I never saw the Prophet ﷺ seeking to fast on a day that he favored more than another except this day, the day of 'Ashura', and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan.  

مَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَتَحَرَّى صِيَامَ يَوْمٍ فَضَّلَهُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ إِلاَّ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَهَذَا الشَّهْرَ يَعْنِي شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ  

he attributed this to the Prophet ﷺ: He was asked which prayer is best after the obligatory prayers and which fasting is best after the month of Ramadan? He said: (1) The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the one offered in the middle of the night, and (2) the best fast after the month of Ramadan is the fast in the Month of Allah: al-Muharram.  

سُئِلَ أَىُّ الصَّلاَةِ أَفْضَلُ بَعْدَ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ وَأَىُّ الصِّيَامِ أَفْضَلُ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ أَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ الصَّلاَةُ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ وَأَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صِيَامُ شَهْرِ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمِ  

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as Shaban.' He said: 'That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting."'  

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ أَرَكَ تَصُومُ شَهْرًا مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ  

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as Shaban.' He said: 'That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2357)  

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ لَمْ أَرَكَ تَصُومُ مِنَ شَهْرٍ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ «ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبَ وَرَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الْأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ»  

I said: Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting ˹more˺ in any month like you fast in Shaʿbān. He said, "People are heedless in that month between Rajab and Ramaḍān and it is the month where deeds are raised up to the Lord of the worlds. Therefore I prefer that my deeds are raised up while I'm fasting."  

قُلتُ: يَا رَسُولَ الله! لَمْ أَرَاكَ تَصُومُ مِنْ شَهْرٍ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ؟ قَالَ: «ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ، وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الأعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبَ الْعَالمِينَ، فَأُحِبُّ أنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِى وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ۔»  

When the Prophet ﷺ on the day of 'Ashurah and commanded us to fast on it, they (i.e. Companions) said: Messenger of Allah, this is a day which is considered great by Jews and Christians ? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When the next year comes, we shall fast on the 9th of Muharram. But the next year the Messenger of Allah ﷺ breathed his last.  

سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ حِينَ صَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَأَمَرَنَا بِصِيَامِهِ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ يَوْمٌ تُعَظِّمُهُ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا كَانَ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ صُمْنَا يَوْمَ التَّاسِعِ فَلَمْ يَأْتِ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever is tried with something from daughters, and he is patient with them, they will be a barrier from the Fire for him."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «مَنِ ابْتُلِيَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْبَنَاتِ فَصَبَرَ عَلَيْهِنَّ كُنَّ لَهُ حِجَابًا مِنَ النَّارِ۔»  

"Whoever has three daughters and is patient towards them, and feeds them, gives them to drink, and clothes them from his wealth; they will be a shield for him from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.'"  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ ثَلاَثُ بَنَاتٍ فَصَبَرَ عَلَيْهِنَّ وَأَطْعَمَهُنَّ وَسَقَاهُنَّ وَكَسَاهُنَّ مِنْ جِدَتِهِ كُنَّ لَهُ حِجَابًا مِنَ النَّارِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ۔»  

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Whoever from the ˹mothers˺ had three daughters who protected them, had mercy on them, and provided for them, Jannah is absolutely mandated for him." It was said: O Messenger of Allah, what if there were two? He said, "Even if there were two." The ˹narrator˺ said: the people held the opinion that if were asked of him about one, he would have said it even for one.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: «مَنْ كُنَّ لَهُ ثَلَاثُ بَنَاتٍ يُؤْوِيهِنَّ وَيَرْحَمُهُنَّ وَيَكْفُلُهُنَّ وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ الْبَتَّةَ۔» قَالَ: قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ اثْنَتَيْنِ؟ قَالَ: «وَإِنْ كَانَتْ اثْنَتَيْنِ۔» قَالَ: فَرَأَى بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ أَنْ لَوْ قَالُوا لَهُ وَاحِدَةً لَقَالَ وَاحِدَةً۔  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whenever a man performs his wuḍūʾ (ritual ablution) intending to pray and (1) he washes his hands, the sins of his hands fall down with the first drop. When (2) he rinses his mouth and (3) nose, the sins of his tongue and lips fall down with the first drop. When (4) he washes his face, the sins of his hearing and sight fall down with the first drop. When (5) he washes his arms to his elbows and (6) his feet to his ankles, he is purified from every sin and fault like the day he was born from his mother.”

He ˹also˺ said, "If he stands for prayer, Allah will raise his rank by a degree. ˹And thus,˺ when he sits, he will sit faultless.”  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ: «أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ قَامَ إِلَى وَضُوئِهِ يُرِيدُ الصَّلَاةَ ثُمَّ (١) غَسَلَ كَفَّيْهِ نَزَلَتْ خَطِيئَتُهُ مِنْ كَفَّيْهِ مَعَ أَوَّلِ قَطْرَةٍ۔ فَإِذَا (٢) مَضْمَضَ (٣) وَاسْتَنْشَقَ وَاسْتَنْثَرَ نَزَلَتْ خَطِيئَتُهُ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَشَفَتَيْهِ مَعَ أَوَّلِ قَطْرَةٍ۔ فَإِذَا (٤) غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ نَزَلَتْ خَطِيئَتُهُ مِنْ سَمْعِهِ وَبَصَرِهِ مَعَ أَوَّلِ قَطْرَةٍ۔ فَإِذَا (٥) غَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ (٦) وَرِجْلَيْهِ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ سَلِمَ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ هُوَ لَهُ وَمِنْ كُلِّ خَطِيئَةٍ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ۔»

قَالَ: «فَإِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ رَفَعَ اللهُ بِهَا دَرَجَتَهُ وَإِنْ قَعَدَ قَعَدَ سَالِمًا۔»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Fast on the day of Ashura and be different from the Jews. Fast a day before it or a day after it."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ صُومُوا يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَخَالِفُوا فِيهِ الْيَهُودَ صُومُوا قَبْلَهُ يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْدَهُ يَوْمًا  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Rajab is a great month in which Allah multiplies the rewards. So whoever fasts for a day in Rajab, it is as if he has fasted for a whole year. And whoever fasts for seven days, the seven gates of Hell will be closed to him. And whoever fasts for eight days, the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him. And whoever fasts for ten days, Allah will grant him whatever he asks for. And whoever fasts for fifteen days, a caller will announce in the heavens: 'May Allah forgive what has passed for you, so start anew.' And whoever does more, Allah will increase it. And in Rajab, Allah carried Noah in the ark, so he fasted in Rajab and commanded his companions to fast. The ark set sail with them for six months, until they landed on Mount Judi. And Noah and those with him expressed gratitude to Allah. And on the day of Ashura, Allah split the sea for the children of Israel. And on the day of Ashura, Allah accepted the repentance of Adam and the city of Yunus. And in Rajab, Ibrahim ﷺ was born."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «رَجَبٌ شَهْرٌ عَظِيمٌ يُضَاعِفُ اللهُ فِيهِ الْحَسَنَاتِ فَمَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا مِنْ رَجَبٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَامَ سَنَةً وَمَنْ صَامَ مِنْهُ سَبْعَةَ أَيَّامٍ غُلِّقَتْ عَنْهُ سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ وَمَنْ صَامَ مِنْهُ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ فُتِحَتْ لَهُ ثَمَانِيَةُ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ وَمَنْ صَامَ مِنْهُ عَشَرَةَ أَيَّامٍ لَمْ يَسْأَلِ اللهَ شَيْئًا إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ وَمَنْ صَامَ مِنْهُ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا نَادَى مُنَادٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ قَدْ غُفِرَ لَكَ مَا مَضَى فَاسْتَئْنِفِ الْعَمَلَ وَمَنْ زَادَ زَادَهُ اللهُ ﷻ وَفِي رَجَبٍ حَمَلَ اللهُ نُوحًا فِي السَّفِينَةِ فَصَامَ رَجَبًا وَأَمَرَ مَنْ مَعَهُ أَنْ يَصُومُوا فَجَرَتْ بِهِمُ السَّفِينَةُ سِتَّةَ أَشْهُرٍ آخِرُ ذَلِكَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ أُهْبِطَ عَلَى الْجُودِيِّ فَصَامَ نُوحٌ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ وَالْوَحْشُ شُكْرًا لِلَّهِ ﷻ وَفِي يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أفْلَقَ اللهُ الْبَحْرَ لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَفِي يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ تَابَ اللهُ ﷻ عَلَى آدَمَ ﷺ وَعَلَى مَدِينَةِ يُونُسَ وَفِيهِ وُلِدَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ﷺ»  

[Machine] “Whoever fasts one day in Rajab, it is equivalent to fasting a month; whoever fasts seven days of it, the seven gates of Hell are closed to him; whoever fasts eight days of it, the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him; whoever fasts ten days of it, God will replace his evil deeds with good deeds; and whoever fasts eighteen days of it, a caller will proclaim: ‘God has forgiven you what has passed, so begin your deeds anew.’”  

"مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا مِنْ رَجَب عَدِلَ صِيَامَ شَهْر، وَمَنْ صَامَ مِنْه سَبْعَةَ أَيام أُغْلِقَت عَنْهُ أَبْوَابُ الجَحِيم السَّبعَةِ، وَمَنْ صَام منه ثمانيةَ أَيَّام فتحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الجَنةِ الثمَانِيَةِ، وَمَنْ صَامَ مِنْهُ عَشْرَةَ أَيَّامٍ بَدَّلَ اللهُ سَيئاتِه حَسَنَاتٍ، وَمَنْ صَامَ مِنْهُ ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا، نَادَى مُنَادٍ أَنَّ الله قَدْ غَفَرَ لَكَ مَا مَضَى فَاسْتَأنِفِ العَمَلَ".  

[Machine] Whoever fasts one day in Rajab, it is like fasting for a year. Whoever fasts seven days, the seven gates of Hell are shut against him. Whoever fasts eight days, the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him. Whoever fasts ten days, he does not ask God for anything except that He grants it to him. Whoever fasts fifteen days, a caller from heaven proclaims: “I have forgiven you what has passed, so begin your deeds anew; I have replaced your bad deeds with good deeds.” And whoever does more, God increases for him.

And in Rajab, Noah was carried in the Ark, and Noah fasted and commanded those with him to fast; and the Ark carried them for six months, until the end of that, on the tenth day of Muharram.  

"مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا مِنْ رَجَبٍ كانَ كَصِيَامِ سَنَة، وَمَن صَامَ سَبْعَةَ أَيَّامٍ غُلِّقَتْ عَنْهُ سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَاب جَهَنَّمَ، وَمَن صَامَ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ فُتِّحَتْ لَهُ ثَمَانِيَةُ أَبْوَابِ الجَنَّةِ، وَمَنْ صَامَ عَشْرَةَ أَيَّامٍ لَمْ يَسْألِ اللهَ شَيئًا إِلا أَعْطَاهُ، وَمَن صَامَ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا نَادَى مُنَادٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ: قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكَ مَا سَلَفَ، فَاسْتَأنِف العَمَلَ، قَدْ بَدَّلتُ سيئاتِكَ حَسَنَات، وَمَن زَادَ زَادَهُ اللهُ، وفِي رَجَبٍ حُمِلَ نُوح بِالسَّفِينة وَصَامَ نُوحٌ وَأَمَرَ مَنْ مَعَهُ أَنْ يَصُومُوا، وَجَرَت بِهِم السفِينَةُ سِتَّةَ أَشْهُر إِلَى آخِرِ ذَلِكَ لِعَشْر خَلَوْنَ مِن المُحَرمِ".  

[Machine] On the authority of ʿAṭāʾ: ʿUrwah said to ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar, “Did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast in Rajab?” He said, “Yes, and he would honor it.”  

"عَنْ عطاء أَنَّ عُرْوَة قَالَ لِعَبْد الله بن عُمرَ: هَلْ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ يَصُومُ في رَجَب؟ قَالَ: نَعم وَيُشَرفَهُ".  

[Machine] “Rajab is indeed a great month in which good deeds are multiplied; whoever fasts one day of it is like fasting for a year.”  

"إِنَّ رجبًا شهرٌ عظيمٌ، تُضاعَفُ فيه الحسناتُ، مَنْ صَامَ يومًا منه كان كصِيامِ سَنَةٍ".  

[Machine] “Whoever fasts the first day of Rajab, that is counted as the fasting of a year. Whoever fasts seven days, seven gates of the Fire are closed to him. And whoever fasts ten days of Rajab, a caller from heaven proclaims: ‘Ask, and you shall be given.’”  

"مَنْ صَامَ أَوَّلَ يَوْم مِن رَجَب عُدِلَ ذَلِكَ بِصِيَامِ سَنَة، وَمَن صَامَ سَبْعَةَ أَيَّام أُغْلِقَ عَنْهُ سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَاب النِّيرَان، وَمَن صَامَ مِن رَجَب عَشْرَةَ أَيَّامٍ نَادَى مُنَاد مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَنْ سَلْ تعْطَه".  

[Machine] “From Abu Qilābah, who said: In Paradise there is a palace for those who fast in Rajab.”  

"عَنْ أَبِى قَلَابَةَ قَالَ: فِى الْجَنَّةِ قصرٌ لِصُوَّامِ رَجَب".  

“When death comes while ones in seeking knowledge there is but one rank between him and the Prophets: the rank of Prophethood.”  

«مَنْ أَتَاهُ الموْتُ وهُو يَطلُبُ العِلمَ، كَانَ بَيْنَهُ وبَينَ الأنْبِياءِ دَرَجَةٌ واحِدَةٌ: درَجَةُ النُّبوَّ.»  

[Machine] “In Rajab there is a night in which the deeds of the doer are recorded as the good deeds of a hundred years. That is on the night when three nights remain of Rajab. Whoever prays on it twelve rak‘ahs, reciting in each rak‘ah the Opening of the Book (al-Fātiḥah) and a sūrah from the Qur’an, and recites the tashahhud in every two rak‘ahs and gives salām at the end of them, then says: ‘Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest’ one hundred times, and seeks Allah’s forgiveness one hundred times, and sends blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ one hundred times, and supplicates for himself whatever he wishes concerning the affairs of his worldly life and his Hereafter, and reaches the morning fasting—then Allah answers all of his supplication, except if he supplicates for an act of disobedience.”  

"فِي رَجَبٍ لَيلَةٌ يُكْتَبُ لِلعَامَلِ فيهَا حَسَناتُ مِائَةِ سَنَةٍ، وَذَلِكَ لِثَلاثٍ بقينَ من رَجَب، فَمَنْ صَلَّى فيهَا اثْنَتَى عَشْرَةَ رَكَعَةً يقْرَأُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَة فَاتحَةَ الْكتَابِ، وَسُورَةً مِنَ القْرآنِ، يَتَشَهَّدُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَتَين, وَيُسَلِّمُ فِي آخِرِهِنَّ، ثُمَّ يَقُولُ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُ للهِ, وَلَا إلهَ إلا اللهُ، وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ مائَةَ مَرَّة، وَلْيَسْتَغفِر اللهَ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ، وَيُصَلِّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مائَةَ مَرَّةٍ، وَيَدْعُو لِنَفْسِهِ مَا شَاءَ مِن أمْرِ دُنيَاهُ وآخِرَتِهِ، وَيُصْبِحُ صَائمًا، فَإِنَّ اللهَ يَسْتَجِيبُ دُعَاءَهُ كُلَّهُ، إلا أن يَدْعُوَ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ".  

