RAJAB IS THE MONTH TO SOW THE SEEDS, SHA’BAN TO IRRIGATE AND RAMADAN TO REAP THE HARVEST
Question

Can you mention the reference and Arabic for this?

“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.”

Answer

‘Allamah Ibn Rajab Al Hambali (rahimahullah) has cited this as the statement of Imam Abu Bakr Al Warraq Al Balkhi (rahimahullah).

(Lataiful Ma’arif, pg. 218, Al Maktabul Islami edition)

Arabic text

شهر رجب شهر الزرع و شهر شعبان شهر السقي للزرع و شهر رمضان شهر حصاد الزرع
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

AN UNAUTHENTIC VIRTUE OF FASTING AND SPENDING THE NIGHT IN WORSHIP IN RAJAB
Question

Is this Hadith authentic?

من صام يوما من رجب وقام ليلة من لياليه بعثه الله تعالى آمنا يوم القيامة ومر على الصراط وهو يهلل ويكبر

Answer

Imam Daylami (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna Jabir (radiyallahu ‘anhu). However, the chain consists of a liar. The Hadith is therefore not suitable to quote.

(Dhaylul La-Alil Masnu’ah, vol. 1 pg. 464, Hadith: 560, Tanzihush Shari’ah, vol. 2, pg. 164)

Translation

Whoever fasts for one day in Rajab and spends one night of Rajab [in ‘ibadah], Allah Ta’ala will resurrect him in safety on the Day of Qiyamah and he will cross the bridge [sirat] while saying ‘La ilaha illallah’ and ‘Allahu Akbar’.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

AN UNAUTHENTIC VIRTUE OF A SPECIFIC SALAH ON THE TWENTY SEVENTH (27TH) OF RAJAB
Question

Could you kindly confirm the following Hadith:

“Whoever prays twelve rakats on the night of twenty seventh of Rajab, in every rakat recites Surah Fatihah and any other Surah from Quran. After every two rakats recites Tashahhud and ends with salam. Thereafter recites one hundred times: “Subhan Allahi Wal Hamdulillahi Wa Laa ilaah illal Lahu Wallah Hu Akbar”, “Astagfirullah” one hundred times and sends one hundred salutations (durud) on Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) Thereafter makes du’a for his/her religious and worldly matters and fasts the next day. Then Allah Ta’ala will accept all of his/her dua’s. As long as dua’s are not made of sins”

Answer

This narration has been declared as extremely weak and a fabrication.

(Refer: Tanzihush Shari’ah, vol. 2 pg. 90 and Al Adab Fi Rajab, pg. 47)

There is no specific form of salah to be recited on the twenty seventh of Rajab. To specify a form of salah for this night without substantiation from the Sunnah is an innovation (bid’ah).

See here for further details.

ALLEVIATING THE DISTRESS OF A BELIEVER IN RAJAB
Question

Kindly verify the following Hadith:

“Whoever alleviates distress of a Muslim in the month of Rajab, Allah will grant him a palace in Paradise”

Answer

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has termed the text of this Hadith as baseless. The Hadith cannot be quoted.

(Refer: Tabyinul ‘Ajab of Hafiz Ibn Hajar, pg. 27, Hadith: 12)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

FASTING ON THE TWENTY SEVENTH (27TH) OF RAJAB
Question

Is the following Hadith authentic?

“The one who fasts on the twenty seventh (27th) day of Rajab will receive the reward of fasting for sixty years“

Answer

I have not come across this narration. However Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has cited a similar narration as the statement of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) -not as as the statement of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and has declared it as unreliable.

(Tabyinul ‘Ajab, pg. 45, Hadith: 28)

It should be noted that the Hadith Masters have agreed that there exists no Hadith that mentions the virtues of fasting on any specific date in Rajab. In Fact Hafiz Ibn Rajab (rahimahullah) has stated the following:

“There exists no Hadith, reported from Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) or the Sahabah that mentions the virtues of fasting on any specific date in Rajab”

(Lataiful Ma’arif, pg. 228)

See here for more details.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC FORMS OF SALAH FOR THE 27TH NIGHT OF RAJAB
Question

Are there any specific nafl prayers to be prayed in the night of Mi’raj, the 27th of Rajab?

Answer

There are no specific forms of worship for the 27th night of Rajab to be found in the authentic books of Hadith.

In fact, although some scholars have opined that Mi’raj occurred on 27th Rajab, there does exist legitimate difference of opinion on this too. See here for more

To specify a form of salah for this night without substantiation from the sunnah is an innovation (bid’ah).

Click here for more on this.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

SEEKING FORGIVENESS IN RAJAB
Question

Kindly verify the following narration.

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Seek much forgiveness from Allah in Rajab because in every hour (of the month) Allah frees people from the fire”

Answer

This Hadith is recorded in Musnadul Firdaws. ‘Allamah Suyuti (rahimahullah) has cited this narration in his book on fabricated narrations. This Hadith should not be quoted.

(Refer: Dhaylul La-ali Al Masnu’ah, vol. 2 pg. 617, Tanzihush Shari’ah, vol. 2 pg. 333, Tadhkiratul Mawdu’at of ‘Allamah Muhammad Tahir Al Fatani, pg. 116. Also see Al Adab Fi Rajab, pg. 38)

However it has been the practice of certain seniors to seek extra forgiveness in Rajab (in general, without attaching any specific virtue). See here for more details.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

FASTING ON THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF RAJAB
Question

Is the following Hadith authentic?

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Fasting the first day of Rajab compensates for the sins of three years, fasting the second day expiates two years of sins and fasting the third day expiates one year of sins, thereafter one month’s sins are expiated for each day of fasting”

Answer

Abu Muhammad Al Khallal (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration with an extremely weak chain. The Hadith should not be quoted.

(Refer: Jami’us Saghir, Hadith: 5051, Faydul Qadir and At Taysir Bi Sharhil Jami ‘is Saghir. Also see Al Mughir of Ahmad Siddiq Al Ghumari)

Nevertheless, Mulla ‘Ali Qari (rahimahullah) has explained that in general, we are encouraged to observe additional Nafl (voluntary) fasts in Rajab.

( Al Adab Fi Rajab, pg. 30)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

ISTIGHFAR (SEEKING FORGIVENESS) IN RAJAB
Question

I received the following message today regarding a particular Istighfar that should be read in Rajab and Sha’ban. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it. Is there any basis to it, is it authentic?

‘Whoever recites in Rajab or Sha’ban the following istighfar 7 times a day, Allah will send a message to the angels who write down his deeds, to tear apart his book of sins’

Astaghfirullahal azimil ladhi la ilaha illa huwal hayyul qayyumu wa atubu ilayhi tawbata ‘abdin zalimin linafsihi la yamliku li nafsihi mawtan wala hayatan wa la nushura

Answer

The narration you are querying has been mentioned in some ‘non hadith’ books without a chain of narrators, and therefore I cannot comment it.

(refer to: Al-Adab fi Rajab, pg.39)

Narrations like these should first be verified before they are publicized.

Rajab is from the 4 sacred months of the islamic calendar. (Ash-hurul Hurum)

One should indeed increase all forms of worship in these months, including istighfar (seeking forgiveness)

Mulla ‘Ali Qari (rahimahullah) writes that he heard his seniors reciting istighfar abundantly in Rajab. (Al-Adab fi Rajab, pg.38)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

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Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar