Rajab (رَجَب) is the seventh month of Islamic
calendar. This month is regarded as one of the four sacred months. It was
reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave his
Farewell Sermon and said: “Time has completed its cycle and is as it was on the
Day when Allaah created the heavens and the earth. The year is twelve months,
of which four are sacred, three consecutive months – Dhoo’l-Qa’dah,
Dhoo’l-Hijjah and Muharram – and the Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumaada
and Sha’baan.” (Al-Bukhari). The Quran mentioned these months
without name. Allah says:
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّـهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّـهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ
“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-Tawba:36).
Ibn `Abbas (may
Allah be pleased with him) said, Allah's statement, (Verily, the number of
months with Allah...), is connected to (so wrong not yourselves therein),
"In all (twelve) months. Allah then chose four out of these months and
made them sacred, emphasizing their sanctity, making sinning in them greater,
in addition to, multiplying rewards of righteous deeds during them.'' Other scholar
said about Allah's statement, (so wrong not yourselves therein),
"Injustice during the Sacred Months is worse and graver than injustice in
other months. Verily, injustice is always wrong, but Allah makes things graver
than others as He will.'' He also said, "Allah has chosen some of His creation
above others. He chose Messengers from angels and from men. He also chose His
Speech above all speech, the Masajid above other areas of the earth, Ramadan
and the Sacred Months above all months, Friday above the other days and
Laylatul-Qadr (The Night of Decree) above all nights. Therefore, sanctify what
Allah has sanctified, for doing so is the practice of people of understanding
and comprehension. As Allah said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُحِلُّوا شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ وَلَا الشَّهْرَ الْحَرَام"”
“O you who believe!
Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of Allah, nor of the Sacred Month,…”
(Al-Maida:2). Meaning, you are required to respect and honor
the Sacred Month and to refrain from what Allah forbade during it, such as
fighting.
Innovation in month of Rajab
Innovation in religion is among the most
dangerous matters that goes against the Quran and Sunnah. The prophet Mohammed
(Peace be upon him) did not die until the religion was perfected. Allah says: “…This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed
My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…” (Al-Maida:3). And the prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Whoever
innovates something in this matter of ours which is not a part of it, will have
it rejected.” (Muslim).
During the month of Rajab, which is one of the sacred months,
some Muslims make some wrong practices through which they intend to come closer
to Allah Almighty and gain His forgiveness, love and pleasure. But they seek
that through acts of worship which He did not permit nor legislate. Many practices
were introduced during this month of Rajab which are not from religion. Such as:
-Umrah: people
single out this month to perform Umrah which has no evidence from the Sunnah. Only
month that the Umrah would have reward is the month of Ramadan because the
prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Umrah during Ramadan equals performing
Hajj with me" (Al-Bukhari).
-Araghaa’ib prayer:
there is no authentic report from the Sunnah that talk about any special prayer
during this month and all narration are fabricated
-fasting: fasting
the month of Rajab is like any other month. The scholars said that there is no
authentic hadith that says that fasting in this month has special virtue.
-Celebrating the night of Mi’raj: there is no authentic report about when the Mi’raj
took place exactly. Singling out this night to perform extra acts of worship
such as night prayer or fasting during the day, or rejoicing and celebrating has no basis in Islam.
A Muslim should perform the act of worship according to the
teaching of the prophet (Peace be upon him) and avoid those act that are innovated
and not prescribed in His Sunnah.
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