Rajab
Rajab is the seventh month of the Islāmic Calendar. It holds special significance as one of the “four sacred months”. As Rajab precedes Shaʿban, which is followed by Ramaḍān, it is seen as a prelude to the month of Ramaḍān. It is thus reported that when the Prophet ﷺ sighted the moon of Rajab, he would recite the following duʿāʾ:
O Allāh! Grant us blessing in Rajab and Shaʿbān & let us reach Ramaḍān. (Musnad al-Bazzār, 6496)
While Rajab is meritorious, no specific ʿibādah (worship) or celebration has been prescribed for this month in the Sharīʿah.
It is commonly believed that the Isrā’ & Miʿrāj occurred during this month. Some people single out the night of the 27th of Rajab for commemoration and special worship, believing it to be the anniversary of the Isrā’ & Miʿrāj.
However, neither is it proven that the event occurred on this date, nor does marking its anniversary have any basis in the words and practice of the Prophet ﷺ & his companions. Imām Taqī al-Dīn al-Subkī raḥimahullāh thus noted that the act of “reviving the twenty-seventh night of Rajab” is “bid‘ah (innovation) and ignorance.” (al-Sayf al-Maslūl, p. 492)
There are also other innovated practices that are performed in this month, such as “Ṣalāh al-Raghāʾib”. All such baseless innovations must be avoided.
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