Rajab

See Rajab, Jalandhar a village in India.

Rajab (Arabic: رجب) is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of Rajaba is "to respect", of which Rajab is a deritive.

This month is regarded as one of the four sacred months in Islam in which battles are prohibited. The pre-Islamic Arabs also considered warfare blasphemous during the four months, a view that has been confirmed in Islam. Dua of Rajab

The month is also a prelude to the month of Ramadan, which follows after the intervening month of Sha'ban. Therefore, when Muhammad sighted the moon of Rajab, he used to pray to Allah in the following words:

اللّهمّ بارك لنا في رجب و شعبان وبلّعنا رمضان

Allahumma baa-rik-lanaa fee-rajaba wa sha'bana wa bal-lig-naa shah-ra ramadana

"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)."

Timing

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Rajab migrates throughout the seasons. The estimated start and end dates for Rajab are as follows (all future dates are estimates):

• 1426 AH – First day: August 6, 2005; last day: September 4, 2005
• 1427 AH – First day: July 27, 2006; last day: August 25, 2006
• 1428 AH – First day: July 16, 2007; last day: August 14, 2007
• 1429 AH – First day: July 5, 2008; last day: August 3, 2008
• 1430 AH – First day: June 24, 2009; last day:

Islamic Events

• 01 Rajab, birth of Shī‘ah Imām, Muhammad al-Bāqir
• 03 Rajab, death of Twelver Imām, ‘Alī al-Naqī
• 04 Rajab 949 AH birth of great Mughal Emperor, Akbar
• 05 Rajab, birth of Twelver Imām, ‘Alī al-Naqī
• 06 Rajab, Sufi of Chishti Order celebrate the anniversary of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti
• 07 Rajab, Twelvers observe the Festival of Imam Musa al-Kazim in dedication of Musā' al-Kādhim.
• 09 Rajab, birth of ‘Alī al-Asghar
• 10 Rajab, birth of Twelver Imām, Muhammad al-Taqī
• 13 Rajab, birth of the first Shī‘ah Imām, ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib
• 18 Rajab, death of Abraham (In accordance with Shi'a Islam)
• 22 Rajab, Koonday (table cloth dinner) is organized by Shi'a Muslims of South Asia. It is an occasion for Muslims to discuss Allah and the Ahlul Bayt and to strengthen ties among the community with love and compassion. It is reported to be a practice instructed by 6th Shī‘ah Imām, Ja‘far as-Sādiq. It is purported to be the day Mu'āwiyah died; however, this view has emerged in the recent past and is disputed.
• 24 Rajab, victory to Muslims in the Battle of Khaybar
• 25 Rajab, death of Twelver Imām, Musā' al-Kādhim
• 27 Rajab, non-Salafi Sunni Muslims, along with Shī‘ah Muslims observe the Mi'raj (the day Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven). It is a national holiday in some Muslim countries.
• 28 Rajab, Husayn ibn ‘Alī started his journey to Karbalā from Medina.
• 28 Rajab 1342 A.H. (3 March 1924), the Ottoman Caliphate was abolished by Mustafa Kamal Ataturk
• In the year 5 A.H Bilal ibn Harith is reported to have brought a congregation of four hundred men named Banu Muzeena in the presence of Prophet Muhammad. They all embraced Islam.
• The Battle of Tabouk took place in the year 9 A.H. This was the last battle which Muhammad participated in.
• The second Oath of Aqabah took place in Rajab, 12 A.H.
• Jerusalem was captured by Saladin in the month of Rajab, 583 A.H.

External links

• Islamic-Western Calendar Converter (Based on the Arithmetical or Tabular Calendar)
• Conversion of Islamic and Christian dates (Dual)
• Monthly Profiles of the Islamic Calendar(Copyright)
• The Night Journey: The Spiritual Significance of Isra and Mi`raj