The month of Rajab has a special status because it is one of the sacred months. Allaah says: "O you who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of AIlaah, nor of the Sacred Month ... " (Q5[Maaidah]:2). This means: do not violate their sanctity which Allaah has commanded you to respect and forbidden you to violate. Allaah says: "so wrong not yourselves therein ... " (Q9[Tawbah]:36) meaning that we must avoid committing sins out of respect for their sanctity, for sins committed in the sacred months are weightier in gravity. Fighting Is Forbidden In Rajab Allaah says: "They ask you concerning fighting in the sacred months. Say: fighting therein is a great (transgression) ...(Q2[Baqarah]:217).
The majority of scholars state that (the prohibition of) fighting in the sacred months is abrogated by the aayah: "Then when the sacred months have passed, then kill the Mushrikeen wherever you find them... " (Q9[Tawbah]:5), and other aayat and reports which are general in application and which include commands to fight them. Others say: it is not permissible to initiate fighting during the sacred months, but it is permissible to continue and conclude fighting, if it started at a different time. The fighting of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) against the people of al-Taaif is interpreted in this way, because the fighting had begun at Hunayn in Shawwaal. The above does not apply to fighting in self-defence. If the enemy attacks the Muslim lands, it is obligatory for the inhabitants to defend themselves, whether that happens during a sacred month or not.
Fasting in Rajab
There is no saheeh report from the Prophet (salallahu alayhi 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, and fasting Siraral-Shahr.
Bidah And Innovations In The Month Of Rajab
Some people have innovated a number of practices in Rajab, including the following:
1. Salaat al-Raghaaib. This prayer is done on the first night of Rajab.
2. Imam Nawawi said it is an innovated bidah to single out Rajab for making Umrah and to believe that doing Umrah in Rajab has a specific virtue.
3. It was reported that the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) was born on the first night of Rajab, and that he received his Mission on the twenty seventh, or twenty-fifth of this month. None of these is correct.
4. Celebrating or marking the night of Israa wa al-Miraj. Moreover, there is no proof that the Israa and Miraaj happened in this month.
5. Salaat Umm Dawood halfway through Rajab.
6. The duaas which are recited specifically during Rajab are all fabrications and innovations.
7. Visiting graves specifically in Rajab is bidah, because graves are to be visited at any time of the year.
RAJAB EVENTS
The first hijra: The first hijra to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) when the trial of the Muslims became severe in Makkah, Allah allowed them migrate to Abyssinia.
Change of Qiblah: For sixteen months after the hijrah, the Muslims performed salaah facing Bayt-al maqdis in Jerusalem. Allah revealed verses to change the Qiblah to the Ka'bah in Makkah. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) performed salaat al-Asr, facing the Qiblah. This event took place in Rajab 2AH.
Assumption of leadership: Yazeed bn Muawiyah bn Abee Sufyaan took over the leadership of the Muslims at the demise of his father Muawiyah in the month of Rajab 60AH.
The demise of nobles Zubayr bn Awwaam: an eminent companion of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) and one of the first entrants into Islaam. He is the husband of the eminent female companion, Asmaa bint Abee Bakr (RA) and father of another companion, Abdullah bn Zubayr bn al Awwaam. He was among the ten directly given glad tidings of Jannah. He died in the month of Rajab. His son Abdullah also died in the month of Rajab.
Najaashi: A Christian king of Ethiopia (Abyssinia) who accepted Islaam. He died this month and the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) led those with him in prayer (salaatul-janaazah) for him on the day in which He died.
Umar bn AbdulAzeez: A pious and learned taab'ee ruled as Ameer al-mu'mineen for two years and five months. He died on Friday 101AH in the month of Rajab at the age of forty.
The Abu Haneefah Nu'maan bn Thaabit Imaam also died in the month of Rajab (150AH).
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited