❖ Special Acts of Worship on the 27th of Rajab: An Analysis of Narrations
🖋 Compiled by: Tawheed.com
Common Questions:
① Is it accurate to categorically reject acts of worship on the 27th of Rajab, especially when Imam Ibn Hajar رحمه الله mentions some related narrations in his book Tabyīn al-ʿAjab?
② There exists a narration in Shuʿab al-Īmān discussing actions on the night of the 27th of Rajab. Can such narrations justify specifying this night for special worship?
③ Is there any Hadith stating that Allah accepts prayers during or after Fajr? Please provide its reference and explanation.
There is no authentic narration regarding the virtue of the month of Rajab, fasting on any particular day, or designating any night for worship. Imam Ibn Hajar رحمه الله compiled all such weak and fabricated narrations in his book Tabyīn al-ʿAjab bimā Wurida fī Rajab and commented on them in detail.
At the beginning of Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, he states:
"لَم يَرِد في فضل شهر رجب، ولا في صيامه، ولا في صيام شيءٍ منه معيّنٍ، ولا في قيامِ ليلةٍ مخصوصةٍ فيه، حديثٌ صحيحٌ يصلح للحجة."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 2)
Translation:
There is no authentic Hadith about the virtue of the month of Rajab, or fasting during it, or designating a specific night for worship that can serve as valid proof.
Imam Ibn Hajar discussed five narrations pertaining to fasting on the 27th of Rajab and performing worship during that night. He analyzed each and concluded that none of them are authentic—each being either weak (ḍaʿīf) or fabricated (mawḍūʿ).
"Whoever offers twelve rak‘ahs of prayer on the night of the 27th of Rajab..."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 14)
Ruling: Bāṭil (Fabricated) — Ibn Hajar classified this as a false Hadith.
"In Rajab, there is a day and a night: whoever fasts on that day and worships on that night will get the reward of fasting for 100 years..."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 21)
Ruling: Munkar — One of the narrators, Hayyāj ibn Bastām, is weak and unreliable.
"In Rajab there is a night in which one’s deeds are recorded equivalent to a hundred years..."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 21)
Ruling: Ibn Hajar called its chain “dark” (isnād muẓlim), meaning unreliable.
"I was commissioned as a Prophet on the 27th of Rajab..."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 22)
Ruling: Isnād munkar and bāṭil — Ibn Hajar ruled it rejected and fabricated.
"Whoever fasts on the 27th of Rajab will receive the reward of fasting for sixty months..."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 22)
Ruling: Mawqūf — Narrated from Abū Hurayrah, not from the Prophet ﷺ, and its chain is weak.
After thorough analysis, Imam Ibn Hajar رحمه الله concluded that:
There is no valid proof to specify the 27th of Rajab for any particular act of worship.
Therefore, designating this day or night for worship is not correct in Sharī‘ah.
The exact wording you mentioned does not appear in any authentic Hadith, but a similar meaning is found in the Hadith reported in Musnad Ahmad:
"يَنْزِلُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا لِنِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ الْآخِرِ..."
(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith: 14544, Published by: Mu’assasat al-Risālah)
Translation:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Allah, the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven in the latter half of the night and says:"
❝Who is there to call upon Me so that I may answer him?
Who is there to ask from Me so that I may grant him?
Who is there to seek forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?❞
This announcement continues until the time of Fajr or shortly thereafter.
This Hadith is Ḥasan (sound) and is transmitted through numerous authentic chains. Imam al-Dhahabī has referenced this Hadith in his book Kitāb al-Arbaʿīn fī Ṣifāt Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn.
Worship on 27th Rajab:
There is no authentic Hadith supporting special acts of worship on this date. Hence, it is not permissible to specify this day or night for ‘ibādah based on weak or fabricated reports.
✔ Du‘ās at Fajr:
While general du‘ās during the last part of the night and before Fajr are recommended due to authentic Hadiths, these are not exclusive to the 27th of Rajab.
🖋 Compiled by: Tawheed.com
❖ Questions Regarding Worship on the 27th of Rajab
Common Questions:
① Is it accurate to categorically reject acts of worship on the 27th of Rajab, especially when Imam Ibn Hajar رحمه الله mentions some related narrations in his book Tabyīn al-ʿAjab?
② There exists a narration in Shuʿab al-Īmān discussing actions on the night of the 27th of Rajab. Can such narrations justify specifying this night for special worship?
