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Rajab
Rajab is the seventh month in the Islamic
lunar calendar. This month was regarded as one of the
sacred months (Al-A.shhur-al-h.urum) in whizh battles
were prohibited in the days of the Holy Prophet (SAW). It
is also deemed to be a prelude to the month of Ramadan,
because the month Ramadan follows it after the
intervening month of Sha'ban. Therefore, when the Holy
Prophet (SAW) sighted the moon of Rajab, he used to pray
to Allah in the following words: "0 Allah, make the
months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us. and let us
reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to
Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and
blessings)."
Although the month of Rajab has aforesaid
merits, yet no specific way of worship has been
prescribed by the Shari'ah in this month. However, some
people have invented some special rituals or practices in
this month which are not supported by reliable resources
of the Shari'ah or are based on some unauthenttc
traditions. We would like to explain here the correct
position about them.
1. Celebration of Lailatul
Mi'raJ
It is generally believed that the great
event of Mi'raj (ascension of the Holy Prophet (SAW) 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 (SAW). He was called by Almighty Allah. He
travelled from Makkah to Baitul-Maqdis and from there he
ascended the heavens through the miraculous power of
Allah. He was honoured with a direct contract with his
Creator at a place where even the angels had no excess.
This was the' unique honour conferred by Allah to the
Holy Prophet (SAW) alone. It was the climax of the
spiritual progress which is not attained by anybody
except him. No doubt the night in which he was blessed
with this unparalleled honour was one of the great nights
in the history of this world. But, as we have explained
in our discussion about the month of Rabi'ul-awwal, Islam
has its own principles with regard to the historic and
religious events. Its approach about observing festivals
and celebrating days and nights is totally different from
the approach of other religions. The Holy Qur'an and the
Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAW) did not prescribe any
festival or any celebration to commemorate an event from
the past, however remarkable it might have been. Instead,
Islam has prescribed two annual celebrations only. One is
Eid-ul-Fitr and the other is Eid-ul-Adha. Both of these
festivals have been fixed at a date on which the Muslims
accomplish a great 'ibadah' (worship) every year.
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 - None of these two
Eids is designed to commemorate a particular event of the
past which has happened in these dates. This approach is
indicative of the fact that the real occasion for a happy
celebration is the day in which the celebrators
themselves have accomplished remarkable work through
their own active effort. As for the accomplishments of
our ancestors, their commemoration should not be
restricted to a particular day or night. Instead, their
accomplishments must be remembered every day in the
practical life by observing their teachings and following
the great examples they have set for us.
Keeping this principle in view, the
following points should be remembered with regard to the
"Lailatul-Mi'raj."
(I) We cannot say with absolute certainty
in which n'ght the great event of Mi'raj had taken place.
Although some traditions relate this event to 27th night
of the month of Rajab, yet there are other traditions
which suggest some other dates. Al-Zurqani, the famous
biographer of the Holy Prophet (SAW) has referred to five
different views in this respect: Rabf-ul-awwal,
Rabf-ul-'akhir, Rajab, Ramadan and Shawwal. Later, while
discussing different traditions, he has added a sixth
opinion, that the Mi'raj took place in the month of
Zulhijjah.
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