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Fasting in the month of Rajab

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalaamualaikum Wa Rahamathulaahi Wa Barakathuhu

Dear Brother

In previous mail I have mailed that i will scan the proper details of Rajab fasting which has come in Magazine "DIVINE PATH" but i am not able to send you please i am sorry. Because i to scan i have to give for others "i mean hindus" that is why i am scared if possible please give me your address so that i will send to you Xerox copy of that. Dear brother i am really very thankful for helping us in Islaam.

brother please let me know whether we can fast in the month of Rajab and Shaban, and is there any prayers nights in this month i mean "Shabe Maharaaj & Shabe Baraath" Brother please do mail me regularly about Islaam.

Thanks a lot to you, and give my Salaam to all our Muslim brothers and sisters.

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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

A lot of bohris fast during the month of Rajab, because it seems the Syedna did it, but in the Quran, there is no such thing. Are they commiting an offence by going against the tenets of Islam or is it alright if they fast even when not required by the Quran.

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Answer:

Fasting in the month of Rajab

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The only fasts that are obligatory on the believers, are the fasts of the Holy Month of Ramadan. The believers, if they wish to do so, may voluntarily fast at other times of the year to earn extra reward from the Merciful Lord of the Worlds.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) used to observe voluntary fasts on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every month, on Mondays and Thursdays of every week, on the 10th of Muharram, and increase his fasts in the month of Sha’baan. No man who ever walked on this planet earth worshipped Allah Subhanah more than the person of the noble Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws); and there is absolutely no evidence that the Messenger of Allah (saws) ever in his lifetime fasted the whole month of Rajab, or for that matter any whole month, other than the month of Ramadan. The Messenger of Allah (saws) never did celebrate any particular night in the month of Rajab, nor did he specify any night to be celebrated as Shabe-Baraat or Shabe-Mairaaj!

Usamah ibn Zaid inquired: "O Messenger of Allah (saws), I never find you fasting in any month like you do during the month of Sha'ban." The Prophet (saws) responded: "That is a month the people neglect. It comes between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting."

Related by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i, and by Ibn Khuzaimah.

Aishah said: "I never saw the Messenger of Allah (saws) fast a complete month save for Sha'ban."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim

The Dawoodi Bohra sect has recently (maximum about 20-30 years ago) started this ritual in their community to fast the whole month of Rajab. Their spiritual leader claims that whoever amongst his followers fasts seven consecutive years of Rajab, Hell Fire will become forbidden for him, and his reward will be Paradise! He also claims that any person who fasts the whole month of Rajab for one year will be saved from the fire of Hell for one year, and he who fasts for two years will be saved for two years, and so on! To the one who fasts the whole month of Rajab for seven consecutive years, the gates of Hell would close for him forever! He further claims that the one who fasts Rajab for eight consecutive years, the eight gates of Paradise would be opened for him, and for the person who fasts 10 consecutive years of Rajab, all his past sins will be forgiven completely!

None of the above claims of the Dawoodi Bohra spiritual leader are substantiated from the Quran or Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws); and if something in Islam is not substantiated from the Quran and Sunnah, then it can be nothing but innovation!

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His angels, and by all the people.”

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

One may fast any number of voluntary fasts whenever he wants, but to specify a particular day or a month, and make a ritual out of it, and claim that the fasting of these particular days has specific benefits without any proof or evidence from the Quran or Sunnah is nothing but an innovation in the deen brought by Prophet Mohamed (saws); and as it with all innovations in the deen, the believers, who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day, must reject it.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan


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