The holy month of Rajab will start on Wednesday 2nd February 2022 inshaAllah. As we begin the day after the sunset of the day before, we start on Tuesday night 1st February actually.
However every country is different so better to check with your local community for the local beginning, according to the view of the new moon.
The three most sacred months of the Islamic year are Rajab, Shaban and Ramadan. Rajab Shahrullah is the month of Allah, Shaban is the month of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, Ramadan is the month of the jamaad, the community, and we try as much as possible to stay together, break the fast together and pray tarawih, the evening prayer of Ramadan together.
The month of Rajab is a month of forgiveness and fasting, a month that is likened, in a hadith to winds that bring clouds, while Sha’aban is like the month where rain clouds gather, and Ramadan is the month when the rain falls. These three holy months are very important for all those aspiring for nearness to Allah.
In general, during the holy month of Rajab it is good to recite 16,000 times Ya Latif; to pray in honor of this month another 30 Rakaat, during the month or all at once. The 27th day falls on the night of Miraj, the ascension into Heaven, and it is good to observe the fast on that day, to stay awake at night and to do the dhikr or pray.
The holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: “The month of Rajab is the great month of Allah, not related to other months in respect and meaning; the war during this month is prohibited; in truth, Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha’aban is my month and Ramadan the month of my Ummah; whoever fasts a day in the month of Rajab will be granted the great reward of Ridwan (the angel who guards the gates of Heaven); the wrath of Allah will be removed and a gate of Hell will be closed. Fasting is one of the most recommended practices during this spiritual season.”
It is the month of Allah, Rajab Shahrullah is a magnificent month. It bears the name of Allah. For this reason, all believers praise Allah. Do not let a day pass without praying.
Every day recite :
100-1000 La ilaha illallah (at least 40)
100-1000 Salawat (at least 40)
100 Ya Hafiz
And also 500-2.500 Astaghfirullah
500 Ya Latif (to complite the 16.000 for the month)
Fasting
Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, “Whoever fasts the entire month of Rajab, will be granted three gifts: forgiveness from past sins, protection for the rest of his life, and he will be saved from thirst on Judgement day.” When a Companion (Sahabah) told the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that he could not fast the entire month due to his old age, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) advised him to fast at least one day in the beginning, one day in the middle and one day at the end of the month. “Whoever fasts for one day at the beginning, for one day in the middle, and for one day at the end of the holy Rajab, the reward is as if he fasted the whole of Rajab and it is given to him.”
Abu Darda (r.a.), a Companion of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, that ten du’as will be granted at the time of breaking the fast, on each day of Rajab, be they du’as for worldly needs or for the afterlife.
About Fasting see:
-Post: “Why do we fast?”
– Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8y5HyOwh7Y
“Why do we focus so much on fasting in our School? Because the fasting can change your destination, and elevate it to your highest destination”. S. Burhanuddin
First Thursday of Rajab
The first Thursday night of Rajab, is known as Lailatul Ragha’ib (Night of Desires). It is very important to fast on this day, as the Angels gather at the Ka’aba to seek forgiveness for those fasting. After breaking fast on Thursday, there is a 12 rakaat sunnat, done in 6 sets of 2 rakaat, to be done.
In every Rak’at after reciting Surah al-Fatihah, recite 3 times Surah al-Qadr & 12 times Surah al-Ikhlaas.
After salam recite 70 times:
Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadinin Nabiyyil Ummiyi wa ‘ala aalihi wa sallim (O Allah send blessings on Muhammad, the Ummi Prophet, and on his family.)
Then sujud & recite 70 times:
Subbuhun quddusun rabbul malaaikati war-Ruh. (All Glorious and All Holy is the Lord of the Angels and Spirits.)
Then sit erect & recite 70 times:
Rabbighfir war-ham watajaawaz a’mma ta’lam, fa innaka antal a’zizul A’ zam. (O Lord! Forgive, have mercy and pardon about that which Thou knows well, verily Thou art Mighty, the Supreme.)
Then sujud again & recite 70 times:
Subbuhun quddusun rabbul malaaikati war-Ruh. (All Glorious and All Holy is the Lord of the Angels and Spirits.)
Finally, while still in sujud, he should ask Allah to grant his personal request, for that request will surely be fulfilled.
Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, “By Him in whose Hand is my soul, I assure you that no servant (of His), whether a manservant or maidservant, will ever perform this particular salat, without Allah forgiving all the sins of which that individual has been guilty, even if they are like the flecks of foam upon the ocean, as numerous as all the grains of sand, as heavy as the mountains, and as many as the drops of rain and the leaves on all the trees. On the Day of Resurrection, he will be allowed to give shafa’ah (intercede), on behalf of 700 members of his family.
