RAJAB: A SACRED MONTH PRELUDING TO SHA’ABAN, RAMADAN

By: Ajape Sefiu A.

Over two weeks ago, the Muslim world began counting down to the holy month of Ramadan in the year 1446 AH. This anticipation started with the sighting of the crescent moon, marking the beginning of the month of Rajab.

The month of Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar, and it is regarded as one of the four sacred months in Islam. The other three months are Muharram, Dhul-Qi’dah, and Dhul-Hijjah.

Rajab is held in awe and reverence because Almighty Allah, the creator of the heavens and the earth, demands that from us. In fact, He reveres and adores the month in His majesty. This explains why He says, “Do not perpetrate injustice against yourself during the sacred months’.

The month of Rajab is equally held sacred, as has been mentioned, because it comes as a prelude to the months of Sha’ban and Ramadan.

Each time the crescent announcing the beginning of the month of Rajab appeared, Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be on his soul) used to supplicate to Allah in the following words;

Allahumma baa-rik-lanaa fi-rajab wa sha’ban wa bal-lig-na shah-ra ramadan: “O Allah, make Rajab and Sha’ban blessed months for us, and grant us the blessing of witnessing the month of Ramadan (i.e., prolong our lives up to Ramadan so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings).”

The Sacred Month of Rajab

Allah says in the Quran:

“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve in the book of Allah, since the day He created the Heavens and the Earth. Four of them, they are sacred.” (9:36)

Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has informed us that Rajab, the month that we are currently in, is one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Quran.

Rajab and its virtues

Being a sacred month, committing a sin therein is much more severely punished. On the other hand, we are taught that reward for acts of obedience performed in this month is greater than other months.

Divine mercy, blessings, and rewards are at their peak during the sacred months; we must therefore invest our time in increased acts of ibadah; we should increase our recitation of the Quran and our dhikr; we should help others and give more charity.

Rajab is a month of cultivation, so plant your seeds

Abu Bakr b. al-Warraq al-Balkhi used to say:

“In the month of Rajab, you sow the seeds, in Sha`ban, you irrigate them, and in Ramadan, you reap the harvest.”

This means that to enjoy the fruits of Ramadan, the planting starts in Rajab. In order to be physically, mentally and spiritually ready for Ramadan and to maximise on its blessings and virtues, we need to plan and prepare now!

• Set personal goals for Ramadan
• Reflect on last year and explore what you need to do differently
• Start fasting on the Sunnah days
• Increase your Dhikr and re-kindle your relationship with Allah
• Recite the Quran
• Increase your acts of charity

Doing all of this (and more) now will allow you to fully reap the benefits of the blessed month of Ramadan, Insha’Allah.

We hope you can use this sacred month to increase your good deeds, draw closer to Allah, His Messenger and the Muslims, and plant the seeds for a fruitful Ramadan.

Oh Allah! Grant us Barakah (Blessing) during (the months of) Rajab and Sha’ban, and allow us to reach Ramadan.