Rajab Moon Sighting

The moon has been sighted for Rajab on the 23rd of January 2023

Rajab is one of the four sacrosanct months in the Islamic year. We tend to use Rajab and Sha`ban after it to prepare for the holy month of Ramadan. For those who have prayers or make up fasts from the previous year, now is an excellent time to being fulfilling those duties; inshaAllah, husbands will be especially considerate when it comes to wives making up missed days. And for everyone, it’s an excellent time to return to Allah, and ask Him for an increase in obedience and acts of worship.

In Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, the two [Imams] have related from a hadith that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) gave a speech during the Farewell Pilgrimage, and during it said:

Verily, truly time has revolved like the day on which Allah created the heavens and the earth! The year is twelve months, including four [that are] sacrosanct; three consecutive [months]: Dhu al-qa`da, Dhu al-hijja, and al-Muharram; and Mudhars Rajab which is between Jumada and Shu`ban and he mentioned the hadith.

Allah Mighty and Majestic says:

Lo! the number of 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. (Qur’an, Al-Tauba, 9:36).

So, He Most Sublime declared that ever since He created the heavens and the earth, [and ever since] He created the night and day revolving in the horizon, [and ever since] He created the things in the heaven, including the sun, moon, and stars; [and ever since] He made the sun and the moon in orbit in the cosmos and the dark or night and white of day were produced from [day and night]’ever since then He made the year twelve months in accordance to the crescent moon.

And so the year, with respect to the Legislation, is portioned by the traveling of the moon and its rising, not by the travelling of the sun and its moving from place to place like the people of Ahl al-kitab do.

It has been mentioned by Abu Nuaim in ‘Hilya’ from Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) he said, that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to make the following dua, when the month of Rajab came in:

‘Allahuma Barik lana fi Rajaba wa Sha’bana wa ballighna Ramadhan’

“O 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).”

It has been mentioned by Abul Fath ibn Abil-Fawaris in his Amali (dictations and transmissions) and Allama Suyuti has also mentioned in his Jami Saghir from Hasan Basri that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

‘Rajab is the month of Allah. Shaban is my month. Ramadhan is the month of my ummah (followers).’

From the above hadith, it shows that it is preferable to make dua, to remain in the coming and following months, in order to perform good actions in them, because a true believer increases in his age with goodness. The best of people is the one who lives long and performs good actions.

The pious predecessors used to prefer dying after performing good actions, like the fast of Ramadhan or returning from Haj. And it was said by them, ‘whoever dies in this way, is forgiven.’

There is no doubt that the month of Rajab is the key to the opening of the months of goodness and blessing.

Abu Bakr Warraq (May Allah be pleased with him) said,

‘Rajab is a month of cultivation, Shaban is month of irrigating the fields, and the month of Ramadhan is a month of reaping and harvesting.’

The summary is, that the month of Rajab is a sacred month and the first, virtuous and noble of them all. So it is appropriate to celebrate it ENTIRELY and to give attention to it by performing good acts, and refraining oneself from sins and offensive things, because it is the month of Allah.

It has been mentioned that Allah said, ‘Fasting is for me and I will recompense one for it.’

Fasting in the month of Rajab prevents one from sins, let alone refraining one from killing and having enmity towards the enemy (which this month was made sacred for), like it was practised by the people in the ignorant (jahili) period.

We should use this month to start getting into the groove for Ramadhan by starting to offer nafl fasts particularly Mondays and Thursdays and the 13/14/15 of the month.

A small action for this month but which has great merits. After reading the farz of Fajr and Maghrib salah, read “Rabbigfirly War Hamney Wa Tub Alayya” 70 times. This means “My Lord Forgive me, Have Mercy Upon Me and Turn towards me”. Continue this during the whole month. Every action is by its intention. So if you are sincere in your intentions that you want to read it then you should add it to your calendar or set a reminder in your phone.
May Allah SWT give us the strength to worship Allah SWT to the best of our ability and prepare well for the coming month of Mercy, Ameen.