black prayer beads (tasbih) and quran rajab

Rajab: A sacred month

What is Rajab?

Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic (hijri) calendar and one of the four sacred months as ordained by Allah (SWT). The month of Rajab precedes the month of Sha’ban and holy month of Ramadan, and contains many benefits and virtues for worshippers due to some of the most precious days in the Islamic calendar occurring in this month.

When is Rajab?

The sacred month of Rajab began on 13th January 2024, and the 27th Rajab will occur on the 8th February 2024.

What is the significance of Rajab?

Allah (SWT) ordained Rajab one of the four sacred months of the year, and is therefore virtuous for a number of reasons:

Initiation of fighting is prohibited during the four sacred months.
All transgressions during these months weigh heavier as wrong deeds.
All sincere acts of worship are deemed more virtuous.

“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve in the book of Allah, since the day He created the Heavens and the Earth. Four of them, they are sacred.”

Qur’an 9:36

“Time has come back to its original state which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth; the year is twelve months, four of which are sacred. Three of them are in succession: Dhul-Qa‘dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Al-Muharram and Rajab of Mudar, which stands between Jumada (ath-Thani) and Sha‘ban.” [Bukhari]

Key events that took place in Rajab

13th Rajab

The birth date of Ali (RA), the cousin and companion of the Prophet (SAW)

27th Rajab

The Prophet’s (SAW) night journey Al Isra’ wal Miraj is thought to have taken place

Rajab of 9AH

The Battle of Tabuk took place, when the Prophet (SAW) took 30,000 men to face the Roman army. As a result, the Romans retreated and a peace agreement was made.

Rajab of 583 AH (1187 CE)

Salahuddin al-Ayyubi liberated Jerusalem after eighty-eight years of Crusader occupation.

Fasting in Rajab

Fasting during any of the sacred months is an excellent time to include supererogatory acts of worship, as well as voluntary prayers, du’a and sadaqah jariyah due to the inherent virtuosity of the month.

Rajab month benefits

Rajab is the month of Allah, one of the four sacred months of the year, and the month in which Isra’ wal-Mi’raj (link to page) took place, making it a month of blessings.

Some narrations mention that the Prophet (PBUH) would seek the blessings of Rajab by saying the following duaa when Rajab entered: “O Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha`ban and enable us to reach Ramadan!, although some scholars do not hold this hadith to be authentic.

Muslims should increase worship and devotion to Allah Almighty in Rajab, in order to earn great rewards.

By working on improving our character and increasing our good deeds in Rajab, we can gain the immense benefits of Ramadan.

As Imam Abu Bakr al-Warraq al-Balkhi (RA), the uncle of Imam Tirmidhi (RA), said: ‘The month of Rajab is the month of planting (your seeds), Sha‘ban is the month of irrigating / watering (them), and Ramadan is the month of harvesting the crop’.

Rajab is the time to prepare for Ramadan– spiritually, mentally and physically.

The Prophet (PBUH) also said the month of Rajab is the month of absolution, so it’s important to seek forgiveness from Allah, in order to gain purification and Divine nearness.

We ensure our content is reviewed and verified by qualified scholars to provide you with the most accurate information. This webpage was last reviewed by Sheikh Saalim Al-Azhaari.

Page last reviewed: 31st January 2023.

Next review due: Within 12 months

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