Hadith on fasting on the first three days of Rajab

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

As-salāmu ‘alaykumwa-rahmatullāhiwa-barakātuh. 

The hadīth in reference is as follows: 

صوم أول يوم من رجب كفارة ثلاث سنين والثاني كفارة سنتين والثالث كفارة سنة ثم كل يوم شهرا (الجامع الصغير 5051)

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]

حديث ضعيف جدا 

Translation: “this hadīth is very weak.” 

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

(لم يصح في فضل صوم رجب بخصوصه شيء عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ولا عن أصحابه- لطائف المعارف) 

“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]

(وأما صوم رجب بخصوصه فأحاديثه كلها ضعيفة بل موضوعة- مجموع الفتاوى) 

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

Ibn Al Qayyim Raḥimahullāh says the following:[iv]

(وكل حديث في ذكر صوم رجب وصلاة بعض الليالي فيه فهو كذب مفترى - المنار المنيف)  

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)