Friday, March 29, 2024
Assalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatahu

The Month of Rajab-its significance

 1. Celebration of Lailatul Mi'rajIt is generally believed that the great event of Mi'raj, (ascension of the Holy Prophet(Sallalay wa alayi wa sallam) to the heavens) took place in the night of 27th of Rajab. Therefore, some people celebrate the night as "Lailatul- Mi'raj" (the night of ascension to heavens).Indeed, the event of mi'raj was one of the most remarkable episodes in the life of our beloved Holy Prophet. He was called by Almighty Allah. The Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet did not prescribe any festival or any celebration to commemorate an event from the past, however remarkable it might have been. Eid-ul-Fitr has been prescribed after the fasts of Ramadan, while Eid-ul-Adha has been fixed when the Muslims perform the Hajj annually. (1) We cannot say with absolute certainty in which night the great event of Mi'raj took place. Although some traditions relate this event to 27th night of the month of Rajab, yet there are other traditions that suggest other dates. Al-Zurqani, the famous biographer of the Holy Prophet has referred to five different views in this respect: Rabi-ul-Awwal, Rabi-u-Thani, Rajab, Ramadan and Shawwal. No one can prove that the Holy Prophet ever performed some specific modes of worship in a night calling it the 'Lailatul-mi'raj' or advised his followers to commemorate the event in a particular manner.(3) After the demise of the Holy Prophet also, no one of his companions is reported to celebrate this night as a night of special acts of worship. They were the true devotees of the Holy Prophet  and had devoted their lives to preserve every minute detail of the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet and other Islamic teachings. Had it been a commendable practice to celebrate this night, the exact date of this event would have been preserved accurately by the Ummah and the Holy Prophet and his blessed companions would have given specific directions for it.Being mindful of this serious warning, we should appreciate that the 27th night of the month of Rajab is not like 'Lailatul-Qadr' or 'Lailatul-Bara'ah' for which special merits have been mentioned expressly either y the Holy Qur'an or by the Holy Prophet .However, all the recognized modes of 'ibadah (worship) like Salat, recitation of the Holy Qur'an, dhikr, etc. are commendable any time, especially in the late hours of night, and obviously the 27th night of Rajab is not an exception. Similarly, it is not a correct practice to celebrate this night collectively and to invite people to special ritual congregations.(4) Some people suggest some special modes of worship to be performed in this night. It is believed by some that the Muslims should keep fast on 27th of Rajab. Sacrifice (Qurbani) in the month of RajabIn a tradition of Sayyidna Abu Hurairah, Radi-Allahu anhu, reported by both al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Holy Prophet has said: "Fara' is nothing and 'Atirah is nothing."Since the Holy Prophet stopped both these customs, 'Atirah is no longer a recognized practice.'Umrah in the month of RajabIbn 'Abidin, the well-known scholar of the Islamic jurisprudence, has mentioned that the people of Makkah (in his days) used to perform 'umrah in the month of Rajab. Then Ibn Abidin himself has rejected the authenticity of this practice, because no tradition of the Holy Prophet  is found to this effect. Conversely Sayyidah 'Aishah, Radi-Allahu anha, has expressly negated the presumption by saying that the Holy Prophet  never performed an 'umrah in the month of Rajab (Sahih Muslim 1:409)According to the custom of such people, this Salat is performed in the night of first Friday of the month of Eajab. Distribution of Breads:This custom has two different shapes.1). In some communities, this custom is celebrated on 17th of Rajab on the assumption that Sayyidna Ali, Radi-Allahu anhu, was born on 11th of Rajab and the 17th of Rajab is the day on which his 'Aqiqa (Shaving of his head) was performed. 2). A more common practice of this type is observed on 22nd of Rajab whereby some breads and meals of a special type are prepared and distributed among the people. It is usually believed that the custom is designed to make 'isal-al-thawab to the soul of Sayyidna Jafar Al-Sadiq who himself has directed his followers to observe this custom and has promised them that whoever observes it, his desires will be fulfilled.No specific event of the life of Sayyidna Jafar al-Sadiq is proved to have happened on this date. The people believing in the custom refer to a coined story mentioned in an unauthentic book named "Dastaan-e-Ajeeb".It was 22nd of Rajab. If someone wants to make "'isal-al-thawab" to Sayyidna 'A
Site Information