-------- Original message --------
From: Amer Aleem <ameraleem@yahoo.com>
Date: 07/04/2017 21:39 (GMT+05:00)
To: Amer Aleem <ameraleem@gmail.com>
Subject: The Importance of Rajab
Rajab is one of the four months declared sacred by Allah (SWT) in the Glorious Qur'an.
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta`ala—exalted is He) has given a special status to certain days, months, places, and people. The Prophets of God are the most honoured among mankind; Makkah is the holiest of all cities; Ramadan is the best month; and the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr) is the greatest night of the year.
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta`ala) says in the Qur'an:
"Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred […]" (Qur'an, 9:36)These four sacred months were mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) during his farewell pilgrimage:
"O People! Time has gone back to how it was at the time Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. A year has twelve months, four of which are sacred, three consecutive, Dhul-Qi'dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab." (Bukhari)The month of Rajab comes at an important time of the year for us. The coming of this month means that we are close to yet another Ramadan, God Willing. While the validity of certain narrations or specific acts of worship for this month are disputed, we as average Muslims can use this month with the intention to mentally and physically prepare for Ramadan.
As we look through the Qur'an and Sunnah (Prophetic tradition), we are taught to respect and honour what God and His Prophet ﷺ have honoured. These sacred months are a time for us to reflect on our lives, exert ourselves in extra worship and ask Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta`ala) for His forgiveness.
Allah, The Almighty has ordered the Muslims not to wrong themselves (or others), especially in these sacred months. So no fighting between tribes was to be waged during these months, so that people would guarantee that the way to the Sacred House be safe. Another, is to avoid committing sins or wronging others. This is indicated by Almighty Allah's saying in another verse: (Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them) (At-Tawbah 9: 5).
How can we honour the month of Rajab and use it as a preparation for Ramadan?
Reflect on your Life and Deeds.
Take some alone time and ask yourself the hard questions we normally don't like to think about: If I died today, where would I stand with Allah? Have I prepared for Ramadan? Have I been conscious of what I am saying and doing to those around me? Am I stagnant in my worship?
Deprive your Nafs (lower self).
I was with my brother one day and I mentioned that I was hungry and wanted to get something to eat. He told me: "Teach your nafs a lesson. We shouldn't always give it what it wants." This does not mean that we starve ourselves or do not take care of our bodies. One of the goals of Ramadan is to increase in our God-consciousness by not indulging ourselves with what our soul desires. Eat a simple meal for a few days instead of an expensive or huge meal. Wake up early and go for a walk. Pray extra prayers. Go to the mosque for fajr if you normally do not do so. Exert yourself and do something to "teach your nafs a lesson."
Fasting.
Who so observes fast (even one day) during the month of Rajab gets Allah's pleasure. There is no better way to prepare for Ramadan than to fast some extra days. A'isha (radia Allahu `anha—may God be pleased with her) was known to fast during the summer, and when the scholars would mention her habit, they would add: "If the price is cheap, then everyone will buy it." Ibn Rajab explained: "She wanted to do those actions that only a few were capable of due to how hard it was to do them, and this is indicative of the high aspirations she had." While we can't get out of having Ramadan in the summer, we can follow our mother A'isha (radia Allahu `anha) and be of the few that do something valuable before we are all obligated to fast. Now is the time to not only prepare for fasting but to gain some reward as the temperature rises.
Observing voluntary fasting in the sacred months, including Rajab, is recommended. In this regard, Abu Dawud reported on the authority of Mujibah Al-Bahilyyah that the Prophet ﷺ said to her father or uncle, "Observe fasting for some days in the sacred months and leave fasting for other days." He ﷺ said this three times, folding three fingers of him and then unfolding them each time. The Prophet's using three fingers here is meant to assert his recommendation of fasting during these months, and not to indicate the number of the days to observe fasting therein.
A hadith says: Whosoever fasts a day in Rajab, the fire of hell will be away from him a distance of one year's journey, and whosoever fasts 3 days in Rajab, will be entitled for Paradise."
Remember the Hereafter.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Hell complained to its Lord saying: O Lord! My parts are eating (destroying) one another. So Allah allowed it to take two breaths, one in the winter and the other in the summer. The breath in the summer is at the time when you feel the severest heat and the breath in the winter is at the time when you feel the severest cold." (Bukhari)
Charity.
Most of us do some act of charity every day without realizing it. In this sacred month, be charitable with the intention of pleasing God. Being courteous, helping someone, feeding another, saying a good word, sharing a reminder and even abstaining from doing a bad deed are all non-monetary forms of charity taught to us by the Messenger.
There is a big reward for Sadaqa and charity in the month of Rajab. Those who cannot fast may give Sadaqa to the poor every day, or recite: "Subhana Ilalahil Jaleele Subhana Man la Yanbaghil Tasbeeho Illa Lahoo; Subhanal A'azzinil Akrame; Subhana Man Labisal Izza wa Howa Lahoo Ahlun."
Supplicate (make du`a') to Allah.
Ask for His forgiveness and guidance as much as you can because mercy drops from the heaven like a gentle rain in the month of Rajab (also known as "As'abb" - pouring out, full of love and kindness).. Ask Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta`ala) to bless us to reach Ramadan and to make the month of Rajab, and the following month of Sha'ban, a means for us to prepare for Ramadan. It is reported that the Prophet of God used to supplicate when Rajab came, "O Allah! Bless us during Rajab and Sha'ban, and let us reach Ramadan."
The Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to say: "Rajab is a month of seeking forgiveness, so seek forgiveness from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta`ala); He is verily the Forgiver, the Merciful."
It is therefore highly recommended to repeat Astaghfirullaah wa as-aluhut tawbah.
Take Care of Your Tree.
Ibn Rajab used to say: "The year is like a tree. The days of Rajab are its foliation. The days of Sha'ban are its branching and the days of Ramadan are wherein its fruits are reaped. The reapers are the believers. It is befitting for the one who has blackened his pages with sins to whiten them with repentance in this month, and for the one who has squandered his life in idleness to profit in it from what remains of his life."
Thikr.
Thikr is an important aspect of a Muslims life which does not simply just involve certain utterances of the tongue, like Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdu lillah (All praise be to Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah). It involves the feeling of the heart, our daily actions and the remembrance of Allah in everything we do.During the month of Rajab, one should increase the amounts of thikr performed in order to be closer to Allah.
Thikr which can be recited during Rajab are:
1) Repeating Laa ilaaha illa-Allah 1000 times
2) Repeating Astaghfirullaaha zul jalale wal Ikraam min jamee al zonoobe wal aathaam 1000 times
3) Repeating Sura Al Tawheed, 'Qul-ho-wallaho Ahad' or Surah Al-Ikhlas 1000 times to get the reward of 1000 Angels and blessings on the reciter, his / her children, family and neighbours.
4) It is recommended to recite Sura Al Tawheed 'Qul-ho-wallaho Ahad' or Surah Al-Ikhlas 100 times every Friday in the month of Rajab.
Praise be to the Almighty Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta`ala) and thanks to Him for granting us yet another opportunity to cleanse ourselves of our sins and oversights. (Rajab Aamal and Dua)
[EveryMuslim]
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