Special 30 rakaat sunnat done in Rajab
From the Kitab, ‘Sufficient Provision for the Seekers of the Path of Truth’ written by Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (q.s.), Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said to his Companion, who is also the 3rd GrandShaykh of the Naqshbandi order, Sayyidina Salman al-Farisi:
O Salman, Allah will surely erase all the sins from the record of any believing man, or any believing woman, who performs 30 raka’at of sunnat prayer, in the course of this month, reciting in each raka’at, Surah al-Fatihah, followed by Surah al-Ikhlas 3 times, followed by Surah al-Kafirun 3 times. That man or woman will be granted the same reward as a person who has fasted throughout the entire month. He or she will be treated as one of those who continue to perform the ritual prayer right through to the following year, and will be credited every day with a deed as noble as that of one of the matryrs of the battle of Badr.
For every day of fasting in Rajab, the worship of an entire year will be recorded in favour of the believer concerned, whose credit will be enhanced by a thousand degrees. If the believer keeps the fast during the whole month, as well as performing this particular 30 raka’at salat, Allah will deliver him from the Fire of Hell and declare that he or she is entitled to enter the garden of Paradise, therein to dwell in the vicinity of Allah.”
This special prayer is done in this manner:
10 rakaats (5 sets of 2 rakaats) are done on the first day of Rajab. (Another naration says the first part of Rajab)
10 rakaat (5 sets of 2 rakaats) are done in the middle of Rajab.
10 rakaat (5 sets of 2 rakaats) are done at the end of the month.
Once the first ten rakaats are done tomorrow night (or as soon as possible), raise your hands, and recite:
La ilaha illallahu Wahdahu la sharikalah, lahul mulku, walahul hamdu, yuhyi wa yumitu, wa Huwa hayyun la yamut, bi ya dihil khairu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shain’in Qadiir.
Allahumma laa maani’a lima a’taita, wa laa mu’tiya lima mana’ta, wa laa, yanfa’u zhaljaddi, minkali jadd.
(There is no God except Allah, Alone. No partner has He. To Him belongs the kingdom and to Him belongs the praise, He brings to life and causes death, while He is Ever-Living and never dies. All goodness is in His Hand, and He is Powerful over all things.
O Allah, no one can withhold what You have given, and no one can give what You have withheld, nor will the worldly fortune of the possessor of such fortune benefit him, if he does not attain the fortune that comes from You (in the hereafter).
Then you must rub your face with your hands, and at this point, you have completed the first ten raka’ats.”
The 15th day of Rajab
Do perform the 10 raka’at prayer as explained above. Once the ten rakaats are done, raise your hands, and recite (note that it is different from that of the first ten days):
La ilaha illallahu Wahdahu la sharikalah, lahul mulku, walahul hamdu, yuhyi wa yumitu, wa Huwa hayyun la yamut, bi ya dihil khairu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shain’in Qadiir.
Ilahan, Waahidan, Ahadan, Samadan, Fardan, Witraa. Laa yattakhidhu sohibatan wa laa waladaa.
There is no God except Allah, Alone. No partner has He. To Him belongs the kingdom and to Him belongs the praise, He brings to life and causes death, while He is Ever-Living and never dies. All goodness is in His Hand, and He is Powerful over all things.
(I worship Him) as God, Single, One, Everlasting, Alone, Unique. He takes unto Himself, neither female consort nor son).
Then you must rub your face with your hands, and at this point, you have completed the second ten raka’ats.”
Once the last ten raka’ats are done, raise your hands, and recite:
La ilaha illallahu Wahdahu la sharikalah, lahul mulku, walahul hamdu, yuhyi wa yumitu, wa Huwa hayyun la yamut, bi ya dihil khairu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shain’in Qadiir.
Sallahu ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammadin wa ‘ala ‘alihith-thohirin, laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billahil ‘aliyyil adzhim.
(There is no God except Allah, Alone. No partner has He. To him belongs the kingdom and to Him belongs the praise, He brings to life and causes death, while He is Ever-Living and never dies. All goodness is in His Hand, and He is Powerful over all things.
May Allah bless our master Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and the pure members of his family. There is neither any power nor any strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Almighty.)
You should then ask for whatever you need. Allah will place 70 ditches between you and Hell, and each of these ditches will be as wide as the distance between the earth and heavens above. For every raka’at of prayer you have performed, He will reward you as if you performed one million raka’ats. Allah will also inscribe on your record, an exemption from the Fire of Hell and a permit to cross the narrow bridge (Sirat).” (This is what is written in Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani’s Kitab)
Last Friday of Rajab
The practice we learned to do on this special Friday is to recite:
Ahmadur Rasulullah, Muhammadur Rasulullah
35 times when the khatib (the imam who gives the Friday sermon) is standing on the mimbar (pedestal).
It is said that for this small act that you do, Allah, for the sake of His Beloved (s.a.w.s.) would guarantee much provision for you for the entire year.
Isra’ and Miraj
That is a time of which Prophet ﷺ after much tribulations, much hardship and difficulties in life, was granted Divinely Audience. After many difficulties, Prophet ﷺ was crying. He had faced tremendous hardship in life. Even the children of Tayef (village in Saudi Arabia) were throwing rocks at him. And many hardships in life, as his wife Sayyidatina Khadija tul Kubra (as) had just passed away. Even after that event, he went home and was heartbroken and crying. Allah (AJ) granted him Isra wal Miraj (Night of Ascension) and called him to His Divinely Presence and called the Prophet ﷺ with his physicality. His physicality was taken and the angels appeared, washed him with the waters of the heaven and dressed him with the dress of the heavens. They brought him a holy Buraq (holy creature) for him to ride. As Prophet ﷺ mounted that Buraq, then from Makkah they moved to Masjid al Aqsa in Jerusalem.
Prophet (saw) said, “If someone keeps the fast on the 27th day of Rejab, he will be credited with the same reward as that which is earned by fasting for 60 months.” In another hadith, Prophet (saw) said, “Rajab contains a very special day and a very special night. If someone fasts during that day, and keeps vigil throughout that night, he will be entitled to a reward like the one that would be earned by a person who fasted for 100 years, and who kept vigil throughout all nights of that period (the whole hundred years).”
At Masjid al Aqsa, Prophet ﷺ describes seeing all the prophets and that he was the imam (leader) of them, leading them in prayer. From Masjid al Aqsa, Jacob’s (as) ladder appeared and through that ladder he ﷺ began to ascent with the Buraq into the heavens. In each heaven, the angels were waiting to describe and show Prophet ﷺ what Allah has made of that heaven, its reality, its purpose, its blessings, and its secrets. All angels lined up on each paradise coming out to show their love for Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ and to show their love for Divinely Presence.
This is the history that many are familiar with and Mawlana Shaykh teaching for us that when we hear these realities and understanding, there is a deeper understanding that the honoring of someone is a way in which to express our love for them. The Divinely Presence wants to show to us that, I could have called him ﷺ to my Divinely Presence within a blink of an eye. When Allah (AJ) wants something, he doesn’t need to go through any formalities. He merely كُنْ فَيَكُوْنُ Kun Fa yakun (“Be“ and it Is), requests and you will be right in front ofAllah (AJ) without any intermediary and without any questioning.
The oldest accounts, which are closest to the time of the Prophet, s.a.w.s., record it as a journey in body and flesh from Mecca to Jerusalem in a short portion of the night. The journey has been described as so swift that when the Prophet returned his bed was still warm, and the jar of water by his bedside that has tumbled over at the time of his departure was still dripping water.
According to Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (r.a.), this is the way one of the Companions, Sayyidina Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (ra), used to worship on that day:
He would do iktikaf in the mosque from subuh and spend all morning in ibadah (adab, awrad, wazifa, Qur’an, Dalailul khairat etc).
After zuhur, he would pray a 4 ra’kaat Sunnat prayer. In each raka’at, he would recite Surah Fatihah once, Surah Al Falaq and An-Nas once each, Surah Al-Qadr 3 times, and Surah Ikhlas 50 times. He would then make du’a until Asr.
“This,” said the Sahabah, “is exactly what Rasulullah (s.a.w.s.) always did on this particular day.”
The usual practice of the night before 27° Rajab:
-between Maghrib e Isha’, pray 20 Rakaat, of 2 o 4 units reciting after the Fatiha 20 Ikhlas.
-100 Astaghfirullah and 100 Salawat loud.
Special Du’a of Rajab to be read daily x 3:
Bismillahi ‘r-Rahmani ‘r-Raheem
Allahuma innee istaghfiruka min kulli maa tubtu lahu ilayka thumma `udtu feeh. wa istaghfiruka min kulli maa `aradtu bihi wajhika wa-khaalatanii feehi maa laysa feehi ridaak. wa istaghfiruk li-ni`am allatii taqawwaytu biha `ala ma`aseeyatik. wa istaghfiruka min adh-dhunoob allatii laa ya`lamahu ghayruka wa laa yattali`u `alayha ahadun siwaak wa laa yasa`uha illa rahmatika wa laa tunjii minha illa maghfiratuka wa hilmuka. laa ilaha illa-Anta, subhaanak! innii kuntu min azh-zhaalimiin.
