Fasting the month of Rajab

Question:
I'm in Cote d'Ivoire and people are fasting for the month of Rajab. Is it a true Ibadaat or a Bid'ah? Please answer with any helpful information to get the right position.
Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  is His slave and Messenger.

There is disagreement among scholars concerning fasting the month of Rajab. Some scholars believe it is desirable to fast the month of Rajab for the following:

A) General arousal of an interest in fast. This, in fact, is a comprehensive rule with so many proofs.

B) Special arousal of an interest in fasting the sacred months, i.e. Rajab, Thul Qi'dah, Thul Hijjah and Muharram. In addition to that, the majority of Muslim scholars believe that is recommendable to fast those months, especially Rajab. They based their opinion on the following Ahadeeth.

1) Mujeebah al-Baahili reported from his father (or uncle)  that the Prophet  told him: "Fast during the sacred months and leave (fasting), fast during the sacred months and leave" [Ahmad and Abu Dawood and the words of this Hadeeth are of Abu Dawood's narration.]

2) From Usaamah Ibn Zaid  who said: "O Allaah's Messenger! I never find you fasting in any month like you do during the month of Sha'baan'. The Prophet  said: "That is a month the people neglect. It comes between Rajab and Ramadhaan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting"[Ahmad and al-Nasaa'i].

ash-Shawkaani  said: 'As for the apparent meaning of words; Sha'baan is a month the people (the Prophet’s companions) neglect. It is between Rajab and Ramadhaan; they mean that it is desirable to fast Rajab since it appears that the Prophet’s companions honor Sha'baan with fasting as they honor Ramadhaan and Rajab (with fasting). It is also possible that those words mean that the Prophet’s companions  honor Sha'baan with fasting as they honor Rajab with sacrifices, since it was a habit of people before Islam to honor it with sacrifices as proven in the Sunnah. But, we think the first opinion is more correct. And Islam effaced the habits and traces of the pre-Islamic period. But, the goal is to state the legality of fasting Rajab from the general and special points of view. In general, there are many Ahadeeth that urge Muslims to fast during the sacred months, and Rajab is one of them. And there are many Ahadeeth concerning legality of unfixed fasts.'

Then, ash-Shawkaani  mentioned some Ahadeeth concerning excellence of fasting Rajab as recorded by al-Tabaraani, al-Baihaqi, Abu Nu'aim and Ibn 'Asaakir .

He added: 'as-Subki  related from Muhammad Ibn Mansoor al-Sam'aani  who said that 'There is no strong narration in the Sunnah concerning desirability of fasting Rajab. Then, all narrations that were related in this matter were weak. According to a narration of Ibn Abi Shaibah that Umar  used to beat the hands of people to put them in bowls and say: 'Eat! It is a month that was honored before Islam.' Another narration by Ibn Abi Shaibah from Zaid Ibn Aslam  who said: 'Allaah's Messenger  was asked about the fasting of Rajab and he said: "Why don't you fast in Sha'baan?" Another narration from Ibn 'Umar  indicates that it is disliked to fast Rajab.

ash-Shawkaani  added: 'It is clear that if special narrations do not constitute a proof to the desirability of fasting during Rajab, general narrations constitute such an evidence, since there is no proof that makes fasting disliked. As for Abu Dawood's narration from Ibn 'Abbaas  that the Prophet Interdicted fasting Rajab.  We state that this narration is weak. Here, we state that al-'Iz Ibn 'Abd-us-Salaam  dispraised those who prevented people from fasting the month of Rajab as cited from him by Ibn Hajar al-Haitami .'

However, some scholars believe that it is disliked to fast during the month of Rajab and al-Hanabila are among them depending on the above-mentioned narration of the Hadeeth of Ibn 'Abbaas  about 'Umar  asking people to eat and stop fasting in that month. Imaam Ibn Qudaamah  said: 'It is disliked to single out Rajab with fasting.' 

As for fasting the sacred months, al-Hanaabilah agreed the majority concerning the desirability of fasting during these months. Then, al-Hanaabilah believe if a person leaves fasting one day of Rajab, then the reprehensibility of its fasting is vanished. al-Mirdaawi, may Allah's Mercy be upon him, said: 'It is disliked to single out Rajab with fasting. This is the opinion of Hanbali school, and it is one of the school's issues that are not agreed upon with others.' Then he added: 'We understand from the words of the compiler that it is not disliked to single out any other month except Rajab with fasting, and this is right and there is no disagreement on this point. In other words, reprehensibility is vanished by breaking the fast during Rajab even for one day or by fasting another month of the year.' 

