Question:

What do the scholars and experts of shari’ah say in regards to making du’a during the first night of Rajab?

Answer:

As Muslims, one of the most powerful actions we have been blessed with is the du’a. We have been given a great scope for when and where we can make supplication to our Lord. Allah ﷻ has mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, “Your Lord said call on me and I shall answer you.” (Surah Al-Mu’min:60) In another verse Allah ﷻ says, “If My servants ask you about Me, tell them that I am near, I answer the prayer of the prayerful whenever he prays to Me.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 186).

There are statements from the pious salaf which mention the virtues and blessings of this night. Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar states, “There are five nights in which a supplication is not rejected; the night of Jumu’ah, the first night of Rajab, the night of mid-Sha’ban, the night of ‘Id al-Fitr, the night of ‘Id al-Adha. (Shu’b al-Iman)

Imam Shafi’i mentions, “We have heard the following statement: Without doubt there are five nights in which supplications are accepted; the night of Jumu’ah, the night of ‘Id al-Adha, the night of ‘Id al-Fitr, the first night of Rajab, the night of mid-Sha’ban. (Kitab al-Umm)

However, the ahadith which have been narrated regarding this night have been categorised as mawdu’. It is categorically haram to wrongly attribute a saying to the Prophet ﷺ and one must be wary not to quote the statements of the early generation of scholars as statements of the Prophet ﷺ without any evidence.

And Allah ﷻ knows the best

This Fatwa is written by Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Munir Al-Azhari