Moon not sighted, Rajab to begin on Sunday

The month of Rajab would commence from Sunday February 14.

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC) Chairman Maulana Abdul Kabir Azad on Friday announced that the crescent moon for the month of Rajab has not been sighted.

He said the month of Rajab would commence from Sunday February 14.

The meeting of Zonal Committee Islamabad was presided over by Maulana Abdul Kabir Azad and attended by Allama Sajjad Naqvi, Pir Muhammad Mumtaz Ahmed Zia Nizami, Maulana Muhammad Iqbal Naeemi, Mufti Abdul Salam Jalali, Maulana Haroon-ur-Rashid and Maulana Abu Bakar.

Rajab

Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of Rajab denotes its importance, honor, and glory. This month was invariably called by several names. It was called Rajab al-`Asam (the silent month) because during this month, the Arabs would lay down their arms in respect of its inviolability and there would be no sound of fighting or warfare. It was called Rajab al-Asab (the month of inundation) because the mercy of Allah almighty descends in great abundance in this month. It was also called Rajab al-Murajjab in reference to its exalted and sublime status.

The Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha‘ban is my month and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah’. [Suyuti]

Rajab was divinely selected for three historic and momentous events:

1. The marriage of the noble parents of the Prophet (saw)

2. Aminah, the noble mother of the Prophet (saw) becoming pregnant with the Best of Creation (saw)

3. The miraculous Night Journey & Ascension (Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj), which took place on the 27th night of Rajab, according to the dominant opinion. You can read more about this journey in our previous article.

4. The gift of our five daily prayers, which ground our days in the worship of Allah

5. The last two ayat of Surah Baqarah, of which the Prophet (saw) said, ‘Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah Baqarah in the night, it will suffice him’. [Bukhari]

6. Allah’s gift to the believers: Whoever dies believing in Allah and not associating anything with Him, will enter Paradise. [Nasa’i]

Rajab is also known as the Month of Tawbah (repentance) and the Month of Istighfar (seeking forgiveness).

The seventh Imam, Musa b. Jaʿfar (‘a) (d. 183 AH / 799 AD) said: “Whoever fasts one day in the month of Rajab has the fire (of hell) kept away from him the distance of one year, while whoever fasts three days (in this month) has paradise become incumbent for him.”