③ Is there any Hadith stating that Allah accepts prayers during or after Fajr? Please provide its reference and explanation.
❶ Acts of Worship on the 27th of Rajab and Their Shar‘i Status
✦ General Clarification:
There is no authentic narration regarding the virtue of the month of Rajab, fasting on any particular day, or designating any night for worship. Imam Ibn Hajar رحمه الله compiled all such weak and fabricated narrations in his book Tabyīn al-ʿAjab bimā Wurida fī Rajab and commented on them in detail.
✦ Ibn Hajar’s Explicit Statement:
At the beginning of Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, he states:
"لَم يَرِد في فضل شهر رجب، ولا في صيامه، ولا في صيام شيءٍ منه معيّنٍ، ولا في قيامِ ليلةٍ مخصوصةٍ فيه، حديثٌ صحيحٌ يصلح للحجة."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 2)
Translation:
There is no authentic Hadith about the virtue of the month of Rajab, or fasting during it, or designating a specific night for worship that can serve as valid proof.
✦ Ibn Hajar’s Analysis of 27th Rajab-Related Narrations:
Imam Ibn Hajar discussed five narrations pertaining to fasting on the 27th of Rajab and performing worship during that night. He analyzed each and concluded that none of them are authentic—each being either weak (ḍaʿīf) or fabricated (mawḍūʿ).
① First Narration:
"Whoever offers twelve rak‘ahs of prayer on the night of the 27th of Rajab..."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 14)
Ruling: Bāṭil (Fabricated) — Ibn Hajar classified this as a false Hadith.
② Second Narration:
"In Rajab, there is a day and a night: whoever fasts on that day and worships on that night will get the reward of fasting for 100 years..."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 21)
Ruling: Munkar — One of the narrators, Hayyāj ibn Bastām, is weak and unreliable.
③ Third Narration:
"In Rajab there is a night in which one’s deeds are recorded equivalent to a hundred years..."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 21)
Ruling: Ibn Hajar called its chain “dark” (isnād muẓlim), meaning unreliable.
④ Fourth Narration:
"I was commissioned as a Prophet on the 27th of Rajab..."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 22)
Ruling: Isnād munkar and bāṭil — Ibn Hajar ruled it rejected and fabricated.
⑤ Fifth Narration:
"Whoever fasts on the 27th of Rajab will receive the reward of fasting for sixty months..."
(Tabyīn al-ʿAjab, p. 22)
Ruling: Mawqūf — Narrated from Abū Hurayrah, not from the Prophet ﷺ, and its chain is weak.
Conclusion on 27th Rajab:
After thorough analysis, Imam Ibn Hajar رحمه الله concluded that:
There is no valid proof to specify the 27th of Rajab for any particular act of worship.
Therefore, designating this day or night for worship is not correct in Sharī‘ah.
❷ Regarding the Acceptance of Du‘ās at Fajr or After
The exact wording you mentioned does not appear in any authentic Hadith, but a similar meaning is found in the Hadith reported in Musnad Ahmad:
✦ Hadith Reference:
"يَنْزِلُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا لِنِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ الْآخِرِ..."
(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith: 14544, Published by: Mu’assasat al-Risālah)
Translation:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Allah, the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven in the latter half of the night and says:"
❝Who is there to call upon Me so that I may answer him?
Who is there to ask from Me so that I may grant him?
Who is there to seek forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?❞
This announcement continues until the time of Fajr or shortly thereafter.
✦ Ruling on This Hadith:
This Hadith is Ḥasan (sound) and is transmitted through numerous authentic chains. Imam al-Dhahabī has referenced this Hadith in his book Kitāb al-Arbaʿīn fī Ṣifāt Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn.
Conclusion on Fajr Du‘ās:
- There are authentic narrations about Allah’s descent during the last third of the night.
- This time is one of the most favorable periods for du‘ā acceptance.
- However, no specific virtue is attached to Fajr on the 27th of Rajab, and no exclusive prayer or du‘ā for this date is mentioned in authentic texts.
Final Summary:
Worship on 27th Rajab:There is no authentic Hadith supporting special acts of worship on this date. Hence, it is not permissible to specify this day or night for ‘ibādah based on weak or fabricated reports.
✔ Du‘ās at Fajr:
While general du‘ās during the last part of the night and before Fajr are recommended due to authentic Hadiths, these are not exclusive to the 27th of Rajab.
