I would like to know whether it is Sunnah to say a particular du‘aa’ on the first night of the month of Rajab?

The du‘aa’ is as follows: “O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha‘baan, and let us reach Ramadan”.

I ask Allah, may He be glorified, to make us steadfast in acting upon the saheeh (sound) Sunnah.


Praise be to Allah.

Firstly: 

There is no saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet
that speaks of the virtues of the month of Rajab. Please see the answers to
questions no. 75394 and 171509 

Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him)
said: 

There is no saheeh hadeeth that speaks of
the virtues of Rajab. The month of Rajab is no different from the month of
Jumaada al-Aakhirah that comes before it, except that it is one of the
sacred months only. Otherwise there is no fast that is prescribed in this
month, and no prayer or ‘umrah or anything else that is prescribed. It is
like all other months. End quote. 

Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh
(174/26). 

Secondly: 

It was narrated by ‘Abdullah, the son of
Imam Ahmad, in Zawaa’id al-Musnad (2346), at-Tabaraani in al-Awsat
(3939), al-Bayhaqi in ash-Shu‘ab (3534) and Abu Nu‘aym in
al-Hilyah (6/269) via Zaa’idah ibn Abi ar-Ruqaad who said: Ziyaad
al-Numayri told us, from Anas ibn Maalik who said: When Rajab began, the
Messenger of Allah (blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “O Allah,
bless us in Rajab and Sha‘baan, and let us reach Ramadan.” 

This isnaad is da‘eef. Ziyaad al-Numayri is
da‘eef and was classed as such by Ibn Ma‘een. Abu Haatim said: He cannot be
quoted as evidence. Ibn Hibbaan mentioned him in ad-Du‘afa’ and said: It is
not permissible to quote him as evidence.

Mizaan al-I‘tidaal
(2/91) 

Zaa’idah ibn Abi ar-Ruqaad is more da‘eef
than him. Abu Haatim said: He narrated from Ziyaad al-Numayri, from Anas,
odd marfoo‘ hadeeths, which we know only from him or from Ziyaad.
Al-Bukhaari said: His hadeeths are odd. an-Nasaa’i said: His hadeeths are
odd. It says in al-Kuna: He is not trustworthy. Ibn Hibbaan said: He
narrates odd hadeeths from well known people and his reports cannot be
quoted as evidence or written down, except for the purpose of giving an
example (of a weak hadeeth). Ibn ‘Adiyy said: al-Miqdami and others narrated
from him obscure hadeeths, and some of his hadeeths contain odd material.

Tahdheeb at-Tahdheeb
(3/305-306). 

The hadeeth was classed as da‘eef by
an-Nawawi in al-Adhkaar (p. 189) and Ibn Rajab in Lataa’if
al-Ma‘aarif (p. 121). It was also classed as da‘eef by al-Albaani in
Da‘eef al-Jaami‘ (4395). Al-Haythami said: 

It was narrated by al-Bazzaar, and its
isnaad includes Zaa’idah ibn Abi ar-Ruqaad. Al-Bukhaari said: His hadeeth is
odd, and a number of scholars regarded him as ignorant.

Majma‘ az-Zawaa’id
(2/165) 

Moreover, the hadeeth – in addition to being
da‘eef – contains nothing to indicate that this should be said on the first
night of the month of Rajab; rather it is a du‘aa’ that asks for blessing
during that month in general terms, which is something that is valid to do
in Rajab and also before Rajab. 

Thirdly: 

With regard to the Muslim asking his Lord to
let him reach Ramadan, there is nothing wrong with that. 

Al-Haafiz Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on
him) said: 

Ma‘alla ibn al-Fadl said: They used to pray
to Allah for six months, may He be exalted, asking Him to cause them to
reach Ramadan, and they used to call upon Him for six months asking Him to
accept it from them. Yahya ibn Abi Katheer said: One of their du‘aa’s was:
“O Allah, keep me safe until Ramadan, keep Ramadan safe for me, and accept
it from me.”

End quote from Lataa’if al-Ma‘aarif
(p. 148) 

Ends.