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Perpustakaan Nasional : Katalog Dalam terbitan (KDT)
Rajab, Keutamaan & Hukumnya
Penulis : Ahmad Zarkasih, Lc
50 hlm
ISBN: xxx-xxxxxx-xxx

Judul Buku
Rajab, Keutamaan & Hukumnya
Penulis
Ahmad Zarkasih, Lc
Editor
Fatih
Setting & Lay out
Fayyad & Fawwaz
Desain Cover
Syihabuddin
Penerbit
Rumah Fiqih Publishing
Jalan Karet Pedurenan no. 53 Kuningan
Setiabudi Jakarta Selatan 12940

Cetakan Pertama
24 Januari 2020

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 Halaman 4 dari 50

Daftar Isi

Daftar Isi ..................................................................4

Pengantar ................................................................6
Bab 1 : Rajab Bulan Mulia .........................................8
A. Bulan ke-7 Tahun Hijriyah .................................... 8
1. Nama-Nama Bulan Sudah Ada Sebelum Islam ........8
2. Rajab Berarti Mulia ................................................ 10
B. Islam Memuliakan Bulan Rajab .......................... 14
Bab 2 : Keutamaan Bulan Haram ............................ 17
A. Bulan Haram Bulan Mulia .................................. 17
B. Sunnah Puasa di Bulan-Bulan Haram ................. 19
C. Haram Berperang di Bulan Haram ..................... 21
1. Larangan Perang Telah Dihapus ............................ 22
2. Larangan Perang Bulan Haram Tidak Dihapus...... 25
Bab 3 : Puasa Bulan Rajab .....................................29
A. Puasa Bulana Rajab Adalah Sunnah ................... 29
B. Hadits-Hadits Rajab Tidak Shahih....................... 31
C. Melarang Puasa Rajab = Mengacak-Acak Syariah
........................................................................... 34
1. Imam Ibnu Hajar al-Haitami (974 H) ..................... 34
2. Imam Ibnu Shalah (643 H) ..................................... 36
3. Imam al-Shawi (1241 H) ........................................ 37
D. Madzhab al-Hanabilah Memakruhkan .............. 37
E. Hadits Larangan Puasa Rajab ............................. 38
Bab 4 : Do’a Bulan Rajab ........................................ 41
A. Teliti Hadits ........................................................ 41
1. Zaidah bin Abi Al-Roqqod (‫الرقاد‬ ‫ )زائدة به أبي‬..... 43

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 Halaman 5 dari 50
2. Ziyad bin Abdullah Al-Numairi ( ‫زياد به عبد هللا‬
‫ )الىميري‬.................................................................. 43
B. Bolehkah Mengamalkan Dhaif? ......................... 44
C. Doa Harus Berbahasa Arab ................................ 45
D. Tidak Meyakini Ini Sebuah Hadits ...................... 46
E. Mengamalkan Hadits Dhaif ................................ 47
Profil Penulis .........................................................49

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Pengantar

Kalau ada daftar masalah syariah yang rutin

diperdebatkan berulang-berulang setiap tahunnya
oleh kaum muslimin, mungkin masalah puasa
sunnah di bulan rajab masuk di top list daftar
tersebut. Karena sudah bukan rahasia lagi memang
kaum muslim di Indonesia, setiap bulannya
sepanjang tahun tidak pernah lepas dari
memperdebatkan masalah yang memang ulama
sejak dulu kala sudah memperdebatkannya.
Kalau boleh penulis sebutkan beberapanya;
Kalau masuk bulan Muharram, ributnya seputar
merayakan tahun baru Hijriyah, lebaran anak yatim,
dan juga puasa di awal tahun tersebut. Kalau masuk
bulan Rabi’ul-Awal; ya masalahnya the one and only;
Maulid Nabi s.a.w., sunnah atau malah bid’ah?.
Nanti masuk bulan Rajab, masalah yang diributkan,
biasanay puasa sunnah rajab, doa bulan rajab, dan
juga perayan Isra dan Mi’raj. Nanti masuk
Ramadhan, makin banyak lagi yang diributin. Dari
mulai ikut pemerintah atau ikut ormas, niat puasa
Ramadhan, doa buka puasa yang katanya dhaif,
termasuk jumlah rakaat tarawih.
Bukan Cuma bulan Hijriyah, bulan masehi pun
tidak lepas dari banyaknya perdebatan. Yang
biasanya kalau masuk desember, ini bulan yang
paling rame. Dari mulai merayakan Natal, hukum
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 Halaman 7 dari 50
engucapkan selamat Natal, sampai hukum
merayakan tahun baru masehi.
Karena ribut-ribut itulah, penulis berinisiatip
menulis buku kecil ini, yang berisi tentang
penguraian masalah puasa rajab beserta keutamaan
bulan rajab itu sendiri. Tujuannya tentu memberikan
andil untuk umat agar mendapat pencerahan yang
cukup mengenai bulan rajab, sehingga setidaknya
masalah puasa rajab dan sekitarnya hilang dari
daftar keributan rutin umat Islam Indonesia.
Walaupun tidak bisa meredamkan perdebatan itu
semua, setidaknya nanti di hari akhir penulis bisa
memberikan argumen bahwa penulis tidak dia
melihat adanya perdebatan panjang ini. Penulis
berupaya untuk meredam dengan menelurkan buku
kecil ini.
Akhirnya, penulis berdoa agar apa yang tertulis
dalam buku kecil ini menjadi kemnafaatan, bagi
penulis khususnya dan juga bagi para pembaca pada
umumnya. Serta menjadi tambahan timbangan
amal di akhirat kelak.

Selamat membaca

Ahmad Zarkasih

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 Halaman 8 dari 50

Bab 1 : Rajab Bulan Mulia

A. Bulan ke-7 Tahun Hijriyah

Sebagai informasi bagi yang memang belum tahu
atau juga sebagai pengingat bagi yang sudah tahu
dan mungkin lupa, bahwa bulan Rajab dalam
hitungan kelnder Hijriyah adalah bulan ke-7.
Akan tetapi sebelum adanya pembentukan
kalender Hijriyah, bulan Rajab tidak dikenal sebagai
bulan ke-7; karena memang belum ada penomoran
dan urutan bulan. Orang-orang sebelum masa
sayyidina Umar dimana kelender Hijriyah itu
dibnetuk, mengenal bulan Rajab sebagai Bulan
mulia yang berada sebelum bulan Sya’ban dan
sesudah bulan Jumadal-al-Tsaniyah.
1. Nama-Nama Bulan Sudah Ada Sebelum Islam
Yang perlu diketahui juga bahwa memang nama-
nama bulan pada kalender Hijriyah itu bukanlah
wahyu yang turun kepada umat Islam. Justru nama-
nama itu telah ada sebelumnya dan digunakan
berabad-abad lamanya oleh bangsa Arab.
Mereka terbiasa menggunakan bulan sebagai
media untuk menentukan waktu; karena itu
penaggalan mereka disebut dengan al-Taqwim al-
Qamari (kalender Bulan), karena memang basis
perhitungannya bergantung pada bulan. Walaupun
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 Halaman 9 dari 50
ada beberapa suku, khususnya di selatan Jazirah
Arab (Yaman) yang menggunakan matahari sebagai
media menentukan hari.
Kemudian, nama-nama bulan mereka memberi
nama sesuai dengan keadaan alam atau keadaan
sosiologi dan budaya yang mereka lakukan pada
bulan-bulan tersebut. Nah, karena bangsa Arab juga
punya kelas yang berbeda (suku), ini membuat
mereka berbeda pula dalam kebiasaan dan adat dari
setiap masing-masing suku. Karena itu juga,
walaupun menggunakan perhitungan yang sama;
memakai bulan, mereka berbeda-beda dalam
memberikan nama bulannya.
Barulah ketika tahun 412 Masehi terjadi konvensi
para petinggi-petinggi dari lintas suku dan kabilah
bangsa Arab di Mekkah di masa Kilab bin Marrah
(kakek Nabi Muhammad ke-6) untuk menentukan
dan menyatukan nama-nama bulan agar terjadi
kesamaan, serta memudahkan mereka dalam
perdagangan.
Dari perkumpulan itu, muncul 12 nama bulan;
 Muharram
 Shafar
 Rabi’ al-Awwal
 Rabi’ al-Tsani
 Jumada al-Ula
 Jumada al-Tsaniyah
 Rajab
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 Halaman 10 dari 50
 Sya’ban
 Ramadhan
 Syawwal
 Dzul-Qa’dah
 Dzul-Hijjah
Penomoran bulan belum terjadi karena memang
orang-orang arab terdahulu pun tidak tahu bulan
apa yang pertama. Muncul penomoran bulan
qamari ini setelah adanya kebijakan “politik” Umar
bin al-Khaththab yang mengeluarkan perintah untuk
membentuk kalender Islam, dan akhirnya bulan
Muharram ditunjuka sebagai bulan pertama
kalender Islam yang sekarang dikenal dengan
kalender Hijriyah. Setelah itu barulah kemudian ada
nomor urut untuk setiap bulan dalam kalender
qamari ini.
2. Rajab Berarti Mulia
Sebagaimana disebutkan di atas, bahwa orang-
orang sebelum Islam sudah memberikan nama-
nama bulan sesuai dengan kejadian dan pristiwa
khas yang mewarnai waktu tersebut. dan begitu
juga untuk bulan Rajab.
Itu berarti memang sebelum Islam datang, bulan
Rajab sudah menjadi bulan yang dimuliakan oleh
peradaban ketika itu. Salah satu bentuk pemuliaan
yang diberikan untuk bulan Rajab adalah haramnya
darah ditumpahkan dalam bulan itu. Untuk alasan
apapun.
Abu Nashr al-Farabi (393 H) menjelaskan dalam
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 Halaman 11 dari 50
kitabnya al-Shihah Taaj al-Lughah (1/133):

‫ فهو‬،ُ‫وعظَّ ْمتُو‬ ِ ِ
َ ُ‫ أي ىْب تُو‬،‫[رجب] َرجْب تُوُ ابلكسر‬
‫ ألهنم كانوا يع ِظّمونو يف‬،‫ب‬ ‫ج‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ي‬ ُِ ‫ ومنو‬.‫مرجوب‬
‫س‬
ٌ ََ َ ّ ٌ َْ
‫تال‬ ِ ‫يستحلّو َن فيو‬
َ ‫الق‬ ِ ‫اجلاىلية وال‬
Rajab artinya mulia; aku merajabkan sesuatu
yakni memuliakannya dan mengagungkannya,
dan sesuatu itu mulia. Dan karena itulah rajab
dinamakan rajab; karena memang orang-orang
terdahulu di zaman jahiliyah memuliakan bulan
tersebut dan tidak menghalalkan peperangan.

Dan karena kemuliaan Rajab juga, orang-orang

jahiliyah bukan hanya mengharamkan peperangan,
mereka pun memiliki ritual sembelihan ketika masuk
bulan Rajab, untuk memberi makan keluarga dan
orang-orang sekitarnya; sebagai bentuk pemuliaan
dan mengharapkan kemuliaan dari bulan Rajab.
Sembelihan tersebut biasa disebut dengan istilah
“al-rajabiyah”, atau juga “al-‘Atirah”. Itu yang
disebutkan oleh al-Farahidiy (170 H) dalam kitabnya;
Kitab al-‘Ain (6/113).
Dan ketika Islam datang, kemuliaan itu dipertegas
denga banyaknya wahyu serta sabda Nabi s.a.w.
yang menguatkan bahwa Rajab adalah bulan mulia,
yang masuk dalam 4 bulan haram. (selanjutnya
dijelaskan)
Berikut lengkapnya nama-nama bulan Qamari
beserta maknanya (Tafsir Ibn Katsir 4/146 – 147):
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 Halaman 12 dari 50
1. Muharram
[‫ ]محرم‬berarti yang terlarang. Disebut demikian
karena memang pada bulan ini, bangsa Arab
seluruhnya mengharamkan peperangan. Tidak ada
tumpah darah pada bulan ini. ini merupakan hukum
adat yang tak tertulis yang berlaku sejak lama.
2. Shafar
Shafar satu suku kata dengan kata Shifr [‫ ]صفر‬yang
berarti kosong. Bulan ini dinamakan shofar atau
shifr, karena pada bulan ini bangsa Arab
mengosongkan rumah-rumah mereka yang beralih
ke medan perang.
3. Rabi’ al-Awwal
Sesuai namanya, Rabi’ [‫ ]ربيع‬yang berarti musim
semi, bulan ini dinamakan demikian karena memang
itu yang terjadi.
4. Rabi’ al-Tsani
Namanya mengikuti nama bulan sebelumnya
karena musim gugur yang masih berlangsung. Tsani
[‫ ]ثاوي‬artinya yang kedua.
5. Jumada al-Ula
Dulu di masa Jahiliyah, namanya Jumada
Khamsah. Jumada, asal katanya Jamid [‫ ]جامد‬yang
berarti beku atau keras. Dikatakan demikian karena
bulan ini adalah musim panas, yang karena saking
panasnya, air bisa saja membeku, artinya
kekeringan.
6. Jumada al-Tsaniyah
Atau disebut juga Jumada al-Akhirah. Namanya
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 Halaman 13 dari 50
mengikuti bulan sebelumnya.
7. Rajab
Dalam tradisi Arab, bulan Rajab adalah termasuk
bulan yang haram bagi mereka untuk melakukan
peperangan. Artinya haram membunuh ketika itu.
Dinamakan Rajab, karena memang salah satu makna
rajab [‫ ]رجب‬dalam bahasa Arab ialah sesuatu yang
mulia. Maksudnya mereka memuliakan dirinya dan
orang lain dengan tidak membunuhnya. Ada juga
yang mengatakan bahwa Rajab berarti melepaskan
mata pisau dari tombak sebagai symbol berhentinya
perang.
8. Sya’ban
Asal katanya dari syi’b [‫ ]شعب‬yang berarti
kelompok. Dinamakan begitu karena ketika masuk
bulan sya’ban, orang-orang Arab kembali ke
kelompok (suku) mereka masing, dan mereka
berkelompok lagi untuk berperang setalh
sebelumnya di bulan Rajab mereka hanya duduk di
rumah masing-masing.
9. Ramadhan
Berasal dari kata Ramadh [‫ ]رمض‬yang maknanya
ialah panas yang menyengat atau membakar.
Dinamakan seperti itu karena memang matahari
bulan ini jauh lebih menyengat dibanding bulan-
bulan lain sehingga panas yang dihasilkan lebih
tinggi dibanding yang lain.
10. Syawwal
Bangsa Arab mengenal jenis burung an-Nauq
[‫]وىق‬, yang kalau biasanya hamil di bulan ini dan
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 Halaman 14 dari 50
mengangkat sayap serta ekornya sehingga terlihat
kurus badannya burung tersebut. Mengangkat
sayap atau ekor disebut dengan Syaala [‫ ]شال‬yang
merupakan asal kata dari nama bulan syawal.
11. Dzul-Qa’dah
Asal katanya dari qa’ada *‫ ]قعد‬yang berarti duduk
atau istirahat tidak beraktifitas. Dinamakan
demikian karena memang bulan ini orang-orang
Arab sedang duduk dan istirahat dari berperang
guna menyambut bulan haji, yaitu dzul-hijjah yang
mana bulan tersebut adalah bulan diharamkan
perang.
12. Dzul-Hijjah
Sudah bisa dipahami dari katanya bahwa bulan ini
adalah bulannya orang berhaji ke Mekkah. Dan
memang sejak sebelum Islam datang, bang Arab
sudah punya kebiasaan pergi haji dan melakukan
thawaf di ka’bah.

B. Islam Memuliakan Bulan Rajab

Sepertinya sudah bukan rahasia lagi, bahwa
dalam Islam ada yang disebut dengan istilah bulan-
bulan haram; yakni bulan-bulan mulia yang memang
dimuliakan oleh Allah s.w.t. dalam wahyu-Nya.
Dan rajab adalah salah satu bulan dari 4 bulan
yang disbeut dengan bulan haram; yakni
1. dzul-qa’dah,
2. Dzul-hijjah,
3. Muharram, dan

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 Halaman 15 dari 50
4. Rajab.
َِّ ‫اب‬
‫اَّلل‬ َِّ ‫إِ َّن ِع َّد َة الشُّهوِر ِعْن َد‬
ِ َ‫اَّلل اثْنَا َع َشر َش ْهرا ِيف كِت‬
ً َ ُ
‫ض ِمْن َها أ َْربَ َعةٌ ُحُرٌم‬ ْ ِ ‫السمو‬
َ ْ َ َ َ َّ ‫يَ ْوَم َخلَ َق‬
‫ر‬ ‫أل‬ ‫ا‬
‫و‬ ‫ات‬
(Al-taubah63) .Sesungguhnya bilangan bulan pada
sisi Allah adalah dua belas bulan, dalam ketetapan
Allah di waktu Dia menciptakan langit dan bumi,
di antaranya empat bulan haram.

4 bulan yang disebutkan oleh Allah s.w.t. dalam

ayat tersebtu dijelaskan dan dirincikan oleh Nabi
s.a.w. dalam sabdanya.

‫ث‬
ٌ َ‫ ثَال‬: ‫السنَةُ اثْنَا َع َشَر َش ْهًرا ِمْن َها أ َْربَ َعةٌ ُحُرٌم‬ َّ
‫ب‬ ْ ‫ ذُو الْ َق ْع َد ِة َوذُو‬، ‫ات‬
‫اْلِ َّج ِة َوالْ ُم َحَّرُم‬ ِ
ُ ‫ َوَر َج‬. ٌ َ‫ُمتَ َوالي‬
ِ
َ ْ َ‫ضَر الَّذي ب‬
‫ْي ُُجَ َادى َو َش ْعبَا َن‬ َ ‫ُم‬
Dari Abu Bakrah r.a., Nabi s.a.w. bersabda:
“setahun itu ada 12 bulan, dan di antaranya ada 4
bulan mulia, 3 berurutan; Dzul Qa’dah, Dzul Hijjah,
Muharram, dan Rajab Mudhar yang ia itu berada
antara jumada dan sya’ban”. (Muttafaq ‘alaiyh)

Pemuliaan yang diberikan syariat ini tentunya

membuat 4 bulan haram menjadi berbeda denga
bulan-bulan; termasuk dalam hal adab dan
hukumnya.
Jadi bulan-bulan haram adalah; Dzul Qa’dah, Dzul
Hijjah, Muharram, dan Rajab. Dalam disebutkan
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 Halaman 16 dari 50
Rajab Mudhar, bukan berarti Rajab ada banyak
jenisnya. Rajab hanya satu. Disebutkan demikian,
karena dahulu ada 2 suku; Mudhar dan Rabi’ah,
yang masing-masing sangat memuliakan beberapa
bulan hijriyah.
Kaum Rabi’ah sangat menyukai dan
mengagungkan bulan Ramadhan, sedangkan kaum
mudhar sangat menaruh cinta yang dalam kepada
Rajab, sehingga Rajab menjadi bulan yang sangat
dimuliakan oleh kaum ini. Karena itulah, orang-
orang dahulu, menyebut Rajab dengan sebutan
rajab Mudhar. (Syarhu Muslim li an-Nawawi 11/168)
Penulis akan jelaskan di bab selanjutnya.

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 Halaman 17 dari 50

Bab 2 : Keutamaan Bulan Haram

A. Bulan Haram Bulan Mulia

Allah s.w.t. menciptakan manusia dan
memberikan keistimewaan kepada salah seorang di
antara mereka yakni para Rasul dan Nabi-Nya. allah
s.w.t. juga memberikan satu hari di antara hari-hari
yang ada, yakni hari jumat. Dan Allah s.w.t.
memberikan keistimewaan satu malam di antara
malam-malam yang ada, yakni malam lailtul-Qadr.
Sebagaimana dalam surat al-Baqarah ayat 197,
Allah s.w.t juga mengistimewakan shalat al-Wustha
di antara shalat fardhu yang lain, yang mana
beberapa ulama menafsirkan bahwa shalat al-
Wustha itu adalah shalat Ashar. Begitu juga pada
perihal bulan-bulan yang ada, bahwa Allah s.w.t.
memberikan keistimewaan pada bulan-bulan haram
di antara bulan-bulan lainnya.
Imam al-Thabari dalam tafsirnya menukil
perkataan sahabat Ibnu Abbas r.a., perihal
kemuliaan yang Allah s.w.t. berikan untuk bulan-
bulan haram ini:

‫ وعظّم‬،‫خص من ذلك أربعة أشهر فجعلهن ُحُرًما‬َّ

‫ والعمل الصاحل‬،‫الذنب فيهن أعظم‬
َ ‫ وجعل‬،‫ُحُرماهتن‬
.‫واألجر أعظم‬
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 Halaman 18 dari 50
“Allah s.w.t. memberika keistimewaan untuk 4
bulan haram di antara bulan-bulan yang ada, dan
diagungkan kemuliaannya bulan itu, dan
menjadikan dosa yang terbuat serta amal ibadah
yang dilaksanakan menjadi lebih besar ganjaran
dosa dan pahalanya”. (Tafsir al-Thabari 14/238)

Imam Ibnu Katsir dalam tafsir surat yang sama,

beliau menukil perkataan Imam Qatadah, ahli tafsir
dari kalangan Tabi’in:

‫ اصطفى من‬،‫ص َفااي من خلقو‬ َ ‫إن هللا اصطفى‬

‫رسال ومن الناس رسال واصطفى من الكالم‬ ُ ‫املالئكة‬
‫ واصطفى من‬،‫ واصطفى من األرض املساجد‬،‫ذكره‬ َ
‫ واصطفى من األايم‬،‫الشهور رمضا َن واألشهر اْلرم‬
‫ فع ِظّموا‬،‫ واصطفى من الليايل ليلةَ القدر‬،‫يوم اجلمعة‬
‫ فإمنا تعظم األمور مبا عظَّمها هللا عند‬،‫ما عظم هللا‬
.‫أىل الفهم وأىل العقل‬
“Allah s.w.t. mensucikan makhluk-Nya di
antaranya makhluk-makhluk ciptaany-Nya,
mencusikan para rasul dari kalangan malaikat,
mensucikan para Rasul di antara manusia yang
lain, mensucikan dzikir dari perkataan makhluk-
Nya, mensucikan masjid dari tanah-tanah lain,
mensucikan bulan Ramadhan dan bulan-bulan
haram di antara bulan-bulan lain, mensucikan hari
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 Halaman 19 dari 50
jumat di antara hari-hari lain, mensucikan malam
lailatul-qadr di antara malam-malam lain. Maka
muliakanlah apa yang Allah s.w.t. telah muliakan.
Sesungguhnya memuliakan apa yang Allah s.w.t.
muliakan adalah yang dilakukan para ahli ilmu
dan orang-orang berakal.” (tafsir Ibnu Katsir
4/149)

B. Sunnah Puasa di Bulan-Bulan Haram

Ini adalah salah satu bentuk pemuliaan atau
pernghormatan kepada bulan-bulan haram, yakni
berpuasa di dalamnya. Selain untuk memuliakan apa
yang Allah s.w.t. muliakan, berpuasa dan
memperbanyak amal di bulan Haram adalah upaya
memanfaatkan waktu yang Allah s.w.t. sediakan
banyak pahala di dalamnya.
Selain karena memang bulan-bulan haram adalah
bulan mulia, puasa di dalamnya juga disyariatkan
karena memang ada riwayat yang secara eksplisit
mensyaratkan itu. Imam Ahmad dalam musnad-nya,
serta imam Abu Daud dan juga Imam Ibnu Majah
dalam kitab sunan mereka meriwayatkan hadits dari
salah seorang dari suku al-Bahilah:
َِّ ‫اَّلل علَي ِو وسلَّم فَ ُقْلت اي نَِِب‬
‫اَّلل أ َََن‬ َّ َ ُ َ َ َ ْ َ َُّ ‫صلَّى‬ َّ ِ‫ت الن‬
َ ‫َِّب‬ ُ ‫أَتَْي‬
َ َ‫ك َع َام ْاأل ََّوِل ق‬ ِ
‫ال فَ َما ِيل أ ََرى‬ َ ُ‫الر ُج ُل الَّذي أَتَْي ت‬َّ
َِّ ‫ول‬ َ َ‫ك ََن ِح ًال ق‬ ِ
‫ت طَ َع ًاما‬ ُ ‫اَّلل َما أَ َكْل‬ َ ‫ال َاي َر ُس‬ َ ‫ج ْس َم‬
ِّ ‫ال من أَمرَك أَ ْن تُع‬ َّ ِ َِّ ِ َ ‫ِابلن‬
‫ب‬َ َ ‫ذ‬ َ َ ْ َ َ َ‫َّهار َما أَ َكْلتُوُ إال ابللْي ِل ق‬
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‫َش ْهَر‬ ‫ص ْم‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ق‬ ‫ى‬ ‫و‬ ‫َق‬‫أ‬ ‫ّن‬ِِ

‫إ‬ َِّ ‫ول‬
‫اَّلل‬ َ ‫ت َاي َر ُس‬
ُ َ َ َ ْ ّ ُ ‫ك قُ ْل‬ َ ‫نَ ْف َس‬
‫َش ْهَر‬ ‫ص ْم‬ َ َ‫ت إِِّّن أَقْ َوى ق‬
ُ ‫ال‬ ُ ‫الص ِْْب َويَ ْوًما بَ ْع َدهُ قُْل‬ َّ
‫َش ْهَر‬ ‫ص ْم‬ َ َ‫ت إِِّّن أَقْ َوى ق‬
ُ ‫ال‬ ُ ‫ْي بَ ْع َدهُ قُ ْل‬ ِ ْ ‫الص ِْْب ويَوَم‬
ْ َ َّ
‫ص ْم أَ ْش ُه َر ا ْْلُُرِم‬ُ ‫الص ِْْب َوثََالثَةَ أ ََّايٍم بَ ْع َدهُ َو‬
َّ
“aku mendatangi Nabi s.a.w. lalu aku berkata
kepada beliau: “wahai Nabi, aku adalah orang
yang pernah datang kepadamu di tahun
pertama”, Nabi kemudian bertanya: “kenapa
badan kamu menjadi kurus?”, ia menjawab: “aku
–selama ini- tidak makan dalam sehari kecuali
malam saja”, Nabi bertanya: “siapa yang
menyuruhmu menyiksa tubuhmu seperti ini?”, aku
–al-Bahiliy- menjawab: “wahai Nabi, aku ini orang
yang kuat bahkan lebih kuat”, Nabi mengatakan:
“Puasalah bulan sabar –bulan Ramadhan- saja,
dan sehari setelahnya!”, lalu aku menjawab: “aku
lebih kuat dari itu ya Nabi!”, Nabi menjawab:
“kalau begitu, puasa ramadhan dan 2 hari
setelahnya!”, aku menjawab lagi: “aku lebih kuat
dari itu wahai Nabi!”, Nabi berkata: “Kalau begitu,
puasa Ramadhan, kemudian 3 hari setelahnya,
dan puasalah pada bulan-bulan haram!”.

Puasa yang disebutkan adalah puasa secara

mutlak, artinya puasa dengan waktu yang tidak
tertentu, maka puasa di hari ke berapapun dalam
bulan-bulan haram itu tidak masalah, karena
memang itu disunnahkan. Jadi kalau ada yang
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 Halaman 21 dari 50
melarang orang lain untuk puasa di bulan-bulan
haram, bisa jadi ia tidak tahu kemuliaan bulan atau –
ini yang buruk- bisa jadi ia mengingkari kemuliaan
bulan yang Allah s.w.t. sudah muliakan. Naudzu
Billah.

C. Haram Berperang di Bulan Haram

Awalnya, sebelum datang Islam, orang-orang
Arab ketika itu sudah punya aturan tak tertulis yang
dijalankan oleh seluruhnya bahwa dilarang
melakukan peperang pada bulan-bulan haram. Dan
ketika Islam masuk, aturan itu semakin diperkuat
dengan turunnya ayat 217 surat al-baqarah:
mereka bertanya kepadamu tentang berperang
pada bulan Haram. Katakanlah: “Berperang
dalam bulan itu adalah dosa besar; tetapi
menghalangi (manusia) dari jalan Allah, kafir
kepada Allah, (menghalangi masuk)
Masjidilharam dan mengusir penduduknya dari
sekitarnya, lebih besar (dosanya) di sisi Allah” (al-
Baqarah 217)

Ayat inilah yang menginformasikan kepada

seluruh umat Islam bahwa bulan-bulan haram itu
adalah bulan mulia yang diharamkan di dalamnya
untuk menumpahkan darah, siapapun itu, baik
muslim atau non-muslim.
Hanya saja kemudian ulama berbeda pendapat,
beberapa dari mereka mengatakan bahwa
kandungan hukum pada ayat ini, bahwa haram
berperang pada bulan haram telah dihapus
(mansukh) oleh ayat 36 surat al-Taubah. Beberapa
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 Halaman 22 dari 50
lainnya tetap berpendapat bahwa ayat ini tetap dan
tidak dihapus oleh apapun.
1. Larangan Perang Telah Dihapus
Ini adalah pendapat jumhur (mayoritas) ulama
yang menyatakan bahwa ayat larangan berperang
pada bulan haram telah dihapus, dan ini banyak
disebutkan oleh para ahli tafsir, seperti Imam al-
Thabari, Imam Ibnu Katsir, Imam al-Thabrani juga
Imam al-Syaukani dan yang lainnya.
َِّ ‫اب‬
‫اَّلل‬ ِ َ‫اَّلل اثْنَا َع َشر َش ْهرا ِيف كِت‬ َِّ ‫إِ َّن ِع َّد َة الشُّهوِر ِعْن َد‬
ً َ ُ
ِ ِ َّ ‫ي وم خلَق‬
‫ك‬َ ‫ض ِمْن َها أ َْربَ َعةٌ ُحُرٌم َذل‬ َ ‫الس َم َاوات َو ْاأل َْر‬ َ َ َ َْ
‫ين الْ َقيِّ ُم فَ َال تَظْلِ ُموا فِي ِه َّن أَنْ ُف َس ُك ْم َوقَاتِلُوا‬ ِ
ُ ‫ال ّد‬
‫اَّللَ َم َع‬ َّ ‫ْي َكافَّةً َك َما يُ َقاتِلُونَ ُك ْم َكافَّةً َو ْاعلَ ُموا أ‬
َّ ‫َن‬ ِ
َ ‫الْ ُم ْش ِرك‬
‫ْي‬ ِ
َ ‫الْ ُمتَّق‬
“Sesungguhnya bilangan bulan pada sisi Allah
adalah dua belas bulan, dalam ketetapan Allah di
waktu Dia menciptakan langit dan bumi, di
antaranya empat bulan haram. Itulah (ketetapan)
agama yang lurus, Maka janganlah kamu
Menganiaya diri kamu dalam bulan yang empat
itu, dan perangilah kaum musyrikin itu semuanya
sebagaimana merekapun memerangi kamu
semuanya, dan ketahuilah bahwasanya Allah
beserta orang-orang yang bertakwa.” (al-taubah,
36)

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 Halaman 23 dari 50
Imam Ibnu Katsi menjelaskan perihal perintah
memerangi kaum musyrik dalam ayat tersebut
setelah melarang menganiaya:

‫اق مشعر أبنو أمر بذلك أمرا عاما ولو‬ ِ ِ

ِ ‫السي‬
َ ّ ‫َوظَاىُر‬
ُ‫ك أَ ْن يُ َقيِّ َده‬ َ ‫اْلََرِام َأل َْو َش‬
ْ ‫َّه ِر‬ْ ‫َكا َن ُُمََّرًما ِيف الش‬
‫اَّللُ َعلَْي ِو َو َسلَّ َم‬
َّ ‫صلَّى‬ َِّ ‫ول‬ َّ ‫ِابنْ ِس َال ِخ َها َوِأل‬
َ ‫اَّلل‬ َ ‫َن َر ُس‬
‫ف ِيف َش ْه ٍر َحَرٍام َوُى َو ذُو الْ َق ْع َدة‬ ِ ِ‫حاصر أ َْىل الطَّائ‬
َ ََ َ
“secara zahir, teks tersebut mempunyai arti
bahwa perinta memerangi kaum musyrik itu
adalah perintah umum (padahal sebelumnya
melarang aniaya di bulan haram), kalau
seandainya itu diharamkan, pastilah perintah
memerangi musyrik itu diikat perintahnya dengan
perintah menunggu berakhirnya bulan haram.
Dan juga Nabi s.a.w. mengepung kaum Thaif pada
bulan haram dan itu adalah dzulqa’dah.” (tafsir
ibn Katsir 4/149)

Imam al-Thabari menguatkan pendapat tersebut,

dalam kitabnya beliau mengatakan:

‫" يسألونك عن الشهر‬:‫َنسخ لقولو‬ ٌ ‫وإمنا قلنا ذلك‬

‫ لتظاىر األخبار‬،"ٌ‫قتال فيو كبري‬
ٌ ‫قتال فيو قل‬ ٍ ‫اْلرام‬
‫غزا ىوازن حبُنْي وثقي ًفا‬
َ ‫عن رسول هللا ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص أنو‬
‫ وأرسل أاب عامر إىل ْأوطاس ْلرب من هبا‬،‫ابلطائف‬
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 Halaman 24 dari 50

‫ وذلك يف شوال‬،‫اْلرم‬ ُ ‫ يف األشهر‬،‫من املشركْي‬

‫ فكان‬.‫ وىو من األشهر اْلرم‬،‫وبعض ذي القعدة‬
‫القتال فيهن حر ًاما وفيو‬ ُ ‫معلوما بذلك أنو لو كان‬
ً
.‫ كان أبعد الناس من فعلو ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص‬،‫معصية‬
“kami mengatakan bahw ayat itu (al-taubah, 36)
sebagai penghapus ayat ‘ yasalunaka ‘an…..’
karena banyaknya zahir riwayat dari Nabi s.a.w.,
diriwayatkan bahwa beliau memerangi kaum
Hawazan di Hunain dan kaum Tsaqif di Thaif, dan
mengirim Abu ‘Amir ke Authas untuk memerangi
kamu musyrik di situ, dan itu semua terjadi pada
bulan haram, itu terjadi pada syawal dan masuk
ke bulan dzulqa’dah. Dan sudah diketahui
bahwasanya kalau perang di bulan haram
dilarang berarti itu maksiat, dan Nabi s.a.w.
adalah orang yang paling jauh dari maksiat.”
(tafsir al-Thabari 4/314)

Beliau menambahkan:

‫ يف أمر‬- "‫" يسألونك عن الشهر اْلرام قتال فيو‬:‫قولو‬

‫ وما كان من أمرىم‬،‫عبد هللا بن جحش وأصحابو‬
‫ فأنزل هللا يف أمره ىذه اآلية‬،‫وأمر القتيل الذي قتلوه‬
‫يف آخر ُجادى اآلخرة من السنة الثانية من َم ْق َدم‬

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 Halaman 25 dari 50

ُ‫ وكانت وقعة‬،‫رسول هللا ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص املدينةَ وىجرتو إليها‬
‫ُحنْي والطائف يف شوال من سنة مثان من مقدمو‬
،‫املدينة وىجرتو إليها‬
“dan ayat ini ‘yasalunaka ‘an…’ turun pada
perkara Abdullah bin Jahsy dan kawan-kawannya
serta perihal orang yang mereka bunuh (dari
kaum musyrik), Allah s.w.t. menurunkan ayat ini
pada akhir bulan Juamada al-Akhira di tahun ke-2
setelah hijrah Nabi s.a.w., sedangkan kejadian
perang di Hunain dan Thaif itu terjadi di bulan
syawwal pada tahun ke-8 setelah hijrah Nabi
s.a.w. ke madinah”. (Tafsir al-Thabari 4/314)

2. Larangan Perang Bulan Haram Tidak Dihapus

Ini adalah pendapat sebagian ulama yang
sebegaimana disebutkan oleh para ahli tafsir, salah
satu tokoh kepalanya adalah Atha’ bin Aslam bin Abi
Rabbah (114 H) pakar ilmu tafsir dari kalangan
Tabi’in asal yaman yang wafat di Mekah. Imam al-
Qurthubiy menukil pendapat tersebut dan
menyatakan:

‫وز الْ ِقتَا ُل ِيف‬ ُ ُ‫ َوَال ََي‬،ٌ‫ ْاآليَةُ ُُْم َك َمة‬:‫ول‬ُ ‫َوَكا َن َعطَاءٌ يَ ُق‬
‫َن ْاآل َاي ِت الَِِّت‬ َّ ‫ ِأل‬،‫ك‬ ِ ِ ِ ْ ‫ْاألَشه ِر‬
َ ‫ف َعلَى َذل‬ ُ ‫ َوََْيل‬،‫اْلُُرم‬ ُْ
‫اص َوالْ َع ُّام َال‬
ٌّ ‫ وىذا َخ‬،‫وردت بعدىا عامة يف األزمنة‬
:‫ال‬َ َ‫الزبَ ِْري َع ْن َجابِ ٍر ق‬
ُّ ‫ َوَرَوى أَبُو‬.‫اق‬ ٍ ‫اص ِابتَِّف‬
َّ َ‫اْل‬
ْ ‫يَْن َس ُخ‬
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 Halaman 26 dari 50

‫اَّللُ َعلَْي ِو َو َسلَّ َم َال يُ َقاتِ ُل ِيف‬

َّ ‫صلَّى‬ َِّ ‫ول‬
‫اَّلل‬ ُ ‫َكا َن َر ُس‬
َ
‫اْلََرِام إَِّال أَ ْن يُ ْغَزى‬
ْ ‫َّه ِر‬
ْ ‫الش‬
“Atho’ berkata: ayat ini muhkam (tidak dihapus).
Tetap dilarang berperang pada bulan-bulan
haram, dan beliau bersumpah atas pendapatnya
ini, karena ayat larangannya umum untuk semua
zaman, dan perintah memerangi kaum musyrik itu
khusus, dan yang umum tidak dihapus dengan
yang khusus, ini sudah disepakati. Dan
diriwayatkan dari Abu Zubair r.a., beliau berkata:
Rasul s.a.w. tidak berperang pada bulan haram
kecuali jika diserang lebih dulu”. (tafsir al-
Qurthubiy 3/44)

Selain itu, Imam Ibnu Katsir dalam tafsirnya

menjelaskan pendapat Atha’ ini dengan beberapa
ayat di antaranya:

‫اْلََر َام‬
ْ ‫َّهَر‬ َِّ ‫ايأَيُّها الَّ ِذين آمنوا َال ُُِتلُّوا شعائِر‬
ْ ‫اَّلل َوَال الش‬ َ ََ َُ َ َ َ
“Hai orang-orang yang beriman, janganlah kamu
melanggar syi’ar-syi’ar Allah, dan jangan
melanggar kehormatan bulan-bulan haram” (al-
maidah 2)

ِ‫اْلرمات ق‬ ِ ْ ‫َّه ِر‬

‫اص فَ َم ِن‬ ٌ َ ُ َُُْ ‫اْلََرام َو‬
‫ص‬ ْ ‫اْلََر ُام ِابلش‬
ْ ‫َّهُر‬ ْ ‫الش‬
‫اعتَ ُدوا َعلَْي ِو مبِِثْ ِل َما ْاعتَ َدى َعلَْي ُك ْم‬
ْ َ‫ْاعتَ َدى َعلَْي ُك ْم ف‬
‫ْي‬ ِ َّ ‫اَّللَ َو ْاعلَ ُموا أ‬
َّ ‫َواتَّ ُقوا‬
َ ‫اَّللَ َم َع الْ ُمتَّق‬
َّ ‫َن‬
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 Halaman 27 dari 50
“bulan Haram dengan bulan haram, dan pada
sesuatu yang patut dihormati, Berlaku hukum
qishaash. oleh sebab itu Barangsiapa yang
menyerang kamu, Maka seranglah ia, seimbang
dengan serangannya terhadapmu. bertakwalah
kepada Allah dan ketahuilah, bahwa Allah beserta
orang-orang yang bertakwa”. (al-Baqarah: 194)

ِ ْ ‫فَِإ َذا انْ َسلَ َخ ْاألَ ْش ُهُر‬

‫ث‬ ُ ‫ْي َحْي‬ َ ‫اْلُُرُم فَاقْ تُلُوا الْ ُم ْش ِرك‬
‫ص ٍد‬ َ ‫وى ْم َواقْ عُ ُدوا ََلُْم ُك َّل َمْر‬ُ ‫صُر‬
ُ ‫اح‬ْ ‫وى ْم َو‬
ُ ‫وى ْم َو ُخ ُذ‬
ُ ُ‫َو َج ْدُُت‬
‫الزكا َة فَ َخلُّوا َسبِيلَ ُه ْم إِ َّن‬
َّ ‫الصال َة َوآتَ ُوا‬
َّ ‫َقاموا‬ُ ‫فَإ ْن اتبُوا َوأ‬
ِ
‫ور َرِح ٌيم‬
ٌ ‫اَّللَ َغ ُف‬
َّ
“apabila sudah habis bulan-bulan Haram itu,
Maka bunuhlah orang-orang musyrikin itu dimana
saja kamu jumpai mereka, dan tangkaplah
mereka. Kepunglah mereka dan intailah ditempat
pengintaian. jika mereka bertaubat dan
mendirikan sholat dan menunaikan zakat, Maka
berilah kebebasan kepada mereka untuk berjalan.
Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Pengampun lagi Maha
Penyayang.” (al-Taubah: 5)

Dan –ditambahkan- adapun pengepunga tentara

rasul s.a.w terhadap kaum Thaif itu yang terjadi
pada bulan dzulqa’dah tidak bisa dikatakan sebagai
nasikh, karena itu terjadi sejak syawal dan sampai
memasuki bulan dzulQa’dah. Jadi keharaman
perang bulan haram tetap terlarang, akan tetapi
kalau perangnya sudah mulai sejak sebelumnya
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 Halaman 28 dari 50
tidak ada masalah. (Tafsir Ibn Katsir 4/150, Fathul-
Qadir Imam al-Syaukani 2/239)
Artinya memulai perang di bulan haram yang
diharamkan, akan tetapi jika perangnya mulai bukan
di bulan haram, tapi kemudian berlanjut sampai
bulan haram itu tidak mengapa.

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 Halaman 29 dari 50

Bab 3 : Puasa Bulan Rajab

A. Puasa Bulana Rajab Adalah Sunnah

Jumhur ulama umat ini menghukumi bahwa
puasa Rajab itu termasuk ke dalam kelompok puasa-
puasa sunnah yang tentunya jika dikerjakan ada
pahala yang diperoleh, dan tidak ada tanggungan
dosa jika ditinggalkan. Walaupun nanti kita akan
mendapati bahwa madzhab al-hanabilah
memakruhkan itu.
sangat disayangkan sekali jika ada saudara muslim
kita yang terlalu gegabah dan terburu-buru
menghukumi puasa Rajab itu sebagai perbuatan
bid’ah, tanpa melihat dan meneliti dulu apa
pendapat ulama umat ini perihal tersebut.
Masalahnya menjadi rumit, karena konsekuensi
vonis bid’ah kepada saudara muslim, sama saja
memvonis sesat, dan sesat itu tempatnya di neraka,
sebagaimana bunyi haditsnya.
Tapi tidak ada satupun ulama salaf yang
menghukumi bahwa puasa rajab itu sebagai perkara
bid’ah, justru pendapat yang menyalahkan dan
mengatakan puasa rajab itu sebagai bid’ah itulah
yang mengada-ada, karena tidak ada sandarannya.
Kesunahan puasa pada bulan Rajab disandarkan
kepada dalil-dalil umum terkait fadhilah bulan-bulan
Haram (Dzulqa’dah, Dzulhijjah, Muharram, Rajab),
serta kesunahan puasa Muthlaq. Bahkan ada
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 Halaman 30 dari 50
riwayat dari Nabi s.a.w yang memerintahkan salah
seorang sahabat untuk puasa pada bulan-bulan
haram.
Imam Ahmad dalam musnad-nya, serta imam Abu
Daud dan juga Imam Ibnu Majah dalam kitab sunan
mereka meriwayatkan hadits dari salah seorang dari
suku al-Bahilah:
َِّ ‫اَّلل علَي ِو وسلَّم فَ ُقْلت اي نَِِب‬
‫اَّلل أ َََن‬ َّ َ ُ َ َ َ ْ َ َُّ ‫صلَّى‬ َ ‫َِّب‬ َّ ِ‫ت الن‬ ُ ‫أَتَْي‬
َ َ‫ك َع َام ْاأل ََّوِل ق‬ ِ
‫ال فَ َما ِيل أ ََرى‬ َ ُ‫الر ُج ُل الَّذي أَتَْي ت‬ َّ
َِّ ‫ول‬ َ َ‫ك ََن ِح ًال ق‬ ِ
‫ت طَ َع ًاما‬ ُ ‫اَّلل َما أَ َكْل‬ َ ‫ال َاي َر ُس‬ َ ‫ج ْس َم‬
ِ َ َ‫َّها ِر َما أَ َكْلتُوُ إَِّال ِابللَّْي ِل ق‬
‫ب‬َ ‫ال َم ْن أ ََمَرَك أَ ْن تُ َع ّذ‬ َ ‫ِابلن‬
‫ص ْم َش ْهَر‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ق‬ ‫ى‬ ‫و‬ ‫َق‬‫أ‬ ‫ّن‬ِِ
‫إ‬ َِّ ‫ول‬
‫اَّلل‬ َ ‫ت َاي َر ُس‬
ُ َ َ َ ْ ّ ُ ‫ك قُ ْل‬ َ ‫نَ ْف َس‬
‫ص ْم َش ْهَر‬ ُ ‫ال‬ َ َ‫ت إِِّّن أَقْ َوى ق‬ ُ ‫الص ِْْب َويَ ْوًما بَ ْع َدهُ قُْل‬ َّ
‫ص ْم َش ْهَر‬ ُ ‫ال‬ َ َ‫ت إِِّّن أَقْ َوى ق‬ ُ ‫ْي بَ ْع َدهُ قُ ْل‬ ِ ْ ‫الص ِْْب ويَوَم‬
ْ َ َّ
‫ص ْم أَ ْش ُه َر ا ْْلُُرِم‬ُ ‫الص ِْْب َوثََالثَةَ أ ََّايٍم بَ ْع َدهُ َو‬
َّ
“aku mendatangi Nabi s.a.w. lalu aku berkata
kepada beliau: “wahai Nabi, aku adalah orang
yang pernah datang kepadamu di tahun
pertama”, Nabi kemudian bertanya: “kenapa
badan kamu menjadi kurus?”, ia menjawab: “aku
–selama ini- tidak makan dalam sehari kecuali
malam saja”, Nabi bertanya: “siapa yang
menyuruhmu menyiksa tubuhmu seperti ini?”, aku
–al-Bahiliy- menjawab: “wahai Nabi, aku ini orang
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 Halaman 31 dari 50
yang kuat bahkan lebih kuat”, Nabi mengatakan:
“Puasalah bulan sabar –bulan Ramadhan- saja,
dan sehari setelahnya!”, lalu aku menjawab: “aku
lebih kuat dari itu ya Nabi!”, Nabi menjawab:
“kalau begitu, puasa ramadhan dan 2 hari
setelahnya!”, aku menjawab lagi: “aku lebih kuat
dari itu wahai Nabi!”, Nabi berkata: “Kalau begitu,
puasa Ramadhan, kemudian 3 hari setelahnya,
dan puasalah pada bulan-bulan haram!”.

Secara eksplisit hadits ini mendindikasikan bahwa

puasa pada bulan Rajab itu termasuk amalan yang
dibolehkan dan disunnahkan. Kalau seandainya
terlarang, mana mungkin Nabi s.a.w.
memerintahkan orang ini untuk berpuasa pada
bulan tersebut.

B. Hadits-Hadits Rajab Tidak Shahih

Kalau merujuk kepada statusnya hadits-hadits
Nabi s.a.w. yang menyatakan fadhilah atau
keutamaan bulan-bulan Rajab serta puasa di
dalamnya, kita bisa pastikan bahwa hadits-hadits
tersebut adalah hadits yang lemah, bahkan maudhu’
(palsu).
Ini diyakinkan dan diperkuat oleh pernyataan
Imam Ibnu Hajar al-‘Asqalani yang mana beliau
menyusun kitab khusus yang memuat hadits-hadits
tentang Rajab, yaitu kitab Tabyiin al-‘Ujbi fimaa
Warada fi Syahri Rajaba [‫]تبييه العجب فيما ورد في شهر رجب‬.
Tidak Shahih Tidak Berarti Terlarang
Tapi, mesti dibedakan antara hukum panstatusan
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 Halaman 32 dari 50
hadits tersebut dengan hukum amal itu sendiri.
Walaupun memang hadits-hadits puasa rajab itu
tidak dalam derajat yang shahih, bukan berarti
amalan puasa pada bulan ini menjadi haram dan
terlarang.
Ulama sepakat memang menghukumi hadits-
hadits rajab itu sebagai hadits yang tidak shahih,
akan tetapi mereka juga sepakat bahwa kesunahan
puasa pada bulan Rajab tetap ada, bukan dengan
hadots-hadits yang lemah teersebut, melainkan
dengan hadits-hadits umum yang menyatakan
fadhilah puasa Rpada bulan haram (Dzulqa’dah,
Dzulhijjah, Muharram, Rajab).
Ketika menjelaskan tentang puasa pada bulan-
bulan Haram yang mana di dalamnya ada bulan
Rajab, Imam Syaukani (1250 H) menyatakan dalam
kitabnya yang masyhur Nailul-Awthar:

‫ص ْوِم ِو َعلَى الْعُ ُم ِوم‬ ِِ

َ ‫َوقَ ْد َوَرَد َما يَ ُد ُّل َعلَى َم ْشُروعيَّة‬
‫يب‬ِ ‫يث الْوا ِرَدةُ ِيف التَّر ِغ‬ ِ ‫ أ ََّما الْعموم فَ ْاأل‬.‫وص‬ ِ ‫ص‬
ْ َ ُ ‫َحاد‬ َ ُ ُُ ُ ُ‫اْل‬
ْ ‫َو‬
‫اْلُُرِم َوُى َو ِمْن َها ِابِْْل ُْجَ ِاع‬
ْ ‫ص ْوِم ْاألَ ْش ُه ِر‬
َ ‫ِيف‬
“Banyak hadits-hadits yang menunjukkan bahwa
puasa bulan Rajab itu disyariatkan, baik yang
secara umum atau juga secara khusus. Adapun
yang secara umum adalah hadits-hadits yang
datang mengenai anjuran serta motivasi untuk
berpuasa di bulan-bulan Haram, dan itu –
kebolehakn puasa dengan dalil umum- adalah
sebuah Ijma’.” (nailul Awthar 4/292)
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 Halaman 33 dari 50
Sebelum menyatakan pernyataan di atas, beliau
telah mengisyaratkan sebelumnya tentang
kebolahan dan kesunahan puasa Rajab, bahwa itu
adalah kebiasaan para sahabat. Beliau mengatakan:
ِ ِ ِِ ِ ِ
‫إن َش ْعبَا َن‬ َّ " :َ‫ُس َامة‬ َ ‫ ظَاىُر قَ ْولو ِيف َحديث أ‬:ٌ‫فَائ َدة‬
ُ‫ضا َن أَنَّو‬ َ ‫ب َوَرَم‬ ٍ ‫ْي ر َج‬
َ َ ْ َ‫َّاس ب‬ ُ ‫َش ْهٌر يَ ْغ ُف ُل َعْنوُ الن‬
ِ َّ‫َن الظ‬
َّ ‫اىَر أ‬
‫َن الْ ُمَر َاد أَنَّ ُه ْم‬ َّ ‫ب؛ ِأل‬ٍ ‫ص ْوُم ر َج‬
َ َ ‫ب‬ ُّ ‫يُ ْستَ َح‬
‫لص ْوِم َك َما يُ َع ِظّ ُمو َن‬ َّ ‫يَ ْغ ُفلُو َن َع ْن تَ ْع ِظي ِم َش ْعبَا َن ِاب‬
.‫ضا َن َوَر َجبًا بِِو‬
َ ‫َرَم‬
“Faidah: secara zahir, hadits Usamah yang mana
Nabi s.a.w. mengatakan ketika ditanya tentang
puasa Sya’ban: ‘sesungguhnya bulan Sya’ban
dalah bulan yang dilalaikan oleh banyak orang
antara Ramadhan dan Rajab’, ini juga indikasi
kesunahan puasa Rajab; karena secara zahir
maksud dari hadits ini bahwa para sahabat lalai
akan mengagungkan sya’ban dengan puasa
sebagaimana mereka mengagungkan Ramadhan
dan Rajab dengan puasa.” (nailul awthar 4/292)

Maksud pernyataan Imam Syaukani ini adalah

bahwa banyak dari kalangan sahabat itu lupa akan
puasa bulan Sya’ban, dikarenakan bulan itu terjadi
antara 2 bulan yang mana mereka sering berpuasa,
yakni puasa Rajab dan Ramadhan. Berarti memang
puasa Rajab adalah salah satu kebiasaan Sahabat.

muka | daftar isi

Another random document with
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and uttered loud cries of disappointment as they found it strongly
barred against them. The signal of Willimack had come somewhat
sooner than they expected; indeed, they had been waiting for him to
lead Floyd and his soldiers into their ambush, and they were sorely
disappointed when they heard his voice within the stockade.
Nevertheless, they expected an easy prey, for they did not know that
the acute Yankee had taken measures to have the gates put up. He
answered their yells of disappointed rage by wild laughter.
"Haw! haw! haw! Didn't expect that, did yew? Now what dew yew
say abeout the gates, mister?"
"I say that you have saved our lives, and we thank you," replied the
old man. "I was foolish to trust a proverbially treacherous race. What
do you think they will do now?"
"Kan't say," replied the Yankee. "Try tew gammon us, mebbe. It
would be jest like 'em, by gosh. Neow I'm green, I allow; I'm awful
green, that's a petrified trewth. But, I dew think Seth Spink is ekal in
p'int of intellect to any Shawnee on the footstool, saving one man."
"And that man?"
"Tecumseh," replied Seth, shortly. "Now look here: We c'u'd hev had
the good will of that man ef we was a mind tew, but we wouldn't hev
it. Neow let me tell yew that he ain't no fool, the sachem ain't. Thar's
wuss Ginerals in our army, tew. Let it go; we've made a mistake, and
he's our inimy, I'm sorry tew say. These chaps want tew speak tew
yew."
The Indians were pounding at the door of the stockade, and calling
to the Floyds, under the names by which they were known to the
Indians, to come out and speak to them.
"I will answer them," said Captain William. "In the mean time, load all
the rifles and get out a supply of ammunition. I believe they mean to
make the assault to-night, though how a dozen Indians mean to beat
half that number of whites behind a strong stockade, I can not tell."
He stepped to a loophole and looked out. The warriors were grouped
carelessly about the large gates, striking them with their hatchets,
and making all the noise they could.
"What do you want here?" demanded Will. "Are the night-owls flying
low to-night?"
"The warriors of the Shawnees would rest to-night under the roof of
the Gray Hair," replied one of the braves. "Let him open his great
gates, that we may enter."
"Let my brothers seek other shelter to-night," answered young Floyd.
"A bird has sung in my ears to-day, warning me that the Shawnees
and white men must not sleep under the same roof to-night.
Shawnee braves are not children; let them rest under the bending
boughs, and may they sleep well."
"Hugh!" cried the spokesman. "Does the young war-chief refuse a
place under his roof to his friends?"
"We do not want any visitors to-night," replied the young man, firmly.
A chorus of angry cries arose, in the midst of which the Yankee
sprung to the young man's side and whispered in his ear. He nodded
gravely, and called out to the Shawnees to be silent. A hush fell upon
them and he spoke again:
"I know that the Shawnees have come with malice in their hearts,
and would have slain us if the gates had not been barred. Let them
go back as they came, for if a single Shawnee is in sight when
morning breaks, Willimack shall die."
"Would you slay the great chief of the Wyandots, the beloved of the
Prophet?"
"Yes, and he deserves death a hundred times for his treachery."
"Willimack is the friend of the white man," replied the outside
speaker.
"Yes, of the English," replied Seth.
"Dog of a Yengee!" shrieked a voice close at hand, "Willimack, chief
of the Wyandots, laughs you to scorn."
The Yankee whirled quickly, and saw Willimack free from his bonds,
standing upon the summit of the stockade. The next moment he
waved his hand in derision and was gone.
 CHAPTER III.
THE SKELETON SCOUT.
To their utter surprise, the Yankee ran madly toward the high wall of
the stockade, and, leaping upward, clung like a cat to the top. It
seemed hardly possible that so heavy a person could display such
agility, and certainly no one in the stockade would have thought Long
Seth capable of it, but for the way in which he had handled the
Indian. He hung a moment upon the edge of the stockade, and then,
drawing himself up by a strong muscular action, looked over. Then,
waving his hand toward the occupants, he slid over the outside and
dropped to the earth. No sound indicated that the savages had heard
him, for they remained pounding at the gate, uttering wild threats
against the Floyds if they did not open.
Somewhat surprised at the desertion of the Yankee, Will Floyd made
no answer until the harsh voice of Willimack came to his ears.
"Hark to my words," shouted the chief. "You have disgraced
Willimack, a chief of the mighty tribe. Dogs could not be used worse
than you have treated him. I am not a fool and I will have revenge."
"Leave the gates," replied Floyd, angrily, "or my men shall fire."
"Let them fire at us if they will," replied the chief. "We will enter the
big wigwam. I will eat the heart of the man who shook me, and
kicked me with his foot."
"I tell you to go away!" said Will Floyd. "I have no desire to quarrel
with you, but if you try to break in here it is your own fault if you get
hurt."
The only reply was the crash of axes against the heavy gate, and the
young man saw that they were determined upon making a persistent
effort to break in. Bringing forward a short ladder which was lying
near the wall of the house, he ran up to the top of the wall and fired
his pistol at the Indians below, and knew by the cry of rage which
went up that he had not missed his mark.
This determined course roused the ire of the savages and they
began to bring up poles to climb the walls, full of hatred of the men
inside. Will shouted to his men and they brought their ladders—for
they had one for each defender, and the walls were manned. The
number of savages was not great enough for an assault; yet they
fought with determination. They climbed like cats up the sides of the
wooden fort only to be beaten back by the defenders. Each soldier,
besides his rifle, had a hatchet and a pair of pistols, and so armed,
they were more than a match for the Shawnees, who retreated to a
little distance, out of reach of the rifles, where they halted and
seemed to consult for a moment.
Just then came a horrible yell, and, to the utter terror of the Indians,
there bounded from a thicket near at hand a fearful creature
calculated to strike terror to the stoutest heart. To the white men
looking on from the wall, there was something supernatural in this
strange appearance flaming out in the darkness. Two blazing eyes
gleamed in its forehead, emitting lurid flashes as it bounded on. In
hight it was nearly seven feet, and the head was that of a skeleton,
grinning and ghastly!
The Indians saw that terrible creature coming down upon them, and,
with wild cries of dread, they broke and ran in every direction, some
seeking safety on the river and others running up the bank. Will
Floyd beheld the figure seize upon a flying savage and drag him
shrieking to the earth; then a great silence fell upon the scene. All
was dark outside; the Indians were gone, and, in the place where the
fiery figure gleamed a moment before, nothing was to be seen. Soon
after the sound of hurrying feet was heard, and the Yankee came
climbing over the rear of the stockade, evidently terrified nearly out
of his senses.
"Did you see it?" he cried. "Oh, holy Moses! I never was so skeered
in all my born days! Whew; I'm out of breath!"
"What did you leave us for?"
"Wanted to ketch that Injin. I couldn't, though; he run so like the devil.
Then I calculated I'd git round in the rear and give 'em a shot, an
then holler as ef a hundred sojers was in the woods, when,
Jehosaphat! up got that b'ilin'-hot Image, with his fiery eyes, and
skeered the life out of them Injins, and me too, I guess."
The Yankee sat down on a log and panted for breath.
"Did you see it closely?" said Floyd.
"Close as I want tew, darn it! This beats my fust wife's relations all
tew pieces. Whew! I thought I were a goner."
The men looked at each other in surprise. What was this strange
being, that came and went like a shadow, leaving no trace behind?
Will Floyd was not naturally superstitious, and yet he could not
account for this apparition in any natural way. Long Seth evidently
was as much puzzled, and looked from one to the other in ludicrous
dismay. The black boys, who also had seen the specter, stood with
chattering teeth and a sort of ashy gray color in their faces. Nature
had made it impossible for their hair to stand up straight or it would
surely have done so, then.
"Hi, you Pomp," said one, "see dat ar' t'ing, dat time?"
"Iss, Dick; I seen him, an I so skeered I dunno w'at I's gwine ter do.
Oh goodness gracious!"
"Dat's de debbil, Pomp. Dat's juss de Ole Harry, heself, an' notting
else. We's gone chiles dese times."
"That's trew," said Seth, glad of an opportunity to pass his dread onto
some one else. "And I have hern tell that the old 'un is partial to
black fellows. Mebbe 'tain't trew; I ain't enuff 'quainted with the Old
Boy to speak sartin, but I've good reason to believe that he duz like
'em."
"Sho, now, you!" roared Pomp, raising one leg in agony. "Git along
dar! w'at you a-tryin' to do, say? De old debbil likes a Yankee.
Eberybody knows he likes a Yankee."
"I don't think it," said Seth, as if revolving the subject in his mind.
"May be jest as yew say, but, I think they'd make it tew lively fur the
old man down thar. They'd trade him out of his throne, sartin! They
ar' all-fired hands at a dicker, yew know, and they'd beat him, sartin!
So I guess Yankees are pooty safe. Not too safe, yew understand,
but pooty safe, pooty safe. I don't reckon they'll trouble us a great
deal, nohow. Guess we'd better git a light an' go out an' try them
cussed Injins, and see what's likely to be done."
"Maybe they are hiding somewhere," said Will Floyd. "If they are, it
would not be safe to go out."
"Waal, ef I'm any judge, they ain't hiding anywhar on this side the
river," rejoined Seth. "I hern 'em jump intew the water, an' swim as ef
the devil was chasin' 'em clust. Yew see they're mighty feared of the
devil, and ef that wa'n't him, then I dunno what it was. Old Satan on
a scout, shure!"
"Did you ever hear of this figure before?"
"Yaas," said Spink. "When I was in old man Harrison's camp they
said something 'bout it and they called it the Skeleton Scout."
"The Skeleton Scout!"
"That's the name. 'Tain't a purty name, nyther. Not by no manner of
means. It makes me shake all over when I think the pesky critter is
round here, though I must own he has an all-fired good way of
cleaning out red-skins. Git a lantern or a torch."
Will went into the house for a lantern, and when he came back Seth
took it from his hand and gave it to Black Dick.
"Here, boy, take that and go out and look around to see if any of the
red niggers are hiding anywhere."
"Me, massa?"
"Yaas, yew! Who else do yew s'pose I mean? Come, don't keep us
a-waiting. Why don't yew git?"
"But, mars' I dunno w'edder I likes to go out dar. Plenty Injin out dar, I
t'inks. How we ebber fine 'em?"
"Oh, go 'long! That's what we want tew find out, whether they are or
not. Ef they should be, why then they'll shoot at yew, and we'll hear
'em."
"S'pose dey hits Dick?" said the negro.
"Why then, Dick will holler like all possessed, and put back ef he kin.
Ef he kain't, then we'll bury the sed Dick with the honors of war."
"See yer, marse Yankee, you t'ink I ain't a fool, I ain't. I's gwine ter
stay yer."
"Then mebbe Pomp would like to go, seeing he ain't a coward?
Come, Pomp; distinguish yerself and laugh at Dick."
"Don't tink's I keer 'bout it, marse," replied Pomp. "Dick good fren' ob
mine. What I wants to laugh at he for?"
Long Seth laughed, and taking a pistol from the belt of one of the
soldiers, led the way into the open air. An Indian lay under the wall,
and the Yankee stumbled over him. Seth held the light closer and
saw that the savage had a broken leg.
"Got a knife, boss?" he said, speaking to Will Floyd.
"Certainly I have."
"Stick this man and come along. I'd dew it myself only I've got both
hands full."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't want tew save the red nigger, dew yew?"
"I will not allow him to be killed," replied the young soldier.
The Yankee straightened his long back, and looked at the young
man as if taken completely aback by this speech. "Not kill a red-
skin? Not stick him when yew've got him? By the mortal, ef this ain't
pizen. Not—good gracious, yew raise my dander mortal bad! What
yew goin' tew dew with the critter then, if I may ask 'thout giving
offense?"
"Take him into the stockade, cure him of his wound if possible, and
—"
"Give him yure skulp when he gits strong enuff tew take it! That's
right! Keep up the repitation of the fam'ly, by all means! Waal, I won't
say no more. Come along, yew! But, if the time don't come when
yew jest ez live stick an Injin as eat a b'iled potater, then ther ain't no
snakes in Kentuck'."
They hurried on to the place where the Skeleton Scout had been
seen; the grass was bent and trodden down, and, further on, an
Indian was lying on his face, dead. Floyd turned him over, and saw
that it was a Winnebago, a desperate villain, who had been
suspected of the murder of a white family, years before, but escaped
through insufficient evidence. However, innocent or guilty, he had
met his fate at last.
"How was he killed?" said Floyd. "I don't see any blood."
They examined him closely, but not a mark could be found upon the
body to show how he had died. Dead he certainly was, and the
stiffened muscles told that he had not died easily. The puzzled look
again came into the face of Seth Spink.
"Now, don't this beat all natur'?" he ejaculated. "We'll hev tew believe
pooty soon that the Skileton Scout is a skileton, arter all. Leastways
he don't leave no marks upon his victims."
"It is strange indeed," replied Captain Floyd. "Hold the lantern close,
will you? There must be a mark on him somewhere."
A still closer search failed to elicit any further information. The Indian
was dead, but how? He had not been choked, for the face of a man
who dies in that way always shows unmistakable signs of
strangulation. His neck was not broken, as Floyd began to believe,
and not a drop of blood was visible upon his person.
Yankee Seth stood holding the lantern, and looking down upon the
face of the dead Indian, while his young companion was searching
him. A slight noise, so slight that Floyd did not notice it, but Seth
heard it, yet did not turn his head or show that he was aroused.
Looking covertly toward the spot he saw a dark object extended
upon the earth, not ten feet away, and caught the gleam of a rifle-
barrel. Giving his companion a sudden push which sent him rolling to
the earth, Long Seth bounded four feet into the air just as a rifle
cracked, and came down uninjured upon the back of a prowling
savage, who, hiding in the bushes, had crept up unobserved.
As Will Floyd started to his feet, confused and angry, a terrific
struggle was going on upon the grass a few feet away. Seth found
his enemy, whoever it was, "no chicken," to use his own expression,
and his powerful muscles were tried to the utmost.
Will Floyd darted forward, but the lantern had gone out and he dared
not strike in the darkness, fearing that he might wound his friend.
Then, two figures rose; there was a muttered curse, and a heavy
blow or two, and the sound of hurrying feet succeeded, followed
immediately by a splash in the water, and Seth came back, furiously
angry.
"He got away, the cussed sneak," he said. "He'd 'a' cooked yure
goose or mine in another minnit. Lucky I saw him."
"Why did you push me down?" cried Floyd, angrily.
"Did it jest tew be mean, young'un," said the Yankee, indolently. "Did
it a-purpuss. Yure head was rite in a line with a rifle-barrill, and like
ez not yew'd 'a' got hurt if yew'd 'a' stood up half a second longer.
'Tain't no matter."
"I beg your pardon, Spink," said Will, frankly. "I was so confused by
your sudden action that I really did not know what to do or say. So
you pushed me down because the rifle was aimed at me?"
"Sorter think I did! There; don't say nothin' 'bout it. Let's git back tew
the stockade. 'Tain't edzackly safe tew stay here now; these critters
mout come back, yew know, and a shot from a bush ain't what I
hanker arter."
The rifle-shot had been heard, and Captain Floyd, with one of the
soldiers, was hurrying out to meet them. He expressed his
satisfaction at their safety, and listened eagerly to their explanations.
"The day of safety is over, then," he said. "All my endeavors to make
friends with the savages have been of no avail. What had we better
do, Mr. Spink? You seem to understand the Indians better than I do,
after all."
"Any one is likely tew git fooled," replied the Vermonter. "Yew can't
bet a cent on an Injin. Mout be friendly tew yer face while he was
stealing out a knife tew take yure skulp. I'm sorry the gal is here; she
ort tew be in the village."
"We can take her there."
"'Tain't safe. The road is full of red-skins. I tell yew that the Prophet—
darned little profit we'll make eout of it—is up, and his cussid black-
and-tan tribe are with him. 'Twon't be many days afore the woods will
be full of the pizen heathen. My advice ain't much, but, if I was yew,
I'd send one of the men tew Guvnor Harrison for reinforcements, and
stay here til they cum."
"You think that the safest plan?"
"It's the only one I think of. Willimack 'll be on the watch, and yew
kain't git eout. Give the man that goes a canoe and send him down-
stream. I'll go with him and show the way."
"Who shall go?"
"I," replied Will, promptly.
"I am afraid we can not spare you, William," said the captain. "Let
Forbes go."
"One more or less won't make no manner of difference," said Seth. "I
think the young 'un is in the right of it, and I'll pilot him till I think he's
safe. Look out sharp, night and day, till we come back. Now, young
'un!"
There was no time for long partings. Will ran into the house to bid
Madge good-by, and came back with traces of emotion on his face.
Then, pressing his father's hand, he followed the erect figure of Seth
Spink out into the gloom.

CHAPTER IV.
A NIGHT OF PERIL.
The darkness was intense, but the Yankee moved on like a man who
knew the ground well, toward the spot where the canoes were
hauled up on the shore. They selected a light one, and the young
soldier found a paddle and would have taken his place as paddler,
but the other took it from his hand, and stationed himself in that
place himself.
The canoe shot out into the darkness at once, and was headed
down the river, gliding in between the green banks, the paddle
dipping in the bright water without a sound! Nothing but long practice
could have enabled any man to use a paddle so dexterously. On
they floated down the tranquil stream in the darkness, while nothing
but the cry of the loon and other night-birds disturbed the solemn
stillness of the scene. Once Captain Will began to speak, but the
guide laid his hand upon his knee with a low "Hist!" Floyd took the
hint and was silent. He began to understand that the danger must be
great, or the sagacious Yankee would not work so cautiously. He
also began to feel a sort of respect for the knowledge of woodcraft
which he saw that the strange man possessed, a great trait in a
borderman.
After paddling on for nearly an hour, without making the slightest
noise, the head of the canoe was turned toward the shore at a place
where the overhanging bushes almost touched the water. Parting
these bushes with great caution, Seth pushed the canoe past them,
and showed an open space between the bushes and the bank deep
enough for the canoe to lie in, without being seen from the bank
above.
"Yew stay right here, cap.," whispered the Yankee. "I'm going on a
scout."
"Had not you better let me go with you?" queried the young man.
"Yew! Kin yew walk like yew was steppin' on feathers, and hold yure
breath an hour? Dew yew know every inch of ground atween this
and Harrison's camp? and kin yew set down 'thout breaking a stick?
Ther's a deal tew learn 'fore yew make a good scout."
"I know it. Perhaps I had better stay here then."
"Waal, prehaps yew had," said the Yankee. "Gimme that hatchet. All
right; now lay low and keep dark. If yew hear the painter call three
times, that's me."
So silently did he move away, that Will hardly knew when he went.
Lying down in the canoe, which was kept in its place by the bushes
which hung low on all sides, the young man waited anxiously for the
coming of his friend. An hour passed, and there came no sound to
indicate the whereabouts of his strange guide. He was about to give
him up, and had almost concluded to take the paddle and attempt to
escape in his own way, when he heard light footsteps on the bank
above. Thinking that it was Seth Spink, and that he was returning
with less caution than he showed in moving away, he was about to
rise and meet him, when he heard a deep voice on the bank above,
which was not that of the Yankee.
"Willimack?" it said.
"I am here, great chief," replied a voice which he well knew. "What
would the Prophet say to his brother chief?"
"You have done wrong, Wyandot," said the other. "You have opened
the eyes of the white men, and if the young war-chief gets safe to
Vincennes, we can no longer throw dust in the eyes of Harrison. This
was not well."
"Willimack would have had the scalps of all, but for the tall warrior
who came on the log. He opened the eyes of Floyd, and he saw
blood in the eyes of the Wyandot."
"Who is the tall warrior?"
"My brother has seen him many times at Vincennes. His hair is
yellow as the rays of the setting sun, and his form tall as a pine. He
is very strong and bold. Who is there in the Wyandot nation, unless it
be Tecumseh, who can overthrow Willimack, the Wyandot?"
"The Long Man is very strong," said the other. "He is cunning as the
red fox. But, he is on the river, and my brothers above and below will
give a good account of him if he try to escape."
Floyd raised himself slowly and peered up at the two, but could not
make out who the speaker was. Willimack had spoken of him as the
Prophet, but it might be either Tecumseh, or his brother, Elskwatawa,
the man who was properly known by the appellation of "the Prophet,"
and to whom is imputed the odium of drawing the great Tecumseh
into war with the whites. At this moment the moon rose slowly over
the tree-tops, and shed a light upon the tranquil scene, and he could
see their faces. It was Elskwatawa, the Prophet, and a more cruel or
ambitious man never lived upon the earth. Cunning was the great
trait upon which he prided himself; and while to all appearance
friendly with the whites, he was gathering the Indians for that great
movement which was to sweep the enemy from the face of the earth.
Will Floyd was a bold man, but even he felt a thrill at the imminence
of the danger by which he was threatened. The Prophet leaned
against a tree, not ten feet away, and Willimack, with his hands
clasped upon the muzzle of his rifle, stood close to him.
"The moon shines bright," said the Prophet. "They can not pass
unless we see them. Ha! what is this?"
He pointed with his hand to a canoe with a single occupant which
was crossing the river in front, and heading directly toward the spot
where the two chiefs stood. They disappeared as if suddenly blotted
out of existence, crawling like serpents in the dense underbrush, and
Will turned to watch the new-comer. The moon was now bright, and
he could see him plainly.
It was a chief, in the war-dress of a Pottawatomie, bedizened in all
the bravery these men love to affect in a time of war. He was tall and
strongly made, with a rather handsome face, and dark, brilliant eyes.
A rifle lay in the bow of his canoe, and in the belt about his waist he
carried a hatchet and knife. His keen eyes swept along the bank for
a moment, and then he pushed his canoe up to the beach not ten
feet from the place where Will Floyd lay hidden, and drew it up out of
sight. Then, taking his rifle, he mounted the bank. In doing so, he laid
his rifle down, and when he stooped to take it up, the two men on the
watch rose suddenly and threw themselves upon him. So sudden
was the onset that the warrior was taken completely by surprise, and
was bound before he could speak or move, though he now made
desperate efforts to break his bonds.
"Ha! Dead Chief," cried Elskwatawa. "Dead dog, we have you now!
Prepare to sing your death-song, for the Shawnees and Wyandots
will not wait long before they drink the blood of a fool."
The two seized him, dragged him to his feet and bound him to a tree
close at hand, cursing him in no measured tones.
The name they gave him satisfied the young man as to who the
prisoner was, and he knew that he was a friend to the American
cause, who had boldly offered to confront Tecumseh in his own
person, and prove that he meditated hostile designs against the
Americans. He had called both Tecumseh and his brother traitors,
and offered to tax them with it in the presence of the two brothers
and their followers. This declaration was made in the presence of
Tecumseh's friends, and the chief was quickly made aware of the
fact.
Neither had seen the Dead Chief until this time. He looked at them
boldly, with a half-smile upon his face, and Will Floyd fingered his
weapons and longed to spring out to his aid. But, the danger in
which he had left his family, and his fears for the safety of Madge,
had made him wary. Elskwatawa drew a knife and ran his fingers
along the polished edge in a significant way.
"Dead Chief," he said, "you are a Pottawatomie, and the men of that
tribe are brave. But every tribe brings forth dogs, and such a dog are
you. You care nothing for the glory of the race, and will not join the
great Tecumseh in making the people free."
"Tecumseh is a fool," replied the Dead Chief. "He does not know that
the sun warms him and the moon gives him light. Why should we
change masters? The white men will always rule the Indians,
because they are wiser than we. Why do you stop the Dead Chief on
his way?"
"The Dead Chief will be dead in half an hour," replied the Prophet.
"He knows too much of Tecumseh and his plans."
"Let me free, and I will go into the camp of Tecumseh and beard him.
Did he dare to give you orders to take the life of the Dead Chief?"
"You shall see. Stay here, Willimack, while I call some warriors to
see the death of a dog who cares not for his race."
"Wait," said Willimack. "If the Dead Chief is to die, we must build no
fire, for that would show the young war-chief and the yellow-haired
scout that the Shawnees and Wyandots are on the trail."
"Good. The Dead Chief shall not die yet, for I have sworn he shall
perish by fire, and so he shall die. Elskwatawa has spoken. Let us
leave the Dead Chief here and look for the young war-chief and the
Yellow Hair, and we'll burn them all at one fire."
The two Indians glided away, and as they went, the Dead Chief
began to struggle furiously with his bonds, but they were too strongly
tied to break easily. In spite of his efforts he remained bound to the
tree, still making impotent efforts. His face did not express fear so
much as anger and humiliation at having been outwitted by the men
he affected to despise. The moment the two captors were gone,
Floyd slipped out of his concealment and approached the
Pottawatomie.
"Ugh," said the Dead Chief. "My brother sees a friend tied up like a
dog. Let him loose the bonds upon his hands and feet."
The young man obeyed, and the warrior rubbed his excoriated limbs
to restore the circulation, muttering to himself. Then he searched
about in the moonlight, and carefully covered the trail which the
young soldier had made in coming from the canoe.
"Let the war-chief do as the Dead Chief shows him, and leave no
trail," he said. Grasping the limb of the tree overhead, after strapping
his rifle to his back, he swung himself back and forth until he had
gained sufficient momentum, when he released his grasp and
dropped over the bank into the water in a place where it was not
more than two feet deep. Floyd followed his example, and then the
Indian waded to the place where he had left his canoe and drew it
from the bank into the stream, and pushed off a few yards until he
could look up and down the stream for some distance. Satisfying
himself that none of the Indians were in sight, he pushed in again.
"Come," he said. "Floyd would go to Vincennes, and the Dead Chief
will show the way."
"I can not leave this spot," replied Will. "Go on and save yourself,
Dead Chief. I must wait."
"What you wait for?" demanded the chief.
"My friend," replied Floyd.
"Speak his name in the ear of Dead Chief," said the Pottawatomie.
"He is known as the Long Man and the 'Yellow Hair.'"
"Ugh," said Dead Chief. "He is a good man and loves the Indians
who are true to the American father at Vincennes. Listen: Dead Chief
has a warm heart toward the Long Man, and will stay. Is he in the
woods?"
"Yes."
"Good. One canoe is enough for us. Mine is best. Where is yours?"
Floyd drew it out from the cover, and the savage at once knocked a
hole in the bottom and sent it out into the stream. It filled quickly and
floated out of sight just as a hurried step was heard, and Yankee
Seth came through the bushes, and looked down into the place
where he had left the canoe.
"Will," he said, in a half-whisper.
"All right," said Will. "Here we are!"
The canoe closed in and Seth took his place hurriedly, casting a
quick glance at the Indian to see who he was. He gave a low whistle
of surprise.
"Ha!" he said. "That yew, Dead Chief? Thought yew'd gone under,
sartin."
"The Dead Chief of the Pottawatomies does not die so easily."
"Push off, boys. Git intew the stream as soon as yew can. Thar's the
all-firedest pickle in this yer woods yew ever hern tell off. I knowed I
was right. I knowed the Prophet meant mischief all the time, and
mebbe old man Harrison will believe it now. How did you come here,
chief?"
The Indian explained how he had been overpowered by Elskwatawa
and Willimack, and rescued by Floyd.
"Good enuff! We wanted a man with us that knows something of Injin
tricks. Yew must understand, cap., that this chief hez stood up like a
hero for our side, and Tecumseh hez given orders to kill him on sight.
I thought it was done 'fore now."
The Indian shook his head proudly.
"Tecumseh has long arms, and I am dead if I fall into the hands of
his men. What of that? Can he make a chief a dog? No. I will die as I
have lived, a warrior true to our American father and his men."
The canoe was by this time in the midst of the current, floating slowly
down, for they were not using the paddles.
"Push her up-stream, boys," said the Yankee. "Most of the devils is
down below. They've got six canoes, and I guess thar ain't less than
a hundred men in all. Cuss that Prophet! I wish I hed his skulp."
"It would gratify me immensely if you had," replied the young soldier.
"And that scoundrel Willimack! There is no end to the benefits he
has received from time to time from my father and myself; and yet,
he would have killed us all to-night, if you had not foiled him."
"I will wear the scalp of Willimack in my girdle some day," said Dead
Chief. "He is a dog. He cares nothing for either white man or Indian,
if he can get blankets, powder and rifles. He has taken belts from
both sides and hates them all. He talks with a forked tongue, like a
snake. One tongue is for our white father at Vincennes, and the
other for the red-coats. Tecumseh is a slave of Elliot, the red-coat
agent."
Zip! Zip!
Two bullets cut through the air close to the canoe, one passing
between the Indian and Floyd, and the other clipping a piece out of
the stern, close to the immovable figure of Seth, who nodded
smilingly.
"That means business," he said. "I knowed they'd hev somebody up
here tew watch. They knowed we must go down-stream to git to
Vincennes. Throw yourself, Dead Chief! Up-stream fer yure life."
The canoe seemed to leap into the air under the vigorous strokes of
the Indian, and they quickly passed the point from which the shots
had come.
Just beyond, a great forest swept down the water's edge on both
sides, and the banks lay in shadow for a hundred feet on either side.
Seth uttered some low order in the Indian language to Dead Chief,
and he at once turned the bow of the canoe toward the shore, and
they shot up under the dark bank in exactly such a place as the one
in which the canoe had been concealed when the Yankee went out
upon his scout. The forest seemed to be alive on every side of them,
the furious shrieks of the Indians echoing and re-echoing among the
huge old trees. Seth snatched a hatchet and knife and bounded up
the bank, closely followed by the others. The cries told them that
their enemies were about them on every hand, eager for their blood.
"Tree!" said Seth. "We can't afford tew show in an open canoe in the
moonlight. Mout git hit, yew know! This way!"
He plunged into the woods, heading from the river, and ran for nearly
a hundred yards before he stopped. Then selecting a tree of the right
size, he mounted hastily. His example was followed by the others,
and not a moment too soon, for the gathering cries told that the
Indians were being guided to the spot where the canoe had been
seen by those who had fired into it. The Yankee climbed to the
crotch of the tree, selected a convenient place and sat down coolly,
resting his feet upon the branch beneath. He felt tolerably safe, for,
in the dark woods, trailing them was an impossibility. As the shouts
came nearer he only grinned widely and threw back his head for a
yawn, when, to his utter consternation, he saw a pair of gleaming
eyes looking into his, not three feet away!
 CHAPTER V.
IN A TREE-TOP.
The Yankee looked hard at the gleaming orbs close to his own, and
could just make out a dark body stretched along the limbs. He was
far from liking the appearance of the affair. It might be an Indian, or it
was just as likely to be a panther. If the latter, a struggle with him
would bring the Indians upon him, whose footsteps already sounded
along the bank. He loosened his knife in its sheath, though he well
knew how powerless he would be in a tree-top, fighting against an
animal which could light like a feather upon a bending bough and
leap to another with all the quickness of a cat.
"Jehosaphat!" he muttered. "What'n thunder will I do now? I guess
I'm gobbled 'up this time, shure. I wish I had a pike, I dew. Thunder
and lightning, this ain't pooty."
The dark object upon the limb did not move, and there was no time
to be lost. Seth determined to know what it was at all hazards.
Thrusting his hand into his pouch, he drew out a box of punk, struck
a spark and ignited the whole piece. As the light flashed up he
caught a glimpse of an Indian, extended at full length along the limb.
Dropping the fire he hurled himself downward, falling upon the
prostrate figure and clasped his long arms about its throat tightly,
with his bony knuckles pressed hard against the windpipe. So
quickly was it done that the Indian had only time to utter a smothered
cry before his breath was stopped completely. The limb bent and
swayed under the weight of the heavy bodies, and they began to
slide downward. A fall of twenty feet was not what Seth wished for,
but, locked in the embrace of the savage, he could not help himself
unless he let go his hold upon the throat, and then the cries of the
Indian would bring his friends to the rescue. They slid down, turned
completely over once, and fell with a dull sound upon the moss-
covered knoll at the foot of the tree, the Yankee uppermost. A fall
from that distance would have been likely to shock the savage some,
but add to that the avoirdupois of a man weighing as much as this
Yankee, and the damage is likely to be greater. All the remaining
breath of the Indian went out like the flame of an expiring lamp, and
he lay senseless under the body of Spink, who was somewhat
confused by the fall.
"Dead, I guess," he muttered. "Teach him to tree in my place, the
darned heathen. Ugh!"
Picking up the senseless body he threw it over a log out of sight, and
then, instead of returning to the tree, he crept cautiously back toward
the river. The Indians were scattered along the banks, and, just as
he peeped out, a loud whoop announced the discovery of the canoe.
"That'll bring 'em together," said he to himself. "I guess we'd better
put out for camp."
He turned to go back, when, to his utter surprise, from every
direction the savages bounded out upon him and clung to him like
cats. At this moment the wonderful strength of the athlete showed
itself. Stretching out his long arms, he dragged the Indians who
clung to him on either side from their hold, and dashed them to the
earth, and then, placing his back to a tree, he drew a knife and
hatchet, and braining a Wyandot who rushed upon him incautiously,
sent his knife through the shoulder of another, while he planted his
right foot with desperate force in the stomach of a third, doubling him
up and sending him rolling to the earth with the life nearly kicked out
of his body. At the same time he gave utterance to a terrific yell,
which rung through the arches of the deep woods, rivaling the shouts
of his assailants. With savage screams the Indians rushed at him
from three sides, but those long arms and feet made deadly work
among them, and though a dozen rushed at him together his
desperate valor kept them all at bay.
There was a hearty shout and war-cry from the rear, and, the Dead
Chief and Will Floyd rushed in, scattering the savages right and left.
They reached the side of the Yankee, who was fighting with
desperate zeal.
"Break for the canoe," he whispered, as he struck down an Indian.
"It's your only chance."