Innovations in Rajab

BISMILLAH ARRAHMAN ARRAHIM

ALLHAMDULILLAH

Innovations that often being practiced during the month Rajab.

First: The Raghaib prayer

This innovation is based on a long but false hadith, narrating the process of raghaib prayer, invocations inside it, and the promised rewards for those who perform it perfectly. The scholars have agreed that the hadith regarding raghaib prayer is a false hadith.” (Taken from “Fawa’id Al Majmu’ah”, page 47-48). The similar explanation also given by Al Fairuz Abadi Ash Shafi’i.

Imam Ibn Al Jauzi said, “The maker of this hadith has set the rules that one who wants to perform the raghaib prayer must first fast on that day. He must not break his fast until he performs the maghrib prayer and then the voluntary raghaib prayer. In this prayer, he must recite a very long tasbih and lengthy supplication during prostration. Hence the one who performs it will feel an extreme tiredness. Indeed, I envy the Ramadan and tarawih prayer. How come one prefers this kind of prayer to Ramadan fast and tarawih. But in contrary, people prefer this prayer and pay more attention to it, even those who never perform the congregational prayer join it. “(Al Maudhu’at, 2/125-126)

Second, Commemoration of Isra’ and Mi’raj

The 27th of Rajab has became an important agenda for the believers, as some of them believe that such date was the time of the Isra’ and Mi’raj. Whereas the scholars differ upon the exact date of the isra’ and mi’raj itself. Sheikh Shafiyurrahman Al Mubarakfuri mentioned that there are about 6 different opinions of the scholars regarding the date of isra’ and mi’raj. One of it is the 27th of Rajab, at the 10th year after his assignment as a prophet.

But this opinion is invalid, because the experts in history confirmed that Khadija, the first wife of the Prophet died at the month Ramadan, ten year after the beginning of the prophecy. And until her death, there were no obligation to perform the five compulsory prayers.

The scholars agreed that the commemoration of Isra’ and Mi’raj is an innovation. Ibn Al Qoyyim cited the explanation of Sheikh Al Islam Ibn Taimiyya, who said, “It is not known that there is a believer who make the night of Isra’ and Mi’raj as a more virtuous night than the other nights. Moreover to consider that the night of Isra’ is more noble than the night of Qadr (Lailatul Qadr). None of the companions, or the tabi’in, who specifying the night of Isra’ by performing certain activities, and they did not commemorate this night. Thus, it is not known when is the exact date of the isra’ and mi’raj.”(Taken from “Zaadul Ma’ad”, 1:58-59)

Ibn Nuhas said, “Commemorating the night of Isra’ – Mi’raj is a large scale innovation in religion matters. It is a new matter that was made up by the companions of the satan.” (Taken from “Tanbihul Ghafilin”, page 379-380. Cited from “Al Bida’ Al Hauliyah, page 138)

ALLAH KNOWS BETTER!