Thus, it becomes clear that fasting the month of Rajab is a controversial issue among scholars of Islam and it is not permissible to use it as a reason to produce discord and disputation among Muslims. So, a person can follow the opinion of the majority or the opinion of Hanaabilah. But, fasting some days of Rajab is desirable in the opinion of all scholars without difference and it is not an innovation.

At last, we believe that the opinion of the majority is the dominant one.

Allaah knows best. 

Rajab and Its Importance

The planet earth is created by the Almighty Allah, yet some land, some places are more sacred than others. Offering prayers at Haram Sharif in Makka-e-Muazzamaa and Madina Munawara carry more virtues than offering prayers at other places.

In the same manner some months are more sacred than others. One such sacred month is the month of Rajab.

The first night of Rajab (when moon is sighted) is among the sacred nights in which the supplications are accepted. Hazrat Ibna Soolki (Allah’s Mercy be on him) pleaded to Allah that He may die on the first night of Rajab.

Paradise is the reward for the one who fasts on the Navchandi Thursday (the first Thursday that comes after moon is sighted). This is said by Allah’s Messenger and is recorded in Kitabul Barkaat.

Observe just one fast in the month of Rajab, and guess how much virtue you can get for that one fast. Allah’s Messenger says, “The one who observes one fast in rajab it is as if one has fasted for forty years.”

Allah’s Messenger says, “In Paradise there is a canal named Rajab. Its water is whiter than milk, cooler than ice and sweeter than honey. The one who observes even a single fast in Rajab, he/she will be entitled to drink its water.”

Here is a tradition reported By Hazrat Abu Darda (Allah be pleased with him). Allah’s Messenger says, “The one who observes a fast in Rajab, it is as if he/she has observed fast for the whole life and remained busy in nights worshipping the Almighty Allah.”

Once a companion, Hazrat Sobaan (Allah be pleased with him) was with Allah’s Messenger. They came across a few graves. Allah’s Messenger became sad and said, “Sobaan, people buried here are punished. I prayed to Allah to curtail their punishment, Had they observed a single fast in Rajab and remained awake for just one night worshipping, they would have been saved from this punishment in their graves.” The companion asked, “Fasting only for a day and remaining awake busy worshipping would have saved them?”

He replied, “Yes,. I sear upon the one in whose hand my soul is, there is no Muslim man or woman who if observes just one fast in Rajab and remains busy worshipping the Almighty Allah for just one night, He writes a year’s worshipping in his/her book of deeds.” A year’s worshipping in the manner that a person observed fasts all throughout the year and remained busy worshipping the Almighty Allah all throughout the night.

Dear readers, such is the blessing of Rajab. Grab it and earn virtues.

A companion Hazrat Azizuddin Bin Abdussalam (Allah be pleased with him) says, “That person is ignorant who stops another from fasting in the month of Rajab.”

A man came to Allah’s Messenger and said, “I am weak and unable to observe fasts for the whole month of Rajab. What should I do?” He replied, “Fast on the first day, fifteenth day and the last day of Rajab. You will get virtues of fasting for the whole month.”

If a person is not in a position of observing fast in Rajab, is there a way out for him/her to earn virtues? Of course, there is. Allah’s Messenger answered, “If a person is unable to observe fast in Rajab, then he should give a roti (bread) in charity (Khairat) every day.”

Again someone raised a question, “What one should do if one is not in a position to offer even that much. He replied, “Here is a supplication. Recite it every day.”

SUB-HAA-NA MAN LAA YAM-DA-GIT-TAS-BEE-HI IL-LAA LA-HU SUB-HAA-NAL A-AZ-ZUL AK-RAM MAN LAI-SAL IZ-ZA WA HU-WA LA-HU AH-LU

  Allah’s Messenger says, “One the first night of Rajab, the Almighty Allah looks at my people and pardons the sinners, gives rewards to those who offer repentance (taubaa) and allows His nearness to those who do His remembrance. The on ewho observes fasts for the whole month of Rajab is called by the Almighty Allah and He declares, “O My servant, you have a right over me. Ask whatever you want. I swearupon me. Ask whatever you want. I swear upon My Honour and Glory that I will not reject your plea. You will get a place beneath My (Divine) Throne and you are My loved one among all my creations. You deserve respect and there is no curtain between you and Me.”

