The innovation of the prayer of al-Raghā'ib.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : There are things by which some Muslims worship, considering them a means of nearness to Allah, and their hearts find comfort and humility in them. For example, in the first Friday of this month, which I mean the month of Rajab, in the first Friday, they pray twelve rak'ahs between Maghrib and 'Isha' called the prayer of al-Raghā'ib. They pray it in a specific manner and say, "This is the prayer of al-Raghā'ib," and they worship Allah with it, being sincere to Allah. Do we say that this prayer is accepted and prescribed, or not?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : If you said "no," you were wrong. Say it again.
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, if you said "yes," you were wrong. There is a detail to consider. We present the issue to the Qur'an and the Sunnah; this is justice, O brothers. Do not reject something like this arbitrarily. Be those who stand firmly for justice, witnesses for Allah. If you say, "Then be just." We say, upon our eyes and heads, we were not created except for worship and nearness to Allah. We ask Allah not to deprive us of His nearness. In the name of Allah, read the Qur'an: is the prayer of al-Raghā'ib in it?
The student: No, it is not in it.
The Shaykh : Are you sure? Is the prayer of al-Raghā'ib not in the Qur'an? If the Qur'an does not indicate it, read the Sunnah. We read the Sunnah: al-Bukhari and Muslim, the foundational hadiths known among the scholars of knowledge and accepted by them. We did not find it. We did not find it. And whoever wants to know that there is no basis for this prayer, let him read what al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote in a small treatise with a great meaning: *Tabyin al-'Ajab fi ma Warada min Fadl Rajab* (Clarifying the Wonder in What Was Reported Regarding the Virtue of Rajab), or what was reported therein. *Tabyin al-'Ajab*: its hadith is fabricated and invalid; it is not authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Now, if it is not authentic, what is it? Answer, O brothers, with courage.
The student: An innovation.
The Shaykh : It is an innovation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4607Sahih (Al-Albani) And we say, O my brother, do not burden yourself with something that Allah has not prescribed. Be at ease and stick to what is established from the prescribed matters, and leave this. Leave this. Now, that is fine.
The student: No.
The Shaykh : If you said "no," you were wrong. Say it again.
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, if you said "yes," you were wrong. There is a detail to consider. We present the issue to the Qur'an and the Sunnah; this is justice, O brothers. Do not reject something like this arbitrarily. Be those who stand firmly for justice, witnesses for Allah. If you say, "Then be just." We say, upon our eyes and heads, we were not created except for worship and nearness to Allah. We ask Allah not to deprive us of His nearness. In the name of Allah, read the Qur'an: is the prayer of al-Raghā'ib in it?
The student: No, it is not in it.
The Shaykh : Are you sure? Is the prayer of al-Raghā'ib not in the Qur'an? If the Qur'an does not indicate it, read the Sunnah. We read the Sunnah: al-Bukhari and Muslim, the foundational hadiths known among the scholars of knowledge and accepted by them. We did not find it. We did not find it. And whoever wants to know that there is no basis for this prayer, let him read what al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote in a small treatise with a great meaning: *Tabyin al-'Ajab fi ma Warada min Fadl Rajab* (Clarifying the Wonder in What Was Reported Regarding the Virtue of Rajab), or what was reported therein. *Tabyin al-'Ajab*: its hadith is fabricated and invalid; it is not authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Now, if it is not authentic, what is it? Answer, O brothers, with courage.
The student: An innovation.
The Shaykh : It is an innovation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: