Rajab (Arabic: رجب) is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of Rajaba is "to respect", of which Rajab is a derivative.
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.
Muslims believe Rajab is the month in which ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib, the first Imam of Shia Islam and Fourth Caliph of Sunni Islam, was born inside the Kaaba, the most sacred place of worship for Muslims.
The month is also a prelude to the month of Ramadan, which follows after the intervening month of Allāhumma bārik lanā fī rajaba wa shaʻbāna wa balligh-nā ramaḍāna
"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)."
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:
01 Rajab, birth of Shī‘ah Imām, Muhammad al-Bāqir
03 Rajab, death of Twelver Imām, ‘Alī al-Naqī
05 Rajab, birth of Twelver Imām, ‘Alī al-Naqī
06 Rajab, Many Sufi followers of the Chishti tariqa (path) celebrate the anniversary of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti
07 Rajab, Twelvers observe the Festival of Imam Musa al-Kazim in dedication of Musā' al-Kādhim.This is so that we do not miss celebrating the birth of the 7th Imam which took place in the month of Safar. In the 7th month (Rajab), on the 7th day we celebrate the birth of 7th Imam.
08 Rajab, Shayk Sultan Nazim adil Al Haqqani passes away, a Turkish Cypriot Sufi Muslim sheykh and spiritual leader of the Naqshbandi tariqa.
09 Rajab 932 AH, the Battle of Panipat and the establishment of the Mughal Empire
09 Rajab, birth of ‘Alī al-Asghar
10 Rajab, birth of 9th Imam Twelver Imām, Muhammad al-Taqī
13 Rajab, birth of ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib
14 Rajab, passing of Shayk Habib Ahmad Mashoor al Hadad Bin Taha
15 Rajab, death of Zainab bint Ali
16 Rajab, birth of Gulam Ghous Qadri Sadik shah baba
18 Rajab, death of Abraham (In accordance with Shi'a Islam)
20 Rajab, birth of Sakina bint Hussain
22 Rajab, Koonday (table cloth dinner) is organized by Shiites (Not all, as it is controversial) among 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 purported to be the day Mu'āwiyah died
24 Rajab, victory to Muslims in the Battle of Khaybar
25 Rajab, death of 7th Imam Twelver Imām, Musā' al-Kādhim
26 Rajab, death anniversary of Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib, Uncle of Muhammad and father of Imam Ali
27 Rajab, Majority of 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 Kemal Atatürk
In the year 5 A.H Bilal ibn al-Harith is reported to have brought a congregation of four hundred men named Banu Muzeena in the presence of Muhammad. They all embraced Islam.
The Battle of Tabouk took place in Rajab, 9 A.H. (October 630)
The second Oath of Aqabah took place in Rajab, 12 A.H. (September 633)
Jerusalem was captured by Saladin in the month of Rajab, 583 A.H. (September/October 1187)
Nakba Day on 6 Rajab 1367 A.H. (15 May 1948)
