By Asma bint Shameem
Misconception #1:
Starting the month with a particular duaa
There’s a misconception that we should start the month of Rajab with a particular duaa:
" اللهم بارك لنا في رجب وشعبان و بلغنا رمضان ."
“O Allaah, bless us in Rajab and Sha‘baan, and let us reach Ramadan”.
However, this hadeeth is WEAK.
And a weak hadeeth means that it’s highly doubtful that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam ever said that or did that or approved of that.
Misconception #2:
Making a specific kind of Istighfaar for a specific number of times in this month
The ‘hadeeth’ often quoted is:
“Whoever says in Rajab ‘I ask Allah for forgiveness, there is no God but He alone, with no partner or associate, and I repent to Him’ one hundred times, and ends it with charity, Allah will decree for him mercy and forgiveness....”
And the so-called hadeeth goes on further.
However this hadeeth is FABRICATED.
It’s MADE UP.
It’s simply NOT true.
There is NO EVIDENCE from the Qur'aan or the Saheeh ahaadeeth of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wa Sallam to prove that.
Yes, obviously it is good to make taubah and istighfaar ALL the time throughout the year.
But to think that this month has some special rewards for those making istighfaar, then that is doing something that has no proof from the authentic sources.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wa Sallam) said:
"Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected." (al-Bukhaari)
Misconception #3:
Thinking that fasting this month has special virtue.
Again singling out this month for fasting, thinking that there's some special reward or merit is NOT according to the Sharee'ah that our beloved Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wa Sallam) brought and it is introducing something in the deen.
Ibn Taimiyyah said:
“As for fasting in Rajab in particular, the ahaadeeth concerning that are all weak, and in fact fabricated. The scholars do not rely on any of them.” [Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (25/290)]
Generally speaking, fasting is good. But to think that fasting specifically in Rajab has some special value is WRONG.
Misconception #4:
Performing umrah this month
Some might tell you that performing Umrah in the month of Rajab has special rewards.
Again that's NOT CORRECT.
There is no reason for someone to specifically pick out Rajab to perform Umrah because there's NO SPECIAL VIRTUE of doing that.
Misconception #5:
Special Prayers
Some people pray a special prayer called “Salaat al-Raghaa’ib” on the night of the first Friday in Rajab, between Maghrib and ‘Ishaa.
Again, there’s no basis for this prayer in the Sharee’ah.
Imaam an-Nawawi said:
“The prayer which is known as salaat al-raghaa’ib... and praying one hundred rak’ahs on the night of Nusf Sha’baan (halfway through Sha’baan) are both reprehensible innovations.May Allaah CURSE the one who fabricated and introduced that, for it is a reprehensible innovation, one of the innovations which constitute misguidance and ignorance, and it involves obvious evils.”
(al-Majmoo’ (3/548) and Sharh Muslim)
Subhaan Allaah!
Allaah’s CURSE!
Some VERY STRONG words for people to ponder over!
Misconception #6:
Doing Koonday
Some people prepare special food and sweets in the month of Rajab and recite some verses and prayers on them. They then, invite friends, neighbors and relatives to eat this, and even distribute it among them, thinking there’s some special rewards for doing so.
This is ALSO an INNOVATION in the Deen based on a fabricated story and is something that’s NOT PROVEN from the Sunnah of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam or his Sahaabah.
Remember the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
“EVERY innovation is going astray”
Misconception #7:
Visiting graves
Many people visit graves specifically in Rajab, under the impression that it’s good to do so in this month.
There’s no Aayah of the Qur’aan nor is there any authentic hadeeth of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam that proves that to be correct.
More misconceptions:
There are other misconceptions associated with this month, such as wearing special rings of silver to bring them ‘luck’ and other superstitions.
However NONE of these are TRUE.
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“There is NO SAHEEH HADEETH that speaks of the virtues of Rajab.
The month of Rajab is NO DIFFERENT from the month of Jumaada al-Aakhirah that comes before it, except that it is one of the sacred months only.
Otherwise there is no fast that is prescribed in this month, and no prayer or ‘umrah or anything else that is prescribed.
* IT IS LIKE ALL OTHER MONTHS*.”
[Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh (174/26)]
QUESTION?
What about al-Israa' wal Mai'raaj?
Yes for sure, Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala caused the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wa Sallam to travel from Masjid al-Haraam to Masjid al-Aqsa and then to the Heavens on the night of al-Israa' wal Mi'raaj.
That is definitely true and a part of our Imaan.
However, there’s NO PROOF that the Prophet sal Allah alayhi wa sallam EVER specifically worshipped Allaah on the night of al-Israa' wal Mi'raaj, or fasted the next day.
He did NOT PRACTICE that.
And he did NOT TEACH that.
There are NO SPECIAL PRAYERS on the night of the 27th and NO FASTING on that day.
Surely the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) did not omit or forget anything in the deen.
Surely he did not hide anything from mankind.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) said,
"There is nothing that brings you closer to Jannah except that I have informed you about it and there is nothing that brings you closer to the fire of Hell except that I have warned you against it."
(at-Tabaraani--Saheeh)
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim said:
“Every hadeeth which mentions fasting in Rajab and praying during some of its nights is FALSE and FABRICATED.” (al-Manaar al-Muneef, p. 96)
Exact date unknown!
Besides, it’s not even sure about the exact date or even the exact month in which al-Israa' wal Mai'raaj took place.
There’s NO authentic PROOF to DEFINITELY say that this took place on the 27th of Rajab.
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz said:
"With regard to this night on which the Isra' and Mi'raaj took place, there is NOTHING in the saheeh ahaadeeth to indicate that it is in Rajab or in any other month.
Everything that has been narrated concerning a specific date for these events CAN NOT BE PROVEN to have come from the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) according to the scholars of hadeeth...."
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen says:
"Fasting on the twenty-seventh of Rajab and spending that night in prayer is a bid'ah (innovation), and every bid'ah is a going astray." (Majmoo' Fataawa , 20/440)
Then why is Rajab considered a ‘sacred’ month?
Yes it’s true that Rajab is one of the four ‘sacred’months.
The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam 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 Mudar which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.”
(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)
However, being called ‘sacred’ does NOT mean that there are any special acts of ibaadah to be done that month.
Rather, being ‘sacred’ means:
1. Fighting in one of the sacred months is forbidden unless initiated by the other side.
2. Sinning is of a greater weight in these months than sinning at other times.
That’s because Allaah says:
“wrong not yourselves therein” (Surah al-Tawbah 9:36)
Of course, we shouldn’t be sinning AT ALL.
But disobedience to Allaah in the sacred months is MUCH WORSE in these four sacred months, than disobedience at other times.
ALL the more reason we should stay away from all these innovations and misconceptions in the month of Rajab.
May Allaah guide us to CORRECT knowledge and protect us always from all sins and all bid’ah. Ameen.
And Allaah knows best.
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