بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Rajab is the Month of God
Alhamdulillah, all praises to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’ala) who has blessed us to see another year. Ahead of us begins a very important month in the Islamic calendar, the holy month of Rajab al-Haram. It stands alone out of the four months which God has declared sacred Rajab, Dhul-Qida, Dhul-Hijja, and Muharram. It also opens the series of three holy months culminating in Ramadan: Rajab, Shaban, and Ramadan. During these three months everyone must prepare and keep himself, as much as possible, away from low traits, bad manners and sins.
The following hadiths shows the importance of this month:
It has been mentioned by Abu Nu’`aym in his Hilya from Anas Ibn Malik (Radi’Allahu Anh) said, that the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) used to make the following du`a, when the month of Rajab came in:
Allahuma Barik lana fi Rajaba wa Sha`bana wa ballighna Ramadan
(O Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha`ban and let us reach Ramadan)
It has been mentioned by Abu’l-Fath ibn Abi ’l-Fawaris in his `Amali and Imam as-Suyuti has also mentioned in his Jami` as-Saghir from Hasan al-Basri that the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said:
Rajab is the month of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’ala). Sha`ban is my month. Ramadan is the month of my Ummah (community).
From the above hadith, it shows that it is preferable to make du`a, to live through the coming months, in order to perform good actions in them, because a believer increases his goodness with age. The best of people is the one who lives long and performs good actions.
Fasting during the Holy month of Rajab
Fasting the months of Rajab and Sha`ban as a nafila or supererogatory worship is recommended, with the intention of following the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) by which the merit of this fast has clearly been established.
Relevant in this context is another traditional report related to us by Shaikh Imam Hibatu’llah ibn al-Mubarak as-Saqati (Radi’Allahu Anh). According to this report, Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said:
The month of Rajab is a glorious month indeed. If someone has fasted for one day in Rajab, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’ala) will record it in his credit column as the fast of a thousand years.
If someone has fasted for two days in Rajab, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’ala) will record it in his credit column as the fast of two thousand years.
If someone has fasted for three days in Rajab, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’ala) it in his credit column as the fast of three thousand years.
If someone has fasted for seven days in Rajab, all the seven gates of Hell (Jahannam) wil be locked to make sure that he stays out of it.
If someone has fasted for eight days in Rajab, al the eight gates of the Garden of Paradise will be held open for him, so that he may enter by whichever gate he chooses.
If someone has fasted for fifteen days in Rajab, all his bad deeds will be replaced by good deeds, and a crier will call out from heaven above: “Allah has now forgiven you, so use the opportunity to set about good work anew!”
……..” It is most important, however, that none of you should neglect the First Friday in Rajab, for it is the night that the angels call the Night of (the Granting of) Wishes (Lailat ar-Ragha’ib). This is because, by the time the first third of the night has elapsed, there will not be a single angel still at large in the heavens, nor in any region of the earth bar one. They will all be gathered together in the Ka’ba and the area immediately surrounding it. Allah (Exalted is He) will condescend to notice that they have assembled there, and He will say: “My angels, ask Me for whatever you wish!” Their response to this will be: “Our Lord, the request we wish to make is that You grant forgiveness to those who faithfully keep the fast in Rajab,” whereupon Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’ala) will tell them: “That I have already done!”
Special Prayers during the Month of Rajab
The first Thursday of the holy month Rajab is both known as the “Night of wishes” or “Lailat Al-Ragha’ib” during which is performed the Salat Al-Ragha’ib. This sunnah prayer is performed between Magrib and Isha and it consists of 12 rakats (units) done in pairs (i.e. after each two rakats you must give Salams).
In each unit recite, Surah Al-Fatiha (1 time), Surah Al Qadr (3 times) and Surah Al Ikhlas (12 times)
Upon completing the 12 rakats recite the following:
Recite Salawaat on Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) (70 times) while sitting:
اللھم صل علی محمد النبي الامي وعلی آله
“Allahumma Salli ‘Ala Muhammad, AnNabiyyil Ummiyi, Wa ‘Ala Aalihi”
O Allah send blessings on Muhammad, the Ummi Prophet, and on his descendants.
Recite Tasbeeh (70 times) in Sajdah:
سبوح قدوس رب الملائكة والروح
“SubbuHun Quddusun, Rabbul Malaikati Warruh”
Holy and most Holy is the Lord of the Angels and spirts.
