The Shaykh’s remarks on singling out Rajab for fasting and on what is called the Prayer of Longings.

The Shaykh : On this occasion, I would like to say to the brother questioner that there are some who single out Rajab for fasting, fasting the entire month of Rajab. This is a religious innovation (bid'ah), not a recommended practice (sunnah). Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) once entered his home and found his family had gathered a measure of water, preparing to fast in Rajab. He broke the measure and said: “Do you want to make Rajab like Ramadan?” 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) used to strike people when he saw them fasting until they put their hands to food in Rajab. There is no special virtue in fasting in Rajab; it is like the other months. Whoever is accustomed to fasting on Mondays and Thursdays should continue, and whoever is accustomed to fasting on the white days (the 13th, 14th, and 15th) should continue. There is no specific fasting for this month. This is the second point.
Third: In some Islamic countries, there is a prayer on the first Friday night of Rajab, between Maghrib and 'Isha', called the Prayer of Longings (Salat al-Raghayib), consisting of twelve rak'ahs. This also has no validity, and its hadith is fabricated and falsely attributed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The Shaykh al-Islam said: “It is fabricated and falsely attributed, by the consensus of the people of knowledge of hadith.” Therefore, there is no specific prayer in Rajab, neither on its first Friday, nor on its first Friday night, nor on the night of its middle. Rajab is like the other months regarding prayers.