Seasons of Allah - The Sacred Month of Rajab
The Sacred Month of Rajab – Virtues and Merits
During this Sacred Month of Rajab, join our Director of Fundraising and Ustadh, Yasrab Shah in learning this month’s sacred virtues and merits.
’Time has come back to its original state which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth; the year is twelve months, four of which are sacred. Three of them are in succession: Dhul-Qa‘dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Al-Muharram and Rajab of Mudar [a title of Rajab], which stands between Jumada (ath-Thani) and Sha‘ban.’ [Bukhari]
There is divine wisdom in this succession, Dhul-Qa‘dah (11th), Dhul-Hijjah (12th), Al-Muharram (1st) designed to allow pilgrims safe passage to Makkah for Hajj and return to their homes. Rajab traditionally facilitated ‘Umrah, the minor pilgrimage.
Rajab comes from the Arabic root meaning ‘to be afraid, revere, venerate, honour and magnify’. This amplifies the meaning of the sacred month in which war and fighting were unlawful since the beginning of creation and even respected by the pre-Islamic Arabs in the Time of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah)
The great saint Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani states, “Rajab is three letters, Ra, Jeem and Ba. The Ra is Rah’matullah (the mercy of Allah.) Jeem is Ju’duAllah (the generosity of Allah.) Ba is Bir’uAllah (kindess of Allah.)”
The Prophet (saw) said, ‘Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha‘ban is my month and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah’. [Suyuti]
This month, seek Allah’s (swt) forgiveness and increase good deeds and avoid sins.
The Sacred Month of Rajab – The Night Journey
Ustadh Yasrab Shah continues speaking on the Sacred Month of Rajab by discussing one of the most dominantly viewed momentous occasions in this month, The Night Journey, said to have occurred on the 27th Night of Rajab.
In the narration found in an-Nasa'I; On the authority of Anas ibn Malik that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said,
“I was brought an animal that was larger than a donkey and smaller than a mule, whose stride could reach as far as it could see. I mounted it, and Jibril was with me, and I set off.”
Before the Prophet (saw) entered Jerusalem, he passed by the grave of the Prophet Musa as shown in the following Hadith:
On the authority of Anas ibn Malik that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said,
“I came – and the narration transmitted on the authority of Haddab – I happened to pass by Musa on the night of my Night journey by the red sandhill whilst he was standing praying in his grave.” [Muslim]
On the authority of Abu Dharr who said, ‘We were in discussion, and we were with the Messenger of Allah (saw). (We asked him), ‘which is better? The Masjid of the Messenger of Allah (saw) or Bait al-Maqdis?’ Then the Messenger of Allah (saw) said,
“One prayer in my Masjid is better than four prayers in it (i.e. Bait al-Maqdis) and what an amazing place of worship it is! Surely, there will soon come a time for a man to have land equivalent to his horse’s rope from which he can. Bait al-Maqdis will be better for him than that the whole world!”
He (the narrator) said ‘or he said,
“Better for him the world and everything in it!”’
[Al-Hakim]
He said, ‘I mounted it and came to Bait al-Maqdis [in al-Quds], then tethered it to the ring the Prophet [as] used to tie it to.’ He said, ‘Then I entered the Masjid and prayed two Rak’ahs (units of prayer) in it. [Muslim]
Then I came out and (Angel) Jibril brought me a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. Then I chose the milk, and Jibril said, “You have chosen the natural state.” [Muslim]
The Sacred Month of Rajab – The Ascension
In this final episode of the Rajab series, Ustadh Yasrab Shah speaks on the significance of the Mi’raj or the ascension the Prophet (saw), during the Sacred Month of Rajab.
Then he ascended with us to the heaven [first layer of the sky]. Jibril then asked the (gate of heaven) to be opened. It was said, “Who are you?” He said, “Jibril.” It was said, “And who is with you?” He said, “Muhammad.” It was said, “Has he been sent for?” He said, “He has indeed been sent for.” And it (the door of the heaven) was opened for us and suddenly I was with (the Prophet) Adam. Then he welcomed me and supplicated for good for me. [Muslim]
“Welcome unto him! What an amazing arrival has come!” [Muslim]
“Then we travelled on till we reached the sixth heaven and came to Musa so I greeted him and he said, “Welcome to the righteous brother and the righteous Prophet.” And when I passed (by him) he wept, and a voice was heard saying, “What makes you cry?” He said, “My Lord, this is a young man whom You have sent after me (as a Prophet) and his Ummah will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my Ummah.” [Muslim]
