It is narrated from Kharsha bin Hurr that he said:
“I saw Umar bin Khattab beating up some people, who kept fasts during
month of Rajab to such an extent that they broke their fasts; and said:
Rajab? What is Rajab? Rajab is month, which the people of Jahiliyya used to
regard as important. When Islam arrived it was given up.”1
Allamah Amini says: This matter shows negligence of Caliph from
different aspects:
First aspect
A traditional report is recorded especially about fast of Rajab month and its
encouragement by reminding about its considerable divine rewards.2
Second aspect
The statement of His Eminence regarding fasting for three days in every
month, which also includes the month of Rajab.3
Third aspect
The statement of His Eminence regarding the sacred months, Rajab being
one of them.4
Fourth aspect
They are traditional reports that His Eminence encouraged fasting
throughout the year on alternate days and the month of Rajab is also a part of
year.1
Fifth aspect
They are traditional reports saying that it is recommended to fast on all days
and people are encouraged for it, whichever month it might be.2
All jurists of the four schools of jurisprudence consider fasting in the month
of Rajab recommended, except Hanbalis, who say that fasting in the month of
Rajab is detestable, except that on one day of the month one should not fast, as in
that case the detestability is removed.3 This view is also perhaps taken from the
book of Ihyaul Uloomdeen,4 where the author says:
“Some companions, regarded fasting during the month of Rajab detestable
as similarity would appear with month of Ramadhan and I don’t think that after
reading these reports as compared to traditional reports of Ibne Majah, which
only he has narrated, you would believe it is of any value. He has narrated from
Ibne Abbas that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) prohibited fasting during month of
Rajab.”
Even if the report of Ibne Majah is authentic, it is opposed to widely
narrated reports of the same kind. And it regards the fast of Rajab as
recommended and encourages them and scholars of the four schools of Islamic
law have issued verdicts on its basis. And where are these authentic and
numerous traditional reports and where are the reports of Ibne Majah?
Reports, which are weak due to presence of Dawood bin Ata. Bukhari5 and
Abu Zara have said that Dawood bin Ata is a denier of traditions. He narrated
unidentified and unfamiliar traditions; traditions, whose apparent meaning is not
correct and only Ibne Majah has narrated these reports. Experts of traditions do
not accept such traditions.
Abul Hajjaj Mizzi says: Every tradition, which is only narrated by Ibne
Majah is weak. It implies that all traditions, which only he has narrated and five
other persons from the authors of Saheeh books have not narrated.6 I don’t know
after knowing all this, what is the justification of beating up people, who were
fasting to make them break the fast? And what is the meaning of his statement
that:
“Rajab, what is Rajab? It was a month, which people regarded as sacred during period of Ignorance; but when Islam arrived it was abandoned?”