Could you please shed some light on the following: Laylat ar-raghaib, ‘the Sacred Night of Desires’.
It is one of the most important nights in Islamic history for all human beings. It is the night that the Prophet (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) was transferred from his father to his mother’s womb. It falls on the first Friday of Rajab. All that you wish for on this night, God gives you for the sake of His beloved Prophet (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam).
In Islamic countries they celebrate this night with praising of the Prophet (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam), remembrance of his life, remembrance of Allah in their hearts, salatur raghaib and visits to mosques, which stay open throughout the night until dawn. They do not sleep.
Unfortunately, in this country, no one knows especially Muslims that this most precious night is coming.
Answer
The Hadiths that discuss ‘salatur raghaib’ – like the one above have been declared as fabrications by the reliable Muhaddithun of the ummat.
One should refrain from quoting such narrations and avoid these innovated practices and celebrations. Hafiz Ibn Rajab (rahimahullah) writes: “There is no authentic proof for special Salah to be offered specifically in the month of Rajab.
The Hadiths that are quoted about the virtue of ‘salatur raghaib’ on the night preceding the first Friday are lies, false and unauthentic. These Salah have been labelled as bid’ah according to the majority go the ‘Ulama. …This was first innovated in the fifth century”
(Lataiful Ma’arif, pg.228)
Other references that concur with the above
Tabyinul ‘Ajab of Hafiz Ibn Hajar, pg.7 & 42, Tadhkiratul Mawdu’at of ‘Allamah Muhammad Tahir Al-Fatani, pg.116-117, Al-Masnu’ of Mulla ‘Ali Qari, pg.259- Hadith: 464, Al-Atharul Marfu’ah of Shaykh ‘Abdul Hay Lakhnawi, pg.44 & 48, and Raddul Muhtar (Shami) vol.2 pg.26.
In addition to the above, several ‘Ulama have written dedicated booklets in refutation of salatur raghaib.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar