Rajab Friday: Significant anniversary for deepening faith identity in Yemenis’ souls
It commemorates the first day they embraced Islam collectively, peacefully, and without combat, through the call of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) carried to them by Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him).
The anniversary of Rajab Friday represents an important milestone that revives Yemen’s authentic faith identity. It affirms Yemen’s early role in supporting Islam and embodies the reality of their faith and the depth of their connection to Almighty God, their acceptance of God as Lord, Islam as religion, and the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), as Prophet and Messenger.
The first Friday of the month of Rajab is an occasion that renews the covenant of Yemenis’ faith and sincerity to God, strengthens unity and social solidarity. The commemoration of Rajab Friday is not limited to official and popular events; it is also accompanied by many acts of worship, prayers, and visits to relatives, which enhance love , tolerance among Yemenis, their families, and society at large.
On this religious occasion, cultural seminars, religious chants, and devotional songs are held to reinforce the faith identity in the hearts of Yemenis. Communal banquets are also organized, to which everyone is invited in many Yemeni regions, making the occasion an opportunity to draw lessons and reflections—especially in light of confronting malicious calls that seek to divert the compass of truth and the path of the Islamic nation away from its religion and creed.
On Rajab Friday, Yemenis recall their historic role in supporting Islam and its message from the very beginning, particularly through their reception of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). This marked a pivotal stage in Yemen’s history, during which Islam spread fully throughout the country and Yemen became a cornerstone in supporting the religion. The occasion is also a reaffirmation of the authentic faith identity and a deepening of Yemenis’ attachment to the Muhammadan message.
Scholars affirm that the anniversary of Rajab Friday is a great and noble occasion that manifests in this blessed month, in addition to its unique significance to the people of Yemen and its special place in their hearts, reflecting their response to the call of Islam and their support for the Noble Messenger (peace , blessings be upon him and his family).
In celebration of the occasion, the local authority in Sana’a Governorate launched last week a series of activities and festive events marking Rajab Friday. This year’s commemoration coincides with the heinous American crime that insulted the Holy Qur’an, under the slogan: “In Victory for the Book of God and in Deepening the Faith Identity.”
Sana’a Governor Abdulbasit Al-Hadi emphasized the importance of celebrating Rajab Friday, given its profound meanings that reinforce the faith identity and cultivate a culture of jihad in the cause of God.
He described the anniversary as an important station for renewing the covenant and loyalty to Almighty God and His Messenger, and for strengthening the faith identity with which God and His Messenger distinguished the people of Yemen. He explained that Rajab Friday reflects the close attachment of Yemenis to the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and adherence to their path.
Governor Al-Hadi also addressed the repeated insults to Islamic sanctities, foremost among them the Holy Qur’an, the latest being the crime committed by an American offender who insulted the Qur’an, amid shameful silence , humiliating submission by Arab and Islamic regimes and peoples.
He renewed the call for the nation’s duty to stand up for the Holy Qur’an and confront repeated insults that express abhorrent hatred toward Islam and Muslims, urging the consolidation of devotion to God in people’s hearts, the embrace of the spirit of jihad, distancing from personal ambitions and worldly temptations.
The governor further stressed the importance of unity to confront enemies and forces of hegemony led by “America, Britain, and the Zionist entity,” along with their tools among normalization regimes.
For his part, First Deputy Governor Hamid Asim noted that commemorating Rajab Friday embodies the Yemeni faith identity established by ancestors who responded to the message of Islam carried to them by Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him).
He stated that Rajab Friday marks the day when the Yemeni people manifested their embrace of Islam and their allegiance to Almighty God and His Noble Messenger, adding that commemorating the anniversary renews the Islamic identity ingrained in Yemenis since the dawn of Islam—an identity attested to by the Prophet himself (peace , blessings be upon him and his family) in his saying: “Faith is Yemeni, and wisdom is Yemeni.”
In turn, the head of the New Sana’a Court, Khaled Shams Al-Din, expressed Yemenis’ pride and joy in Rajab Friday as the anniversary of Islam’s entry into Yemen, speaking of the virtues of the people of Yemen and their status with Almighty God and the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him and his family).
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Yemeni Scholars Association, Allama Taha Al-Hadhari, affirmed the importance of commemorating Rajab Friday to recall the greatness of the true Islamic religion and to root the faith identity.
He urged making the most of the occasion to acquire faith-based values and principles, to follow the path of the Prophet’s supporters (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), to seek beneficial knowledge, strengthen factors of steadfastness, and continue supporting Al-Aqsa.
Al-Hadhari pointed out that the supporters of the Messenger from the tribes of Aws and Khazraj were among the first to defend Islam and be martyred for its sake, and that their descendants today continue to fulfill this duty in confronting enemies who, by all means, seek to fragment the Islamic nation and undermine its sanctities—foremost among them the Holy Book of God, which falsehood cannot approach from before it or behind it.
For his part, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Yemeni Scholars Association, Allama Khaled Mousa, reviewed aspects of the Yemeni people’s history in supporting the Noble Messenger since the dawn of the call and spreading it across the world.
He stressed the importance of preserving the Yemeni people’s faith identity established by their ancestors and entrenching it among younger generations, in a way that contributes to confronting and thwarting the enemies’ schemes aimed at tearing apart the fabric of the Islamic nation and erasing its faith identity.
Mousa also praised the positions of the revolutionary leadership, the armed forces, and all Yemenis in supporting the land of steadfastness, championing the cause of Al-Aqsa Mosque, confronting forces of arrogance and their agents in the region.