Companion Hazrat Abu Saeed (Allah be pleased with him) says, “I visited Allah’s Messenger on the first day of Rajab. He asked me, ‘Which is the most blessed and virtuous day? I said that I did not know. Allah’s Messenger said, ‘Hazrat Jibreel (Peace be on him) came to me and said, “On the first night of Rajab, the Almighty Allah Commands an angle calls out and the angel calls out ‘The moon of the month of repentance is sighted. Good news for those who appeal to Allah for being forgiven’.”

Allah’s Messenger says, “The distance between Hell and the one who fasts on the first day of Rajab is as much as the distance between the earth and the sky.”

Wouldn’t you like to keep yourself away from Hell?”

It is reported by Hazrat Ibne Mas’ood, Allah’s Messenger says, “The one who fasts for three days in Rajab and remains awake for three days in Rajab and remains awake for three nights worshipping Allah, it is as if he has fasted for three thousand ears and remained awake busy worshipping for three thousand years. His seventy major sins are forgiven (according to sahih hadis, major sins are forgiven only after offering repentance taubaa, however, minor sins are forgiven by doing different kinds of virtuous deeds. Only Allah knows the facts). His seventy needs are fulfilled in the grave and seventy deeds will fly and reach its doers on the Day of Judgement. Seventy needs of that person will be fulfilled when he will come to cross the bridge siraa (pool-siraat).”

It is mentioned in Guniyatut Taalibeen written by Piraan-e-Pir Gausul Aazam Dastagir Hazzrat Shaikh Mohi-yuddin Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s Mercy be on him) that, “Of course, Rajab is a great month and the one who observes even a single fast in it, then the Almighty Allah gives him reward of fasting for three thousand years.”

Allah’s Messenger says that Rajab is one of the sacred months. Prophet Hazrat Nooh (Peace be on him) boarded the boat in this month. He observed a fast and ordered his companions to fast.

Charity has lots of vistues. The one who does charity in Rajab gets more virtues. Allah’s Messenger says, “The one who does charity in Rajab is kept away from Hell. The distance detween him and Hell will be equal to the distance covered by a newborn crow who goes on flying till it grows old and dies.”

It is not possible for us to make out how many miles a crow must be flying in its lifetime. This example signifies the value of charity being done in Rajab.

Hazrat Salmaan Faarsi (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, “The one who observes a fast in Rajab, it is as if he has fasted for one thousand years, freed one thousand slaves and the one who does little charity in Rajab, it is as if he did charity of one thousand dinaars, and for each hair that is on his body one thousand virtues will be recorded, his ranks will be raised and his one thousand sins will be written off, and for fast and charity he gets virtues of offering one thousand Hajj and one thousand Umrah, he will get one thousand palaces in paradise.

Hazrat Ali (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, “In the month of Rajab, ask for forgiveness extensively (i.e. recite istegfar) because this is the month in which the Almighty Allah frees some people from Hell.”

Dear readers, it does not take much time to reciteistegfar, but its reward is si rich, that no wise person would like to miss it. Who knows how many of us will get the opportunity of earning such rich reward int eh next year, so grab the opportunity before the time runs out.

Here is one more supplications, carrying a magnificient reward. Hazrat Ibne Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger as saying’ “The one who recites the following supplication in the months of Rajab, Sha’abaan and Ramzaan between the Zuhar and Asr namaaz, then the Almighty Allah Commands the angels who are recording a person’s deeds, to destroy sins from his book of deeds.

AS-TAG-FI-FUL-LAA-HAL A-ZEE-MAL-LA-ZEE LAA I-LAA-HA IL-LAA HU-WAL HAIY-YUL QAIY-YOO-MUWA A-TOO-BU I-LAI-HI TAV-BA-TA AB-DIN ZAA-LI-MIL LAA-YAM-LI-KU LI-NAF-SI-HI DAR-RANW WA LAA NAF-ANW WA LAA MAV-TANW WA LAA HA-YAA-TUNW WA LAA NU-SHOO-RAA

It is recorded that in every night of Rajab, the Almighty Allah says, “Rajab is My month.In this month, I will grant forgiveness to those who ask it from Me, I will fulfil his need if he pleads to me.