The Sacred month
Allah states in the Quran, ‘Indeed the number of months before Allah is twelve – in the Book of Allah – since the day He created the heavens and the earth, of which four are sacred…’ (9:36)
The 4 sacred months are:
Rajab
Dhu al-Qa’dah
Dhu al-Hijjah
Muharram
Note: The scholars of Quranic Exegesis are agreed on these four months.
The Month of Allah
In the commentary of this verse Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi brings the following narrations wherein this month has been titled; the month of Allah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, ‘Which fasting is superior? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, ‘The most superior fasting after the fasts of Ramadan are the fasts of the Month of Allah; Rajab’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also stated, ‘Whoever fasts a day from the sacred months, each day of fasting is equivalent to thirty’
Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi also answers a common objection of holding these months in superiority over other months and times. He replies with the following:
Do you not see that Allah distinguishes the sacred lands (Makkah and Madinah) over all other lands with great sacredness. And Allah distinguishes Friday over all other days, and He distinguishes the day of Arafah (9th of Dhu al-Hijjah) over all other days for worship and He distinguishes Ramadan over all other months for the obligation of fasting, and He distinguishes certain times in the day for prayer over others, and He distinguishes some nights over others like the night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr)…
Qatadah said, ‘Good actions in the sacred months are given more reward…’
Rajab is the month of Allah (Al-Nihayah)
It is narrated from Hassan Al-Basri in a weak chain:
Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha’ban is my month (referring to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ) and Ramadan is the month of my nation.
The word ‘Rajab’ means to honour in the Arabic language.
The virtues of Rajab and its fasting
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say the following when Rajab would begin, ‘O Allah! Bless us in Rajab and Sha’ban and allow us to reach Ramadan’ (Bayhaqi and Ibn Asakir on the authority of Anas b. Malik) Rajab is a great month, good deeds are multiplied therein. Whoever fasts a day from this month, it is as if he has fasted for the year. (Tabarani)
Note: The above narration is weak, however accepted for the virtue of actions, as is the position of the hadith scholars.
Abdullah b. Abbas narrates from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said, ‘Fasting on the first day of Rajab is an expiation for three years of sins, fasting on the second day is an expiation for two years of sins and fasting on the third day is an expiation for one year, thereafter each day is an expiation for a month.’ (Fadail al-Rajab)
Note: Major sins require sincere repentance, the conditions of which have been mentioned by Imam Nawawi in Riyadh al-Salihin.
Anas b. Malik narrates from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, He said, ‘There is a river in paradise called Rajab. It’s drink is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. Allah will quench the thirst of the one who fasts in rajab by it. (Bayhaqi, Ibn Hibban)
Note: In a narration of Ibn Maja the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited the fasting of Rajab, this has been explained by Mulla Ali Qari to mean, ‘To necessitate its fasting just as it was done in the days of ignorance’
References
Al-Quran al-Karim
Mafatih al-Gayb, Fakhr al-Din al-Razi
Ma Thabata Min Sunnah, Shah Abdul Haq al-Dehalwi
Al-Adab fi al-Rajab, Mullah Ali Al-Qari
23/01/2023
1st of Rajab 1444AH
Muhammad