Rajab

Rajab ( ar, رَجَب) is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of the classical Arabic verb ''rajaba'' is "to respect" which could also mean "be awe or be in fear", of which Rajab is a derivative.

This month is regarded as one of the four sacred months (including Muharram, Dhu al-Qadah and Dhu al-Hijjah) in Islam in which battles are prohibited. The pre-Islamic Arabs also considered warfare blasphemous during the four months.

Muslims believe Rajab is the month in which ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib, the fourth Caliph of Sunni Muslims, was born.

Rajab is also the month during which Isra' Mi'raj (journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then through the 7 Heavens) of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, took place.

Rajab and Shaʿbān are a prelude to the holy month Ramaḍān.

Description

The word "Rajab" came from "r''ajūb'' (رجوب)", the sense of veneration or glorification, and Rajab was also formerly called "''Mudhar''" because the tribe of ''Mudhar'' did not change it but rather expected in its time other than the rest of the Arabs, who changed and altered in the months according to the state of war.

The name of Rajab literally means respected, regarded, and admired. It seems that the word is originally a Semitic one. There are two important events during the month, namely the birthday of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muhammad's first revelation in Shia tradition. Also, during Rajab, war is forbidden. There are other names for the month, such as Rajab Al-Morrajjab, Rajab Al-Asab and Rajab Sharif.

For Shia

The Shi'a believe that there are many virtues of the month. According to some narrations, the month belongs to Ali while Shaban is for Muhammad. Musa al-Kadhim (the seventh Imam of the Shia) has narrated that the Rajab is like a river in heaven which is whiter and sweeter than honey.

Timing

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the lunar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Rajab migrates throughout the seasons. The estimated start and end dates for Rajab, based on the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia, are:

Events

* The Battle of Tabouk took place in Rajab, 9 AH (October 630).
* The Second pledge at al-Aqabah took place in Rajab.
* 6 Rajab: Many Sufi followers of the Chishti tariqa (path) celebrate the anniversary of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti.
* 7 Rajab: Twelvers observe the Festival of Imam Musa al-Kazim in dedication of Musā' al-Kādhim. This is so as to avoid missing celebrating the birth of the 7th Imam which took place Safar. In (Rajab), on the 7th day is celebrated the birth of 7th Imam.
* 22 Rajab, Koonday (table cloth dinner) is organized by people friendly towards the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt or Shias among Shias of South Asia. It is an occasion for Shias to discuss Allah and the Ahlul Bayt and to strengthen ties among the community with love and compassion.
* 27 Rajab, event of ''Isra and Mi'raj''.
* 27 Rajab 583 AH, Conquest of Jerusalem''TDV Encyclopedia of Islam'': Vol.36 (2009), p.339 by the Ayyubids.

Births

* 1 Rajab: Muhammad al-Baqir
* 4 Rajab: Khwaja Banda Nawaz
* 5 Rajab: ‘ Alī al-Hadī
* 9 Rajab: ‘Alī al-Asghar
* 12 Rajab: Muhammad al-Taqī
* 13 Rajab: ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib
* 14 Rajab: Mu'in al-Din Chishti
* 20 Rajab: Sakina bint Hussain

Deaths

* 3 Rajab: ‘Alī al-Naqī, Twelver Imam & Uwais al-Qarni
* 6 Rajab: Mu'īnuddīn Chishtī, The founder of Chishti Order of Sufism
* 8 Rajab: Nazim Al-Haqqani, a Turkish Cypriot Sufi Muslim sheykh and spiritual leader of the Naqshbandi tariqa.
* 14 Rajab: Akhundzada_Saif-ur-Rahman_Mubarak, the founder of the Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Saifia Tariqa.
* 15 Rajab: Zainab bint Ali
* 18 Rajab: Abraham (according to Shi'a Islam)
* 22 Rajab: Muawiyah I
* 25 Rajab: Musā' al-Kādhim, seventh Twelver Imam
* 26 Rajab: Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib, uncle of Muhammad and father of Ali

References

External links

Islamic-Western Calendar Converter (Based on the Arithmetical or Tabular Calendar)

{{IslamicMonths

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Islamic terminology