By Asma bint Shameem

Alhamdulillaah, the month of Rajab is here. It is a precursor of Ramadhaan so we are happy and thankful to Allaah that it is here. However there are many misconceptions about this month that many people have and you will see many emails, etc being circulated talking about the various acts of ibaadah that one is recommended to do in the month of Rajab.
What is the reality of such Ibaadaat?
Let us examine that in the light of the Qur’aan and Sunnah.

Misconception #1: You will hear people say that we are supposed to welcome this month with a lot of istighfaar and Taubah. In fact, they even have so-called “Shaikhs” who have made up certain ‘wird’ and specific ‘sets’ of istighfaar, just for this month of Rajab.
Subhaan Allaah. There is no evidence from the Qur’aan or the Saheeh ahaadeeth of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wa Sallam) that tell us to do that.
Not one single hadeeth. Not one single ayah. Not one single episode or incidence from the sahaabah. And if they didn’t do it. then we don’t do it either.
Yes, obviously it is good to make taubah and istighfaar ALL the time throughout the year. But to think that this month has something special for those making istighfaar, then that is doing something that has no proof from the authentic sources.

Misconception #2: You might also hear people say that one should fast a lot in this month. Again singling out this month to fast 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 when there’s no need to. 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.”

(Bukhaari)

Misconception #3: 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 believe that because there’s no authentic proof of such a claim.

What about al-Israa’ wal Mai’raaj?

Indeed, one night the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi Wa Sallam) was granted the Night Journey of al-Israa’ wal Mi’raaj, when he was first transported from Masjid al-Haraam to Masjid al-Aqsa and then onwards, he ascended to the Heavens and Allaah spoke to him as He willed, and enjoined the five daily prayers upon him.
This is definitely part of our Aqeedah. It says so in the Qur’aan…

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ

[al-Isra’:1]

and there is no denying that fact.

However, the big question to ask is…….

What did the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) do when the same day arrived the next year? Or the year after that? Or the year after that?
Did he EVER celebrate the night of al-Israa’ wal Mi’raaj, or fast the next day???

And what did he instruct the Sahaabah to do about his Night Journey?
Did he tell them to celebrate that night as a ‘special night’ for worshiping Allaah?
Did he tell them to specifically fast the next day because it was ‘the day after the Journey’?

And what were the actions of the Sahaabah themselves?

Did THEY do any of the above??

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The answer to all of the above is a big resounding NO!

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)

Then why do we not have ANY Saheeh reports of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) or the Sahaabah worshiping Allaah especially on this night and fasting the next day?

ANSWER:

BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT THE PRACTICE OF RASUL ALLAAH (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) OR HIS SAHAABAH!

If celebrating this event was something that is prescribed in Islam, the Messenger (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) would certainly have told his ummah about it, either in word or in deed. If any such thing had happened, it would have been well known, and his companions would have transmitted the information to us. They narrated from the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) everything that we need to know, and they did not neglect any aspect of the religion, rather they were the first ones to do anything good. If celebrating this night had been prescribed in Islam, they would have been the first people to do so.

And if it wasn’t the practice of our Beloved Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) or his Sahaabah, then, why, O Muslim, do YOU insist on doing it???

Isn’t the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) the best example to be followed?

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا

“In the Messenger of Allah you have a fine example for he who hopes for Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah abundantly.”

(Surah al-Ahzaab: 21)
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But everyone does so!!

Sure, I know, you have seen your fathers and grandfathers doing so. But, let me remind you, O Muslim, that it is NOT our forefathers that we are supposed to follow. Rather, our worship should be based on proofs from the Quraan and authentic Sunnah, and NOT culture or tradition.

Just look at what Allaah says about people who insist on following their forefathers!

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ قَالُواْ بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئاً وَلاَ يَهْتَدُونَ

“When it is said to them: ‘Follow what Allah has sent down,’ they reply: ‘We will follow that which we found our fathers upon,’ even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided.”

(Surah al-Baqarah: 170)

But I hear many “Shaikhs” say so!

The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Whoever among you lives will see many differences, so I urge you to adhere to my Sunnah and the way of the rightly-guided caliphs who will come after me, and cling firmly to it. Beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going astray.

(saheeh)

Is good intention not enough??

I’m sure, that in celebrating this night, your intention is good. But dear brother/sister, in order for our worship to be accepted, it also has to be prescribed in the Qur’aan and Sunnah. If it is not so, it will be rejected.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) said:

“Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.”

(Bukhaari, Muslim)

Exact date unknown???

Also, do you know that even though the incidence of al-Israa’ wal Mi’raaj is an undeniable fact in history, yet the exact date or even the exact month in which this took place is not certain?

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 cannot be proven to have come from the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) according to the scholars of hadeeth….” (www.Islam-qa.com)

But, what’s the harm in it???

Now, some of you will say, “What’s the harm in it? I am just worshiping Allah!”

But, the answer to that, O noble reader, is…..

وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءتْ
مَصِيرًا

“And whosoever opposes the Messenger (Muhammad Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wa sallam) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell – what an evil destination!”

[Surah an-Nisaa:115]

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)

So, remember, my dear brothers and sisters in Islaam, DO NOT single out the 27th for your worship because it was NOT the practice of the Prophet OR his Sahaabah. If however, you pray every single night and it is part of your routine to stay up for worship, then there is no harm. Similarly, if you are in the habit of fasting Mondays and Thursdays, or during Ayyaam Beed (the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every Islaamic month), and the 27th of Rajab falls on one of those days, then it is OK to do so. The problem arises when one thinks that this night is special and singles out this night or day for worship, thinking they are getting extra reward for their worship. But this is contrary to the Sunnah.

And Allaah knows best.