[Machine] Rajab is one of the sacred months, and its days are written upon the gates of the sixth heaven. If a man fasts one day of it and renews his fast with mindfulness of God, the gate and the day speak, saying: “O Lord, forgive him.” But if he does not complete his fast with mindfulness of God, they do not ask forgiveness for him, and it is said: “Your soul has deceived you.”  

"رجبٌ منْ شُهُور الْحُرُمِ، وأَيَّامه مكْتُوبةٌ علَى أَبْواب السَّماءِ السَّادسة، فإِذا صام الرَّجُلُ منْه يوْمًا وجدَّد صوْمه بتقْوى اللَّه نطق البَابُ ونطق الْيوْمُ قالا: يارب اغْفرْ لهُ، وإِذا لمْ يُتمَّ صوْمه بتقْوى اللَّه لمْ يسْتغفْرا، وقيل: خَدعتْكَ نَفْسُكَ".  

[Machine] “Sha‘ban is between Rajab and the month of Ramadan; people are heedless of it. In it the deeds of the servants are raised up, so I love that my deeds not be raised except while I am fasting.”  

"شَعْبانُ بَيْنَ رَجَب وَشَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ تَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ يُرْفعُ فِيهِ أَعْمَال الْعِبَادِ فَأُحِبُّ أَلَّا يُرْفَعَ عَملىِ إِلَّا وأَنا صائِمٌ".  

[Machine] “Increase in seeking forgiveness in the month of Rajab, for God has, in every hour of it, people freed from the Fire; and God has cities that none may enter except those who fast the month of Rajab.”  

"أكثروا من الاستغفارِ في شهرِ رَجبٍ، فإِنَّ للهِ في كل ساعة مِنْه عُتَقَاءَ من النارِ، وإن للهِ مدائنَ لا يدخلها إلا من صام شهر رجب".  

[Machine] “The choicest of God’s months is the month of Rajab, and it is God’s month. Whoever venerates God’s month of Rajab has venerated God’s command, and whoever venerates God’s command, He will admit him to the Gardens of bliss and will make His greatest pleasure incumbent for him.

Shaban is my month; whoever venerates the month of Shaban has venerated my command, and whoever venerates my command, I will be for him a forerunner and a ذخيرة (a reserve/treasure) on the Day of Resurrection.

The month of Ramadan is the month of my community; whoever venerates the month of Ramadan and venerates its sanctity and does not violate it, and fasts its days, and stands in prayer at its nights, and guards his limbs, will depart from Ramadan with no sin for which God will call him to account.”  

"خِيرة اللَّه من الشهور: شَهْرُ رجَب، وهو شهرُ اللَّه، من عَظَّم شهر اللَّه رجب فقد عظَّم أمر اللَّه ومن عظَّم أَمر اللَّه أَدخله جناتِ النعيم، وأَوجبَ له رضوانه الأكبر،

وشعبانُ شهرى، فمن عظَّم شَهْرَ شعبانَ فقد عظم أَمْرى، ومن عَظَّم أَمرى كنت له فرَطًا وذخرًا يومَ القيامةِ،

وشهرُ رمضان شهرُ أُمَّتِى، فمن عظم شهرَ رمضان وعظَّم حُرمَتَه، ولم ينتهكه، وصام نهاره، وقام ليله، وحفظ جوارحه، خرج من رمضان وليس عليه ذنب يطلبه اللَّه بهِ".  

[Machine] On the authority of ʿĀʾishah, she said: A woman mentioned to her that she fasts in Rajab, so she said: If you must fast a month, then fast Shaʿbān, for in it there is merit.  

"عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: أنَّ امَرَأَةً ذَكرَتْ لَهَا أَنَّهَا تَصُومُ رَجَب، فَقَالتْ: إِنْ كُنُتِ صَائِمَةً شَهرًا لَا مَحَالَةَ، فَعَلَيْكِ بِشَعْبَانَ؛ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ الفَضْلَ".  

"Rajab is the month of Allah, and Sha'ban is my month, and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah."  

"رجبٌ شَهْرُ اللَّه، وشَعْبانُ شَهْرى، ورمضَانُ شَهْرُ أُمَّتى".  

“Indeed, in Paradise there is a river called Rajab; its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. Whoever fasts one day in Rajab, Allah will give him to drink from that river.”  

"إِنَّ فِى الجَنَّةِ نَهْرًا يُقَالُ له رَجَبٌ، ماؤُهُ أشَدُّ بَيَاضًا مِنَ الَّلبَنِ، وَأَحْلَى مِنَ العَسَل مَن صَامَ يوْمًا من رَجَب سَقَاهُ اللَّه مِنْ ذَلك النَّهرِ".  

[Machine] “In Rajab there is a day and a night: whoever fasts that day and stands in prayer that night will be like one who has fasted for a hundred years and stood in prayer for a hundred years. It is when three days remain of Rajab, and in it Allah, the Exalted, sent Muhammad.”  

"فِي رَجَب يَوْمٌ وَلَيلَةٌ، مَنْ صَامَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ، وَقَامَ تِلْكَ اللَّيلَةَ كانَ كمَنْ صَامَ مِن الدَّهْرِ مائَةَ سَنَةٍ، وَقَامَ مائَةَ سَنَةٍ، وَهُوَ لثَلاثٍ بَقينَ من رَجَبٍ وَفيه بَعَثَ اللهُ تَعَالى مُحَمَّدًا".  

A man from among the Muslims came from the land of Yemen and said to ʿUmar: “In Yemen I have seen something they call ‘dating’ (the calendar): they write ‘from such-and-such a year and such-and-such a month.’” ʿUmar said: “This is good—so date your documents.”

When he had resolved to establish a dating system, he consulted them. Some said: “From the Prophet’s ﷺ birth.” Others said: “From the beginning of his mission.” Others said: “From the time he set out as an emigrant from Makkah.” And one said: “From the time of his death, when he passed away.” Some said: “Date it from his departure from Makkah to Medinah.”

Then he said: “With what shall we begin, so that we make it the first of the year?” They said: “Rajab, for the people of the pre-Islamic period used to venerate it.” Others said: “The month of Ramadan.” Some said: “Dhu al-Hijjah.” Others said: “The month in which he departed from Makkah.” Others said: “The month in which he arrived.” Then ʿUthmān said: “Date it from Muharram as the first of the year. It is a sacred month; it is the first of the months in the reckoning; and it is when people return from the Hajj. So make Muharram the first of the year.” That was in the year 17 AH, and it is also said: 16 AH, in Rabiʿ al-Awwal.  

"أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ قَدِمَ "مِنْ" أَرْضِ اليَمَنِ فَقَالَ لِعُمَرَ: رَأَيْتُ باليَمَنِ شَيْئًا يُسَمُّونَهُ التَّارِيخَ، يَكْتُبُونَ مِنْ عَامِ كَذَا، وَشَهْرِ كَذَا، فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: إِنَّ هَذَا لَحَسَنٌ فَأرِّخُوا،

فَلَمَّا أجْمَعَ "عَلَى" أَنْ يُؤَرِّخَ شَاوَرَهُمْ، فَقَالَ قَوْمٌ: بِمَوْلِدِ النَّبِىِّ ﷺ ، وَقَالَ قَوْمٌ: بِالمَبْعَثِ، وَقَالَ قَوْمٌ: حِينَ خَرَجَ مُهَاجِرًا مِنْ مَكَّةَ، وَقَالَ قَائِلٌ لوفاته حِينَ تُوفِّى، فَقَالَ قَوْمٌ: أَرِّخُوا خُرُوجَهُ مِنْ مَكَّةَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ،

ثُمَّ قَالَ: بِأىِّ شَىْءٍ نَبْدَأُ فَنُصَيِّرُهُ أَوَّلَ السَّنَةِ؟ فَقَالُوا: رَجَبٌ فَإنَّ أَهلَ الجَاهِلِيَّة كَانُوا يعظمونه، وَقَالَ آخَرُونَ: شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ، وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: ذُو الحِجَّةِ، وَقَالَ آخَرُونَ: الشَّهْرُ الَّذِى خَرَجَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ، وَقَالَ آخَرُونَ: الشَّهْرُ الَّذِى قَدِمَ فِيهِ، فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ: أرِّخوا مِنَ المُحَرَّم أَوَّلَ السَّنَةِ، وَهُوَ شَهرٌ حَرَامٌ، وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ الشُّهُورِ في العِدَّةِ، وَهُوَ مُنْصَرَفُ النَّاسِ مِنَ الحَجِّ، فَصَيِّرُوا أَوَّلَ السَّنَةِ المُحَرَّمَ، وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ سَنَةَ سَبْعَ عَشْرَةَ، وَيُقَالُ: سِتَّ عَشْرَةَ في رَبِيعٍ الأَوَّلِ".  

[Machine] Rajab is a great month; in it Allah multiplies good deeds. Whoever fasts one day of Rajab, it is as though he fasted a year; whoever fasts seven days of it, the gates of Hell are closed to him; whoever fasts eight days of it, the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him; whoever fasts ten days of it, he will ask Allah for nothing except that He gives it to him; whoever fasts fifteen days of it, a caller from the sky will call out: “You have been forgiven for what has passed, so begin your deeds anew.” And whoever does more, God will increase for him.

And in Rajab Allah carried Noah in the Ark, so he fasted Rajab and ordered those with him to fast; and the Ark carried them for six months, the end of that being the Day of Ashura, when it came down upon al-Judi. So Noah and those with him, and the wild beasts, fasted in thanks to God, Most Glorified and Exalted. And on the Day of Ashura Allah split the sea for the Children of Israel; and on the Day of Ashura Allah accepted the repentance of Adam and of the city of Jonah; and on it Abraham was born.  

"رجبٌ شَهْرٌ عظيمٌ، يضاعِفُ اللَّه فيهِ الحسنات، لمنْ صام يوْمًا مِنْ رجب فَكَأنَّما صام سنةً، ومنْ صام مِنْه سبْعةَ أَيَّام غُلِّقَتْ عَنْه أبْوابُ جهنَّمَ، ومنْ صام منْهُ ثَمانِيةَ أَيَّامٍ فُتِّحتْ لَه ثَمانِيةُ أَبْواب الجنِّةِ، ومنْ صام مِنهُ عشرةَ أَيَّامٍ لَمْ يسْأَل اللَّهَ شَيْئًا إِلَّا أَعْطَاه، ومنْ صام مِنْه خَمْسة عشَر يوْمًا نَادى منَاد مِنَ السَّماءِ، قَدْ غُفِر لَكَ ما مضَى فَاستَأْنْفِ العملَ، ومنْ زاد زَاده اللَّه، وفى رجبٍ حَملَ اللَّه نُوحًا في السَّفينةَ فَصام رجب، وأَمر مَنْ معه أَنْ يصوموا فَجرتْ بهمْ السَّفِينَةُ سِتَّةَ أَشْهر، آخِرُ ذَلَكَ الْيَوْم يوْم عاشُوراءَ، اهْبطَ علَى الجودِىِّ، فَصَام نُوحٌ ومنْ معه، والْوحْشُ شُكْرًا للَّهِ ﷻ وفى يَوْم عَاشُورَاءَ فلَقَ اللَّهُ البَحْرَ لبنى إِسْرائِيل وفى يوم عاشُوراءَ تَاب اللَّه علَى آدم وعلَى مدِينةِ يونُس، وفِيهِ وُلِد إِبْراهِيم".