Allahuma innii istaghfiruka min kulli zhulmin zhalamtu bihi `ibadaka. Fa ayyamaa `abdin min `ibaadik aw `amatin min ‘imaa’ika zhalamtu fii badanihi aw `irdihi aw maalihi fa `atihi min khazaa’inik allatii laa tanqus. Wa as’aluka an tukrimanee bi-rahmatika allatii wasi`at kulla shay wa laa t`uhiinanii min `adhaabik wa ta`tiiayanii maa as’aluka fa-innii haqiiqun bi-rahmatik ya arhamu ‘r-Raahimiin. wa salla-Allahu `ala Sayiddina Muhammadin wa `ala aalihi wa sahbihi ajma`iin. wa laa hawla wa laa quwatta illa billah il-`Aliyyu ‘l-`Azhiim
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.
It is advisable also to pray at least 2 Rakaat Tasbih every day (see details on the Naqshbandi practice booklet pag.134)
From the Sohbah of Haja Rukiya Sultan, the daughter of Maulana Sheikh Nazim al Haqqani, for the Holy month of Rajab, 13 Feb 2021
InshaAllah today is the first of Rajab, the month of Allah Azza wa Jalla, Rajab shahrullah.
The month of Allah, and then Shaban shahri and Ramadan shahru ummati. It is Shaban the month of the Prophet Muhammad, saws, and Ramadan the month of the nation, the nation of ummati Muhammad, saws.
It is the season to get closer to the Divine, to feel the Presence, Love, and to reinforce it true strong worshipping in your heart.
Alhamdulillah we reached Rajab safely, healthy, alhamdulillah.
Rajab is a strong heavy month, where the tajalli, the divine manifestations are high. That is why we recommend to intensify your practice, worshipping and dhikr, and to recite every day 500-2.500 Astaghfirullah, and 500 Ya Latif. And if you feel strong enough it is good to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.
We have in the whole lunar year 5 holy nights and 2 of them are in the month of Rajab. One of the them is after few days, the coming Thursday is the holy night, Laylathul Raghaib, the night of Raghaib. It is the night when the Prophet, saws, physically honoured this world. It is the wedding night of Hazrati Amina and Abdullah, that the Prophet, saws, physically honoured this world. It is a very holy night. The Prophet Muhammad, saws, was telling not to neglect this night.
If you have time, you may read salatu Tasabih, and if you have a place where you can go and make dhikr together, you can make it, otherwise you can make also a small dhikr in your house, you can also make a small feast and cook nice food. The Prophet Muhammad, saws, liked milk, so you cook some sweet with milk, in the honour of the Prophet saws.
When he was eating something, it was his prayer that Allah may give Alhamdulillah for this, thanking for the provision He gives us, but Allah may give us better than this. Only when he was drinking milk he was making a dua’: that Allah gives more than this, when he drinks milk. Milk is good for everything, inshaAllah. The Prophet, saws, was praising milk.
So at this night you just make some sweet with milk, you may serve your family and if you can give to neighbours, someone you know, for the honour of the Prophet, saws, and for the honour of this night, it is very good.
In this month Noah, a.s., gathered the animals in pairs and set on his journey through the sea in the arc. Six months later landed on Ashura day.
And this night also there is twelve rakat, between maghrib and isha. If it is not possible, you have work or you are not in the house, you can make it after isha also, 12 rakat in the honour of the Prophet, saws, and the honour of this night.
Each rakat you read 1 Fatiha, 3 Innaa anzalnaahu fee lailatil qadr… Surat al Qadr, and 11 or 12 iklhas, you read in each rakat, and every 2 rakat you give salam, 12 rakat, for the precious of that night, Laylatul Raghaib this coming Thursday.
And after you finish, you read 70 Salawat and then you go to sajda, you pray for Allah Azza wa Jalla, whatever you like inshaAllah because in this holy night all the angels are coming around Kaaba making tawwaf and asking forgiveness for the people who are honouring that night praying and worshipping and asking forgiveness for them.
Also there are angels behind the mount of Khaf, they have each has their flag in their hands, they are countless, they have their flags where is written Lailaha illaLah Muhammadan Rasulullah and this night they also come around Kaaba, they make tawwaf and they ask for forgiveness, also they give their tawaf and the good deeds of what they are doing to the people who is honouring that night. Also it is a very holy night, InshaAllah.
And we fast on Thursday and Friday, the coming Thursday and Friday, ishaAllah is fasting. Also in Rajab there is fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, if it is possible you fast in those days, you can count them for your days in Ramadan that you have to make up.
The other holy nigh in Rajab is on the 27th of Rajab, the night of Isra al Miraj. The Prophet Muhammad, saws, in this night, Allah Azza Jaalla sent Hazrat Jibril to he said tonight I will meet my Beloved, and he sent Hazrat Jibril with Buraq from Heaven and ordered the Heavens in to be in its best looking, very nice, like Eid, the Prophet Muhammad, saws, is coming. And that night is such a long story, for the Prophet Muhammad, saws, was the Jibril took him to Isra, from Mekka to Khudus sharif, Gerusalem, and from the place of Aqsa he met all the prophets, 124.000 prophets souls and he was making imam and praying with them two rakat there.
After that he raised to Heavens, this is the Miijraj. In Miiraj the Prophet Muhammad, saws, was visiting all the Heaves, all the earths, he saw Hell, he saw Paradise, and he reached the sidrah al muntaha that means the last point before the Divine Presence.
And the Prophet Muhammad, saws, was ordered to go behind this, then he was asking Hazrat Jibril, “Come with me”, he said “No, I will not come, this is my last point, I can stay here, if I come forward with you, I will be demolished from Existence and I will not be recreated again, this is my place I wait for you”.
The Prophet Muhammad, saws, was going behind this Divine Presence, he wanted to take off his shoes, because it was ordered to Musa, as, on Earth, when he was going on mouth Sinai, to take off his shoes. But here when the Prophet Muhammad, saws, was in the Divine Presence and he wanted to take off his shoes, the Divine call came to him and said “Do not take your shoes off, let my throne to be honoured with the dust of your shoes”. This is how much this love, he was the most beloved to Allah Azza Jalla.
In this place it was ordered the payers, the five fard times, and also it was Allah and his beloved Sayidina Muhammad, saws, what was the meeting and how was it, we don’t know, but we believe in this, we believe also that the the Prophet Muhammad, saws, was there with his body and his soul. It was not a dream only with his soul,…. Allah is Qadr he make al the rules and can do anything He wants.
Of course for the Prophet Muhammad, saws, he was honouring him, to be in Divine Presence with his body and his soul.
This night also has the day to fast is like to be given a good deed like sixty months. And also to get up at night and make also worshipping ibadha is also equal to hundred years ibadha, worshipping.
Also there are two rakats in this night to pray, only 2 rakat, 1 Fatiha, 20 Ikhlas in each rakat, and after that when it is finishing from the prayer, you read 10 times allahumma salli ala… Salawat and then there is a dua’, I read it for you and inshaAllah you can understand and when it is written it will be ok, Allahumma inni………
That is the dua’ you read and then after that whantever dua’ you like you can make. A good dua’ is: Rabbana atina fi d-dunya hasatan wa fil akhirati hasatan wa qina adhab an-nar.
It is accepted inshaAllah. This is for the month of Rajab, also there is a lot of wird you can read, but most important also it is to fast Mondays and Thurdays,
Next week inshallah it is also the anniversary of Maulana Sheikh Nazim, 7th Rajab, it is the Hijiri anniversary, lunar, of our Sheikh Maulana Sheikh Nazim. I think most of you they know him, you met him, you talked to him, you met him in person, so Alhamdulillah we are honoured to be his children, we are honoured to be his murids, and honoured that Allah Azza jallah honoured us with him.
And alhamdulillah that he honored us, Maulana Sheikh Nazim, to leave us the khalifa Maulana Sheikh Mehmet, in his place.
Maulana Sheikh Nazim was all his life in the way of Allah Azza Jalla and day and night in this way, in the way, of Allah Azza Jalla. You know him, he was like a father, a murshid, like a Sheikh, and a guide and also the inheritor of the Prophet, saws, throught all the line of Naqshbandi tariqa, he was number 40 we knew him. For me to talk about him it is a bit difficult because the fish when is in the sea does not see how the ocean is big, the people from outside they know how the ocean is big. We love him, we miss him, may Allah make intercession for us in the Judgement Day, and make us his neighbours and also to be close to him as we were in dunya, close to him in Akhira.
So I ask from you, because sometimes they ask what we read for you Maulana? You read Yasin, that day is Friday, please read each one one Yasin one Iklas sharif and you gift it to the soul of Maulana Sheikh Nazim.
Wa min-a Allah-it Tawfeeq
Al Fatiha
