Rajab, One of the Sacred Months (Al-Ashhur-Al-Hurum)

Illustration by AA Sumadri
Illustration by AA Sumadri

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad Shalallahu ‘alaihi wasallam and upon all his Family and Companions.

Rajab is the seventh month in the Islamic lunar calendar. This month is regarded as one of the sacred months (Al-Ashhur-al-hurum) in which battles were prohibited in the days of the Holy Prophet .

“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein” [at-Tawbah 9:36]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months, Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab.( Al-Bukhari and Muslim ).

There is a considerable disagreement among people about this month of Rajab. Some people claim that there is special virtue in fasting in Rajab during the day, while others say that there is special virtue in praying during this month in the late of the night.

However, as this month is one of the sacred months, we should increase our ibadah, our deeds to prepare the month of Ramadhan, in which Qur’an was revealed as a guidance for mankind, as well as a clarification and differentiation between truth and falsehood.

Some of hadith that they said about fasting during Rajab are da’eef (weak), so why not we fast as Rasulullah Shalallahu ‘alaihi wasallam did it in every month; such as fast Monday and Thursday, fasting 3 days in the middle of every month (13, 14, 15 each month Hijriah), fasting of sayidina Dawood (fasting every other day/ one day fasting next day not and so forth), as is confirmed in the authentic hadith, related by Bukhari and Muslim, and gain maximum benefit of this month of Rajab.

It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was keen to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 745; al-Nasaa’i, 2361; Ibn Maajah, 1739; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1044).

The following hadiths encourage fasting on three days of each month: It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “My close friend [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)] advised me to do three things which I will not give up until I die: fasting three days of each month, praying Duha, and sleeping after Witr. (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1124; Muslim, 721)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah said, ‘All the deeds of Adam’s sons (human beings) are for them, except fasting, which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

May Allah lead us in His path to gain rewards in this sacred month by fasting, do good things, collect the deeds which help us to get closer to Allah, the greatest of Allah.

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