What is the month of Rajab?
Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar and one of the four sacred months. It comes two months before Ramadan, and many Muslims see it as the start of their spiritual warm-up for the fasting month. There are no special prayers or fasts fixed for Rajab in authentic hadith, but good deeds in it carry extra weight.
One of the four sacred months
Allah says four of the twelve months are sacred (Quran 9:36). The Prophet ﷺ listed them as Dhul Qa'dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, and "Rajab of Mudar", which comes between Jumada al-Akhirah and Sha'ban (Sahih al-Bukhari 3197). The name "Rajab of Mudar" goes back to the Arab tribe of Mudar, who respected this month strictly. Rajab stands alone, while the other three come in a row.
As in the other sacred months, scholars say sins are more serious and good deeds more rewarded. See How does the Islamic calendar work?
Rajab and the Night Journey
Many Muslims mark the 27th of Rajab as the night of al-Isra wal-Mi'raj, when the Prophet ﷺ was taken from Makkah to Jerusalem and up through the heavens:
Historians and scholars differ on the exact date, though. Some put it in Rabi al-Awwal or other months, and there is no authentic report fixing it to the 27th of Rajab. See What is Isra and Mi'raj?
Is there a special fast or prayer in Rajab?
No authentic hadith gives a special reward for fasting Rajab specifically, and scholars such as Ibn Hajar noted that the narrations on this are weak or fabricated. The same goes for the "Salat ar-Ragha'ib" prayer on the first Thursday night of Rajab, which an-Nawawi and others called an innovation.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't fast in Rajab. When Sa'id ibn Jubayr was asked about fasting in Rajab, he answered with Ibn Abbas's report that the Prophet ﷺ sometimes fasted so much that people thought he'd never stop, and other times went without fasting (Sahih Muslim 1157). So normal voluntary fasting, like Mondays and Thursdays or the middle three days, is good in Rajab as in any month, and even better since it's a sacred month.
Getting ready for Ramadan
Rajab, then Sha'ban, then Ramadan. Many people use Rajab to start small habits: a few pages of Quran a day, making up missed fasts, cutting down on bad habits. By the time Ramadan arrives, it doesn't feel like a cold start. See How do I prepare for my first Ramadan as a new Muslim?
- Rajab is the 7th Islamic month and one of the four sacred months.
- Many mark Isra and Mi'raj on 27 Rajab, but the date is disputed.
- There is no authentic special fast or prayer just for Rajab.
- Normal voluntary fasting and good deeds are extra valuable in it.
People also ask
Can I get married in Muharram?
Yes, you can get married in Muharram. No verse or authentic hadith forbids a nikah in any month; the unlucky-month idea is cultural, not Islamic.
Read the full answer →What is the month of Muharram?
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a sacred month, home to the Islamic New Year and the fast of Ashura on the 10th.
Read the full answer →How do I ask my child's school to recognize Eid?
To ask your child's school to recognize Eid, email the teacher early with expected dates, request an authorized absence and offer a class activity.
Read the full answer →Is qurbani valid if done before the Eid prayer?
No, qurbani done before the Eid prayer doesn't count; it's just meat. When the time starts and ends, the four schools, and qurbani abroad.
Read the full answer →Is the month of Safar unlucky?
No, the month of Safar is not unlucky. The Prophet said "no Safar", rejecting the old omen, so weddings, travel and new plans are all fine in Safar.
Read the full answer →