Recite Istighfar (70 times) while sitting:
رب اغفر و ارحم وتجاوز عما تعلم انك انت العلي الاعظم
“Rabbigh-Fir, War-Ham, Watajawaz ‘Amma Ta’lamu, Innaka antal ‘Aliyyul Aa’zam”
O Lord! Forgive, have mercy and be indulgent about that which you know well, verily you are Sublime, Mighty.
Recite Tasbeeh (70 times) in Sajdah:
سبوح قدوس رب الملائكة والروح
“SubbuHun Quddusun, Rabbul Malaikati Warruh”
Holy and most Holy is the Lord of the Angels and spirts.
After completing all the above recitations, Ask Dua and seek your need with Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’ala) and Insha’Allah it will bw granted.
The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) has said: “There is no one who prays this prayer that Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’ala) does not forgive their sins even if they are as many as all the bubbles in the sea, as many as the grains of sand in the deserts, as heavy as the mountains and as many as the leaves on all the trees and Allah will give them the sufa’it (power, gift) to bring 700 of their family to the paradise on the Day of Judgement even though they were supposed to go to hell.”
Lailat ul-Isra wal- Miraj (the 27th of Rajab): This is the night when the Holy prophet was taken up to the heavens to meet his Lord Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’ala). It is also known as the night of Ascension. It is the practice of the learned ones to pray 20 rakats between Magrib and Isha. This prayer can be prayed either 2 rakats or 4 rakats at a time reciting 20 Surah Al Ikhlas in each rakat. When finished you should recite out loud 100 Istighfar and 100 Salawat sharifah.
The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said “On this night 70,000 angels descend with Allah’s Rahmah (Mercy) and Noor (Light) searching for houses whose occupants are awake and engaged in Dhikr. The angels are then commanded to pour Allah’s mercy and blessings upon such houses and their occupants.”
Dua of Rajab
This Dua is to be recited everyday in this holy month:
Audu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajeem
Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem
Allahuma innee istaghfiruka min kulli maa tubtu lahu ilayka thumma ‘udtu feeh. wa istaghfiruka min kulli maa ‘aradtu bihi wajhika wa-khaalatanee feehi maa laysa feehi ridaak. wa istaghfiruk li-ni`am allatee taqawwaytu biha `ala ma`aseeyatik. wa istaghfiruka min aadh-dhunub allatee laa ya`lamahu ghayruka wa laa yattali`u `alayha ahadu n siwaak wa laa yasa`uha illa rahmatika wa la tunjee minha illa maghfiratuka wa hilmuka. laa ilaha illa-Anta, subhaanak! innee kuntu min adh-dhaalimeen.
Allahuma innee istaghfiruka min kulli dhulmin dhalamtu bihi `ibadaka. Fa ayyaama `abdin min `ibaadik aw `amatin min ‘imaa’ika dhalamtu fee badanihi aw `irdihi aw maalih fa `atihi min khazaa’inik allatee laa tanqus. Wa as’aluka an tukrimanee bi-rahmatika allatee wasi`at kulla shay wa laa t`uheenanee min `adaabik wa ta`teeayanee maa as’aluka fa-innee haqeequn bi-rahmatik ya arham ur-Raahimeen. wa salla-Allahu `ala Sayiddina Muhammadin wa `ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma`een. wa laa hawla wa laa quwatta illa billah il-`Alee ul-‘Aadheem
In the name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful
O Allah, I ask forgiveness of You for everything for which I repented to You then returned to. And I ask forgiveness of You for everything I displeased You with and all that concerns me with which You are displeased. And I ask forgiveness of You for the favors which I used for increasing my disobedience towards You. And I ask forgiveness of You for the sins which no one knows except You and no one sees except You and nothing encompasses except Your Mercy and nothing delivers from except Your forgiveness and clemency. There is no god except You alone. You are the Most High, and I was one of the [self] oppressors!
O Allah, I ask forgiveness of You for the injustice I committed against Your servants. Whatever of Your male or female servants whom I have hurt, physically or in their dignity or in their property give them of Your bounty which lacks nothing. And I ask You to honor me with Your mercy which encompasses all things. Do not humble me with Your punishment but give me what I ask of You, for I am in great need of Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful. May Allah send blessings upon Muhammad and upon all his companions. There is no power and no might except in Allah the High, the Exalted.
Noorun Ala Noor 