On the Excellent Qualities of the Sacred Month of Rajab
Al-Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq
Sufficient Provision for Seekers of the Path of Truth]
Sultan Muhyuddin Ghawthul Adhim Sayyidinaa Shaykh Abdul-Qadir Al Jilani, Radhi Allahu anhu
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) has told us:
إِنَّعِدَّةَالشُّهُورِعِندَاللَّهِ اثْنَاعَشَرَشَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِاللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَاأَرْبَعَةٌحُرُمٌۚ
ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُۚ فَلَاتَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْۚ
"The number of the months in the sight of Allah is twelve months. [They were already inscribed] in the Book of Allah on the day when He created the heavens and the earth; four of them are sacred. That is the right religion. So do not wrong yourselves in them...." (9:36)
Rasoolulah ﷺ said "that it is mustahab (preferable) to fast during the sacred months (and Rajab is one of the sacred months). The Holy Prophet ﷺ said: “Fast some days of the sacred months and not others.” Narrated by Abu Dawood
Rasoolulah ﷺ said that 'Rajab is Allah's month, Sha’ban is my month, and Ramadhan is the month of my ummah/nation.' Someone then asked him: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what do you mean exactly, when you say that Rajab is Allah’s month?” So he ﷺ explained:
[I call it Allah's month] because it is specifically associated with forgiveness, because in it the shedding of blood is brought to a halt, because in it Allah (Exalted is He) relents toward His ambiya/prophets, because in it He rescues His awliya/saints from the hands of their enemies, and because anyone who fasts during this month becomes entitled to receive three things from Allah (Exalted is He). The first and second of these are forgiveness for all the sins he has previously committed, and impregnable virtue for the remainder of his life. As for the third, he will be safe from thirst on the Day of the Greatest Review/Yawm al-Ard al-Akbar."
At this point a feeble old man stood up and said: "Ya Rasoolulah ,ﷺ I am physically incapable of fasting through the whole of the month," so Rasoolulah ﷺ went on to say:
Fast during the first day of the month and during the day that comes in the middle of it, and also during the very last day of the month, for then you will be given the same reward as someone who has fasted through the whole of the month, since one good deed is equal in value to ten of the same kind.
It is most important, however, that none of you should neglect the first Friday in Rajab, for it is the night that the Malaa-ika call the Night 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'bah 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 Rabb, the request we wish to make is that You grant forgiveness to those who faithfully keep the fast in Rajab," whereupon Allah (Exalted is He) will tell them: "That I have already done!"
Allah's Messenger ﷺ said: The month of Rajab is a glorious month indeed. If someone has fasted for one day in Rajab, Allah (Exalted is He) will record it in his credit column as the fast of a hundred year. If someone has fasted for two days in Rajab, Allah (Exalted is He) will record it in his credit column as the fast of two hundred years. If someone has fasted for three days in Rajab, Allah (Exalted is He) will record it in his credit column as the fast of three hundred years. If someone has fasted for seven days inRajab, all the seven gates of hell will be locked to make sure that he stays out of it. If someone has fasted for eight days in Rajab, all 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!" "If someone has fasted for three days during the sacred months, on a Thursday, a Friday and a Saturday, Allah will credit him with the worshipful service/ibada of nine hundred years!" Holy Tradition/Hadith Qudsi.
It has been mentioned by Sayyidinaa Abu Nu’`aym in his Hilya from Sayyidinaa Anas Ibn Malik (Radhi Allah Ta'ala Anhu) said, that the Holy Prophet of Allah ﷺ used to make the following du`a, when the sacred month of Rajab came in:
Allahuma Barik lana fi Rajaba wa Sha`bana wa ballighna Ramadhan -
O Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha`ban and let us reach Ramadhan.
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 Holy Prophet of Allah ﷺ said:
Rajab is the month of Allah. 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.
There is no doubt that the sacred month of Rajab is the key to the opening of the months of goodness and blessing.
Sayyidinaa Abdullah Ibn Zubair (Radhi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu), the cousin of Rasoolulah ﷺ has said, “If someone relieves a believer of an anxiety during the sacred month of Rajab, Allah Ta’ala will grant him a palace in Jannat extending as far as the eye can see. Yes indeed, you must honour the sacred month of Rajab, for then Allah Ta’ala will honour you with a thousand generous favours!”
Rasoolulah ﷺ has also stated that in the Garden of Paradise there is a river called Rajab, which is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. If someone has fasted for one day during the sacred month of Rajab, Allah Ta’ala will let him quench his thirst by drinking from that river. Sayyidinaa Anas Ibn Malik (Radhi Allahu Ta’ala Anh) reports another Hadith in which Rasoolulah ﷺ has stated that in the Garden of Paradise there is a palace that no one may enter, with the exception of someone who makes it a frequent practice of fasting during the sacred month of Rajab.
Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ also encouraged the Sahabah to perform optional (Nafl) prayers during the Sacred Month of Rajab as the blessings for this are innumerable. Fasting is one of the most recommended acts during this spiritual season. It becomes Fard during the month of Ramadan, but is highly recommended during the months of Rajab and Sha'baan. As noted from the Hadith above and others to follow, fasting, be it for only one day during these months, is rewarded with untold bounties.
Sayyidinaa Salmaan Farsi narrates that the Final Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that there is a day in the month of Rajab on which if a person fasts and does Qiyaamul Lail (night vigil) on that night, he will receive rewards like a person who fasts for 100 years and does Qiyaamul Lail for nights of 100 years. This night is the night of the 27th (Rajab) and the day of the 27th (Rajab). This is the day on which Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ was appointed to Messenger hood, (Ghuniyatut Talibeen, Tarteeb Shareef page 781).
Sayyidinaa Salman al Farsi narrates that the Beloved of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ said, "O Salman, there is no Mumin (True Believer) and Muminah (Truly Believing Female) who performs 30 Raka'ah in the month of Rajab and in each Raka'ah recites Surah Al-Fatiha once, Surah Al-Ikhlaas 3 times, and Surah Al-Kafiroon 3 times that Allah does forgive them their sins and bestows rewards upon them as upon a person who has fasted a whole month. He becomes among those who will be steadfast in their Salaat in the year which is to come. For him the deeds of the day are equal to that of the martyr. He will be raised with the Martyrs of the Holy Battle of Badr. For him is written for the fast of each day, one year's worship. His station is raised 1000 times higher.
Sayyidinaa Salmaan says, I beseeched "O Rasoolullah ﷺ tell me when and how shall I perform this Salaat (Prayer)" He said "O Salmaan, perform 10 Raka'ah on the first of it (month of Rajab) and in each Raka'ah recite Surah Al-Fatiha once, Surah Al-Ikhlaas thrice and Surah Al-Kafiroon thrice and after you do your Salaam (at the end of the Salaat) raise your hands and say:
"There is no God but Allah, The One Who has no partners. To Him belong all His kingdom and all the praise, Who created life and death and Who is Alive without Death. From His hands (only) good is done and Who has Power over everything. Dearest Allah, no one can stop what You bestow and no one can give what You prevent. There is no one who can profit us except You the August among all." Then wipe your hands over your face. It is most important, however, that none of you should neglect the first Friday in Rajab, for it is the night that the Angels (Malaa-ika) call the Night 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'bah 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 Rabb, the request we wish to make is that You grant forgiveness to those who faithfully keep the fast in Rajab," whereupon Allah (Exalted is He) will tell them: "That I have already done!"
Wa Sall Allahu `ala Sayyiddina Muhammadin wa `ala Aalihi 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!
Abu Bakr Warraq said:
Rajab is a month of cultivation, Sha’ban is month of irrigating the fields, and the month of Ramadhan is a month of reaping and harvesting.
Wa Sall Allahu ta ‘ala ‘alaa Sayyidinaa wa Mawlaanaa Muhammadin wa Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Salaam
