Rajab () is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of the classical Arabic verb rajaba is "to respect", which could also mean "be awe or be in fear", of which Rajab is a derivative.
This month is regarded as one of the four sacred months (including Muharram, Dhu al-Qadah and Dhu al-Hijjah) in Islam in which battles are prohibited. The pre-Islamic Arabs also considered warfare to be blasphemous during these four months.
Muslims believe Rajab is the month in which âÂÂAlë ibn Abë TÃÂlib, the first Shia Imam and the fourth Rashidun caliph, was born.
Rajab is also the month during which Isra and Mi'raj (Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then through the seven Heavens) took place.
Rajab and ShaÿbÃÂn are a prelude to the holy month of Ramaá¸ÂÃÂn.
The word "Rajab" came from rajà «b (<big>ñìÃÂè</big>), the sense of veneration or glorification, and Rajab was also formerly called Mudhar because the tribe of Mudhar did not change it but rather expected its time to be different than the rest of the Arabs, who changed and altered the months according to the state of war.
The name of Rajab literally means respected, regarded, and admired. It seems that the word is originally a Semitic one. There are two important events during the month, namely the birthday of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muhammad's first revelation in Shia tradition. There are other names for the month, such as Rajab Al-Morrajjab, Rajab Al-Asab, and Rajab Sharif.
The 27th of Rajab is traditionally associated in parts of the Muslim world with the Israþ and Miÿraj, the night journey and ascension of the Prophet Muhammad. Classical Islamic sources, including hadith collections and early historical works such as those of al-Ṭabarë, record accounts of the event, though they differ regarding its exact date. Many Muslim communities observe the 27th of Rajab with prayers, sermons, or devotional gatherings, but scholars note that there is no consensus in early Islamic tradition that the event occurred specifically on this day. While both Sunni and Shia scholars affirm the occurrence of the Israþ and Miÿraj, not all agree on its precise timing, with some considering the 27th of Rajab a later popular attribution rather than a firmly established date.
The Islamic calendar is a purely lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the lunar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Rajab migrates throughout the seasons. The estimated start and end dates for Rajab, based on the Umm al-Qura of Saudi Arabia, are: