Four Sacred Months

In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

"Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein" (Tawbah 9:36)

ثَلَاثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ: ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَان
The Prophet said regarding the four sacred months, "Three are in succession; Dhul-Qa`dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumada (Ath-Thani) and Sha`ban. (Al Bukhaari (4662) and Muslim (1679): Narrated from Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with him))
The Prophet said "Rajab of Mudar'' to attest to the custom of Mudar, in saying that Rajab is the month that is between Jumada and Sha`ban, not as the tribe of Rabi`ah thought, that it is between Sha`ban and Shawwal, which is Ramadan in the present calendar.
The four Sacred Months were made four, three in succession and one alone, so that the Hajj and `Umrah are performed with ease.

• Dhul-Qa`dah, the month before the Hajj month, was made sacred because tribes refrained from fighting during that month and people start to travel for Hajj.


• Dhul-Hijjah, the next month, was made sacred because it is the month of Hajj, during which Hajj rituals are performed.


• Muharram, which comes next, was made sacred so that people are able to go back to their areas in safety after performing Hajj.


• Rajab, in the middle of the lunar year, was made sacred so that those coming from the farthest areas of Arabia are able to perform `Umrah and visit the House of Allah and then go back to their areas safely.

Me'raj (Holy Ascension) of the Prophet Muhammad(saw))

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing. (Surah Al-Isra:1)

By the Star when it goes down. Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled. Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him: He was taught by one mighty in Power, Endued with Wisdom: For he appeared (in stately form). While he was in the highest part of the horizon: Then he approached and came closer, And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer; So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant - (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey. The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw. Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw? Near the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass: Near it is the Garden of Abode. Behold, the Lote-tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!). (His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong! For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest! (Al-Najm: 1-18)

At an age of fifty two, probably on 27th Rajab, before the year of the Hijrah (migration) from which the Muslim calendar began, the Prophet’s Meraj or ascension took place; This was an important milestone in the life of Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, and also a highly significant reminder to us of the special gift from Allah of the minimum five-times daily prayers.

a) On that day, Allah, swt, honored prophet Muhammad, PBUH, by transporting him to the heavens and showing him a panorama of the cosmos, where Allah also tutored him in various sciences.

b) On that day, Prophet Muhammad was mandated that Muslims should pray a minimum of five-times daily salat, reduced from the original 50 times.

c) On that day, an important conversation took place between Allah, swt, and Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, which is rehearsed many times daily by millions of Muslims all over the world, soon after they sit down after the second prostration (sajdah) to recite the tashahhud (Declaration of Faith), also called A-tahiyyat (greetings), because Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, brought greetings to Allah, swt, on behalf of himself and also on behalf of his followers.

To know in detail, please read the below document:

http://www.prophetmuhammadforall.org/webfiles/downloads/urdu/safarnama.pdf