The reality of the month of Rajab

There are some months as well as some places that have more worth in Almighty Allah’s sight than others. But the merit of a certain place or time in Islam is established only through authentic proofs. Hence, on quoting a certain hadith, one is to make sure of its authenticity so that no false hadiths […]

There are some months as well as some places that have more worth in Almighty Allah’s sight than others. But the merit of a certain place or time in Islam is established only through authentic proofs. Hence, on quoting a certain hadith, one is to make sure of its authenticity so that no false hadiths are reported to have been said by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Many of the hadiths reported about the worth and merit of Rajab are either weak or fabricated. However, we should remember that there are many important events in Islamic history that took place in the month of Rajab, such as the Night Journey and Ascension (Israa’ and Miraj), the Battle of Tabuk, and the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque from the crusaders at the hands of Salah Ad-Din Al-Ayyubi. Muslims should recall these great victories and derive lessons from them.
Al-Hafidh Ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani, an eminent scholar, wrote a detailed study entitled “Tabyeen Al-‘Ajab bima Warada fi Fadl Rajab.” Ibn Hajar included in this study almost all the hadiths reported about the merit of Rajab and the rewards entailed by observing fasting and optional prayer during it, classifying these hadiths into either weak or fabricated ones.
He also mentioned that Rajab has 18 names, the most famous of which are these: Al-Asamm (“the Deaf Month”). It was called so because no rattle of weapons was heard during it, it being one of the sacred months in which fighting is prohibited. It was called also Al-Asabb (“the Poured-in Month”), because [it was believed that] mercy is poured on people during it. It was called also “the Iron Remover.” In this regard it was reported that Abu Raja’ Al-Utaridi said, “We used to worship stones [before Islam]. But when we found a better stone than the first one, we would throw the first one and take the latter. If we could not get a stone then we would collect some earth (soil), then bring a sheep and milk that sheep over it, and perform Tawaf around it. When the month of Rajab came, we used (to stop the military actions), calling this month the Iron Remover, for we used to remove and throw away the iron parts of every spear and arrow during it” (Al-Bukhari).
The merit of Rajab is like the merit of the rest of the other sacred months. Allah Almighty says: “Lo! the number of the months with Allah is twelve months by Allah’s ordinance in the day that He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred: that is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves in them…” (At-Tawbah 9: 36).
The names of these sacred months are mentioned in an authentic hadith said by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Farewell Pilgrimage. According to this hadith, the sacred months are four, three in succession—that is, Dhul-Qi?dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram—and the fourth is Rajab, which comes between Jumada Thani and Shaaban.
According to the above verse, Allah Almighty has ordered the Muslims not to wrong themselves (or others), especially in these sacred months. So no fighting between tribes was to be waged during these months, so that people would guarantee that the way to the Sacred House be safe. This is indicated by Almighty Allah’s saying in another verse: “Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them…” (At-Tawbah 9: 5).