The Virtue of the Sacred Month of Rajab

The Virtue of the Sacred Month of Rajab

The blessed month of Rajab is the first of the four sacred months of the Islamic Calendar, and has its own special virtues, since in this month the gates of divine mercy are opened for the believers. It should be known that the month of Rajab, along with the following two months of Sha’ban and Ramadhan, have an absolute excellence and there are many hadith which mention their virtues. Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) is reported to have said that “Rajab is the great month of Allah. No other month equals it in sanctity and merit. During this month fighting against the infidels is prohibited. Indeed Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha’ban is my month, and Ramadhan is the month of my ummah. Surely, whoever fasts a day of Rajab secures Allah’s greatest pleasure, distances himself from the wrath of Allah, and one of the gates of hell is shut closed for him.” It is related from the Prophet’s 7th Infallible Successor, Imam Musa Kazem (AS) “For those who fast a day of Rajab, the fire of hell recedes from them a distance of a year’s journey. And whoever fasts three days of Rajab is certain to enter Paradise.”
In another narration, the same Imam said, “Rajab is a river in paradise, much whiter than milk and much sweeter than honey. Whoever fasts a day of Rajab, will be given a drink from that river by Allah, the Almighty and Glorious.” Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS) is reported to have quoted the Prophet as saying: “Rajab is the month of istighfar (or seeking forgiveness) for my ummah. Therefore, plead for God’s forgiveness often during this month, for Allah is All-Forgiving and All-Merciful.”
The famous Iranian Islamic scholar Shaikh Sadouq, who lived over a thousand years ago, has reported on reliable authority from the Prophet’s 6th Infallible Heir, Imam Ja’far Sadeq (AS) that “Allah has exalted this month and given it a stupendous sanctity, taking it upon Himself to honour those who fast it. And whoever fasts a single day of the latter part of Rajab it will save him from the severity of the throes of death, from the horrors encountered after death, and from the torments of the grave. Whoever fasts two days of the latter part of this month will cross over the Sirat (or the bridge over hell) with ease. And whoever fasts three days of the latter part of this month will be secure from the terrors and calamities of the Day of the greatest terror and will be granted immunity from hell.”
Once when Imam Sadeq (AS) was asked by person for a supplication to God for this month, he answered: “Write down, In the Name of Allah the All-Beneficent and the All-Merciful, and make this supplication every day during Rajab, morning and evening, after the daily and nightly prayers: “O You from whom I expect every good, and seek safety from Your displeasure in the face of every evil!
“O You Who give abundantly for that which is trivial!
“O You Who grant to whomever requests You.
“O You Who, out of Your compassion and mercy, give also to those who neither ask You nor know You, “Grant me, for my petition to You, all the good of the world and all the good of the Hereafter! Save me, through my petition to You, from all the evils of the world and the Hereafter, for what You grant is never deficient, and enhance me out of You grace, O All-Munificent!’ ”
The narrator says, “As the Imam recited this supplication in an entreating manner, he gently held his beard with his left hand while moving the index finger of his right hand. Then he added, “O Majestic and Munificent! O All-Generous Bestower of blessings, O Dispenser of fa-vours and bounties, save my grey hair from the Fire!”
The Prophet is also reported have said that God Almighty grants the reward of a hundred thousand good deeds to those who say la ilaha il-Allah (or there is no god but Allah) a thousand times during the month of Rajab and He shall build for them a hundred cities in paradise. It has been narrated that someone who says during the month of Rajab Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh seventy times in the morning and seventy times in the evening and thereafter raising his hands says Allahum∙magh∙fir li wa tub alayya, should he die during Rajab, God shall be pleased with him and hellfire shall not touch him due to the blessings of Rajab. The Prophet is also reported to have said that God Almighty shall forgive all the sins of someone who offers ten raka’ah of the ritual prayer during one of the nights of Rajab, reciting al-Hamd and Surah Kafirun once and Surah Towheed thrice in each raka’ah.
The scholar Allamah Majlisi has written in his book Zad al-Ma’ad that it is reported on the authority of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS) that Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) said God Almighty shall forgive all the sins of one who performs the following observances every day and night throughout the months of Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadhan, even if those sins are as numerous as the drops of rain and the leaves of the trees and as enormous as the ocean’s froth. In this observance each of the following is recited thrice: al-Hamd, Ayat al-Kursi, the Surahs Kafirun, Towheed, Falaq, and Naas. Then, say thrice, Subhan-Allah, wal-hamdu lillah, wa la ilaha il-Allah wa-Allah-o Akbar, wa la howla wala quwatta illah billah (Glory be to Allah, All Praise belongs to Allah, there is no god except Allah, and Allah is Greater; there is no power or force except what derives from Allah, the Exalted and Almighty). Then say each of the following thrice. Allahumma salle ala Mohammadin wa aal-e Mohammad (O Allah, bless Mohammad and the Progeny of Mohammad). Allahmum-maghfir-lil-momineen-wa’l-moninaat (O Allah, forgive the faithful, men and women). Thereafter say four hundred times Ashtaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh (I plead to Allah for forgiveness, and turn to Him penitently).
Thanks for listening dear friends, and don’t forget to tune in tomorrow for the 2nd and concluding part of the Virtues of Rajab in which we will present you the observations for the specific days of this blessed months and the reward that God grants to those sincerely observing them.
The 9th of Rajab marks the birth of the Infant Martyr of Karbala, Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS), who six months later on the 10th of Moharram was destined to be martyred in the state of thirst in the hands of his father Imam Husain (AS) by an arrow shot by the heartless marksman of the Omayyad army, Harmala bin Kahel. The 10th of Rajab happens to be the birth anniversary of Imam Mohammad at-Taqi al-Jawad (AS), the 9th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). We would be presenting you a special feature on that particular day that falls on Monday. Here we wish to point out the significance of the 13th eve of Rajab that marks the 3-day period called Ayyam al-Beedh, when the moon is in its full bloom, and when there are special supplications and prayers to be performed in the Divine Court. One can refer to the famous prayer manual, Mafatih al-Jenaan or Keys of Paradise for details. It is should also be pointed out that on the 13th, 14th and 15th of Rajab, it is highly recommended to fast during these days and observe E’tekaaf in the principal mosques of the city. Every year hundreds of thousands of people, especially youngsters observe this spiritual exercise in the solitude of mosques, engrossed in prayers and supplications that infuse new life into them, enlightening minds, soothing hearts, purifying souls, and providing them with new ideas for the betterment of the society, the country, and humanity as a whole.
The 13th of Rajab is the auspiciousbirthday of the Commander of the Faithful, the Leader of the Pious, the Symbol of Justice, the Epitome of Piety, the Paragon of Patience, the Embodiment of Valour, Imam Ali ibnAbiTaleb (AS), the cousin and divinely-designated vicegerent of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). Imam Ali (AS), who was born in the holy Ka’ba needs no introduction, and we would be presenting you a special feature that day. Let us move on to the eve of the 15th of Rajab, which is indeed a very blessed night, on which there are several observances.First, is to perform a ritual bath;second, keeping vigil along with acts of worship; third, performing the ziyarahor salutation of the Immortal Martyr of Karbala, Imam Husain (AS), and a series of non-obligatory ritual prayers that are mentioned in all prayer books. The day that dawnsthat is, the 15th of Rajab is also an auspicious day and there are several observances pertaining to it, such as the ritual bath, performance of the ziyarah of Imam Husain (AS) and special supplications, one of which reads: “O Allah, Humiliator of all tyrants and Honourer of thefaithful! You are my havenwhen the diverse paths leaveme clueless. You brought meinto being out of Your mercy,though You had no need tocreate me, and had it not beenfor Your mercy I would haveperished. You strengthen mewith Your help against myenemies, and were it not forYour aid I would have beenhumiliated…”
Another important observance of the 15th of Rajab is the Supplication known as Amal Omm Dawoud that was taught by Imam Ja’farSadeq (AS) to the lady of the same name who his foster mother, for the release of her son, Dawoud, from the prison of the tyrant caliph, Mansour Dawaniqi. This is indeed a panacea for relief fromafflictions and heading off the harm and tyranny of oppressors.
The 25th of Rajab is the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Musa Kazem (AS), the 7th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), and on that particular we would be presenting you a special feature on his life and times. One of the greatest observances for Rajab is the eve of 27th which is called the Night of the Mab’ath (preceding the first day of the formalordainment by God of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) as the Last and Greatest Messenger to mankind with the universal message of Islam. It is one of the most blessed of nights, on which several observances are related and can be found in relevant books. According to Imam Jawad (AS), “There is a night in the month of Rajab whose virtue exceeds everything on which the sun shines and that is the 27thnight of the month, on the morning of which the Prophet assumed his mission. There is a reward of 60 years of works for thoseof our followers who carry out its devotions.”
The observances for this night and the following day include the ziyarah or salutation of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and his vicegerent, Imam Ali (AS), who as a young 10-boy was present on Mount Noor outside Mecca when the Archangel Gabriel entrusted God’s mission to his cousin the Prophet. In short this
The medieval Moroccan traveler, IbnBatuta, writes in his famous Travelouge of the city of holy Najaf in Iraq where the shrine of Imam Ali (AS) is situated, and says people from Iraq, Iran,Khorasan, and Anatolia bring with them paralytics and chronically sickpersons who are unable to move, and beseech God for cure. They recite the holy Qur’an and supplication to God Almighty, and then chant“lailahail-Allah, Muhammadur-Rasulullah, AliyunWaliyullah”, which means there is no deity except God, Mohammad is the Messenger of God and Ali is the Friend of God. IbnBatuta says that he heard it from persons whose statements may be trusted that many people are cured in Najaf on this night. He adds: I myself saw three men in the madrasah which serves asthe shrine’s quarters for visitors. They were bedridden and unable to move. Oneof them came from Anatolia, another was from Isfahan and a third from Khorasan.I asked them why they had not been cured and had remained there. Theysaid that they had missed the night of the twenty seventh and were determined tostay on until the next year for recovery.
On the 27th day of Rajab, the day of the formal start of the universal mission of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), there are several observances such as the ritual bath, fasting as a form of thanksgiving to God for granting humanity the Messenger of Mercy, and recitation of the ziyarah of the Prophet and Imam Ali. This day is one of four days in the whole year whose fast isdistinguished for its merit, being equal to seventy years of fasting. We would be presenting you a special feature on the Prophet on this particular day.
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