It’s almost Rajab…

Posted under months, ramadan, to read by rahma

…which means that it’s just 2 months to Ramadan!  *breaks out the Ramadan happy dance*

However, I shouldn’t get ahead of myself.  These next two months of Rajab and Shaban are special in their own right, and we shouldn’t forget the blessings that come from them.  Rajab is the month of Allah (swt), so don’t forget to turn to Him with increasing frequency.

Fasting During Rajab by Imam Zaid

Historically, one of the virtuous religious practices of Muslims is voluntary fasting during the month of Rajab. Unfortunately, there are a growing number of Muslims that consider this practice a blameworthy innovation. The following discussion, taken from Lata’if al Ma’rif fi ma li Mawasim al-‘Amm min al-Wadha’if (The Subtleties of Knowledge Concerning the Religious Duties Associated with Each Month of the Year), by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, helps to shed light on this increasingly contentious issue.

Farewell to Rajab by Imam Zaid

The month of Rajab is the key to the months of goodness and blessings that follow it. Abu Bakr b. al-Warraq al-Balkhi said: “Rajab is the month to sow the seeds; Sha’ban is the month to irrigate the crop; and Ramadan is the month to reap the harvest.” It has similarly been related from him: “Rajab is like the wind; Sha’ban is like the water-laden clouds; and Ramadan is like the rain.” Someone else mentioned: “The year in its entirety is like a tree: during Rajab its buds sprout; during Sha’ban it sends forth its branches; during Ramadan its fruit ripens; and the believers are the farmhands who harvest that fruit.”

On the Month of Rajab by Shaykh Ilyas Patel

It has bee mentioned by Abu’l Fath ibn Abi l-Fawaris in his Amali (dictations and transmissions) and Allama Suyuti has also mentioned in his Jami Saghir from Hasan Basri that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

Rajab is the month of Allah. Shaban is my month. Ramadhan is the month of my ummah (followers).

From the above hadith, it shows that it is preferable to make dua, to remain in the coming and following months, in order to perform good actions in them, because a true believer increases in his age with goodness. The best of people is the one who lives long and performs good actions.

Summary of Religious Duties during the Month of Rajab summarized from Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali

Salatul Raghaib