Fasting on Miraaj day – 27 Rajab

Question:
Some people believe that the 27th Rajab is a highly blessed night which they called ‘laylat al-mab‘ath’. They claim that it is recommended to have Ghusl (bath) on this day and to observe sawm (fasting). This day is one of the four days that are specified for highly recommended fasting during the whole year. The reward of observing fasting on this day is mentioned to be equal to seventy years fasting. Is this saheeh?

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

With regard to fasting the month of Rajab, there is no saheeh hadeeth to indicate that there is any special virtue in fasting all or part of this month.

What some people do, singling out some days of Rajab for fasting, believing that they are better than others, has no basis in sharee’ah.

There is a report from the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) which indicates that it is mustahabb to fast during the sacred months (and Rajab is one of the sacred months). The Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “Fast some days of the sacred months and not others.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2428; classed as da’eef by al-Albaani in Da’eef Abi Dawood.

Even if this hadeeth were saheeh, it indicates that it is mustahabb to fast during the sacred months. So if a person fasts during Rajab because of this, and he also fasts in the other sacred months, there is nothing wrong with that. But singling out Rajab for fasting is not right.

Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) said in Tabyeen al-‘Ajab (p. 11)
There is no saheeh hadeeth that would count as evidence which speaks of the virtue of the month of Rajab, or that speaks of fasting this month or part of it, or of spending any particular night of it in prayer.

Shaykh Sayyid Saabiq (rahimahullah) said in Fiqh as-Sunnah (1/282):
Fasting in Rajab is no better than fasting in any other month, except that it is one of the sacred months. There is no report in the saheeh Sunnah to suggest that there is anything special about fasting in this month. Whatever has been narrated concerning that is not fit to be quoted as evidence. End quote.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullah) was asked about fasting on the twenty-seventh of Rajab and spending that night in prayer. He replied:
Fasting on the twenty-seventh of Rajab and spending that night in prayer is a bid’ah (innovation), and every bid’ah is a going astray. End quote.

Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 20/440.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (rahimahullah) said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (25/290):
As for fasting in Rajab in particular, the ahaadeeth concerning that are all da’eef (weak), and in fact mawdoo’ (fabricated). The scholars do not rely on any of them. They are not among the da’eef ahaadeeth which have been narrated concerning virtues, rather most of them are fabricated and false. In al-Musnad and elsewhere there is a hadeeth which says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined fasting the sacred months, namely Rajab, Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, but this has to do with fasting during all of them, not just Rajab. End quote.

Shaykh Saalih al-Munajjid