'raaj)
This innovation takes place during the twenty-seventh night of Rajab with extra acts of worship such as Qiyaam al-Layl (voluntary night prayer). In some celebrations you will also find haram (forbidden) acts such as mixing of men and women, singing and music. It is a fact that there is no authentic proof that the Isra' and Mi'raaj happened on this date according to many great scholars, Further, even if it were proven, there is no excuse for holding celebrations on this date, because nothing of the kind has been reported from the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhe wa sallam) or from his companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, or from any of the Salaf (early generations) of this Ummah. If it were a good thing, they would surely have done it before us.
2. Konday (Preparing & Distributing kheer puri)
Distributing special type of Sweets among friends, neighbors and relatives after reciting some verses and prayers on them. This practice is very common in Indian subcontinent, based on a fabricated story which as no base in the deen of Allaah.
3. Salaat al-Raghaaib
This prayer has been introduced in the month of Rajab, done on the night of the first Friday in Rajab, between Maghrib and 'Isha', and is preceded by fasting on the first Thursday of Rajab. Salaat al-raghaaib was first introduced 480 AH. There is no authentic report that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhe wa sallam) did it, or any of his companions, or any of the best generations or Imaams. This alone is sufficient to prove that it is a reprehensible innovation.
The scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah have warned against it and pointed out that it is innovation and misguidance.
Imaam Ibn al-Haaj (rahim'ullaah) said in al-Madkhal (1/294) "Among the innovations that have been introduced in this noble month (i.e., Rajab) is that on the night of the first Friday thereof, they pray Salaat al-Raghaa'ib in the mosques, and they gather in some mosques and do this innovation openly in the mosques with an imam and congregation, as if it is a prescribed prayer… the view of Imaam Maalik (rahim'ullaah) is that it is makrooh to do this prayer, because it was not done by those who came before, and all goodness is to be found in following them (may Allaah be pleased with them). End quote.
Imaam Al-Nawawi (rahim'ullaah) said in al-Majmoo' (3/548) "The prayer which is known as Salaat al-Raghaaib, which is twelve rakahs that are offered between Maghrib and 'Isha' on the night of the first Friday in Rajab, and praying one hundred rakahs on the night of Nusf Shabaan (halfway through Islamic month Shabaan) are both reprehensible innovations. No one should be deceived by the fact that they are mentioned in Qoot al-Quloob and Ihya' 'Uloom al-Deen, or by the hadeeth which is quoted in these two books, because all of that is false. No one should be deceived by some of those Imaams who were confused about the ruling on these prayers and wrote essays stating that they are mustahabb (recommended), for they are mistaken in that. Imaam Abu Muhammad 'Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Isma'eel al-Maqdisi wrote a valuable book showing that they are false, and he did well in that, may Allaah have mercy on him". End quote.
4. Observing Voluntary Fast
There is no saheeh (authentic) report from the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhe wa sallam) or from the Sahaabah to indicate that there is any particular virtue in fasting during Rajab. The fasting that is prescribed in Rajab is the same as that prescribed in other months, namely fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, and the three days of al-Beed, fasting alternate days.
Umar (radi allaah anhu) used to forbid fasting in Rajab because it involved resemblance to the Jaahiliyyah (Ignorance). It was reported that Kharashah Ibn al-Harr said : I saw Umar (radi allaah anhu) 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. refer : al-Irwaa', 957; Shaykh Albaani (rahim'ullaah) said : it is saheeh
Haafiz Ibn Hajar (rahim'ullaah) said : "No saheeh hadith 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 Ismaaeel al-Harawi al-Haafiz has already stated this before me, and we have narrated this from others also." refer : tabayyun al-Ajab bimaa wurida fi fadl rajab
5. Visiting graves
Many people visit graves specially in Rajab, with the belief that it brings goodness to those there in and it's an act of greater reward, but there is absolutely nothing in Shar'iah (Islamic Law) that recommends such an act, and doing so does not entail any reward better than that entailed by visiting graves on any other ordinary day.
6. Performing Frequent Umrah
There is no report to prove that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhe wa sallam) performed Umrah in Rajab, rather that was denied by Aayesha (radi allaahu anha), who said :" The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhe wa sallam) never performed Umrah in Rajab" Narrated in Bukhaari, 1776; Muslim, 1255
Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Ibraaheem (rahim'ullaah) said in his Fataawaa : "As for singling out some of the days of Rajab for any kind of good deed, ziyaarah (visiting the House of Allaah, the Kabah) or anything else, there is no basis for this, because Imaam Abu Shaamah stated in his book al-Bida wa'l-Hawaadith : specifying acts of worship at times that were not specified by Shar'iah is wrong; no time is to be regarded as better than any other except in cases where the Shar'iah gave preference to a certain act of worship at a certain time, or stated that any good deed done at this time is better than good deeds done at other times. Hence the scholars denounced the practice of singling out the month of Rajab for doing Umrah frequently."
We ask Allaah to protect us from all types of innovations and make us amongst those who correctly follow the Sunnah of Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu `alayhe wa sallam).
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