Hadith on fasting on the first three days of Rajab

Question

Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Abbas (RadiyAllahu Anhu) has narrated that the most beloved and blessed Prophet ﷺ has said,“The fast of the first day of Rajab is an atonement for three years, the fast of the second day an atonement for two years and the fast of the third day an atonement for one year and then the fast of each remaining day is an atonement for one month.” Is this authentic ?

Ikraam Elias Gangat · Accepted Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykumwa-rahmatullāhiwa-barakātuh.

The hadīth in reference is as follows:

Translation “Fasting on the first day of Rajab compensates for the sins of three years, fasting the second day expiates two years of sins and fasting the third day expiates one year of sins, thereafter one month’s sins are expiated for each day of fasting” (Al Jāmi’ Al Saghīr 5051)

The above mentioned hadīth is mentioned in the following books:

1. Fadhāil Shahr Al Rajab of khallāl

2. Al Jāmi’ Al Saghīr

3. Kanz Al ‘Ummāl.

‘Allāmah Munāwī Raḥimahullāh commentating on this hadīth says: [i]

Translation: “this hadīth is very weak.”

Ibn Rajab Raḥimahullāh says regarding specific virtues for fasting in the month of rajab: [ii]

“There is no specific virtue regarding the fasting of rajab mentioned by Nabī Ṣallāhu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam or the sahāba radyallahu ‘anhum.”

Ibn taymiyyah Raḥimahullāh says the following:[iii]

“All the ahādīth which mention fasting specifically fasting in the month of rajab are fabricated.”

Ibn Al Qayyim Raḥimahullāh says the following:[iv]

Translation: “every hadīth that mentions fasting on specific days of rajab and performing salāh on specific nights of rajab are fabricated.”

Therefore one should refrain from quoting the hadīth in reference.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Ikraam Elias Gangat

Student - Darul Iftaa

Zambia

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

(2021-02-17)

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