Rejab 1434

أستَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيمَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الحَيُّ القَيُّومُ وأَتُوبُ إِليه

I seek the forgiveness of Allah, the Most Great, besides Who there is no god; the Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him.

Among the months, Rajab is the month of seeking forgiveness. Al-Daylami narrates on the authority of `Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah ennoble him) that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Seek much forgiveness (from Allah) in Rajab because in every hour (of the month) Allah frees people from the Fire.” When the month entered the Prophet would say, as Anas narrates:

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا في رَجَبٍ وَ شَعْبَانَ وَ بَلِّغْنا رَمَضَانَ

“O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha`bān and enable us to reach Ramadān!”⁴

It is a blessed month, may Allah bless us and the Ummah in it. In the times of Jahiliyyah the noise of battle would not be heard in this month. This was due to the veneration that people had for the month, even though they were polytheists. Allah revealed concerning this month: They ask you about the sacred month – fighting therein. Say: fighting therein is a grave offence.⁵

Look at the state the Ummah has reached today. Some Muslims have actually declared war in the month of Rajab, not on the disbelievers, but on each other. Some have travelled around spilling the blood of their brothers. Look how far the Ummah has sunk when it has left the Guidance of Allah and His Messenger and surrendered its reins to corrupt people; to disbelievers; to people deceived by their own philosophies!

Our Master said: “Repent to Allah for truly I repent to Allah in every day and night seventy (or one hundred) times.” Allah says in the Hadith Qudsi: “O son of Adam, if your sins were so numerous that they reached the heavens and then you sought My forgiveness I would forgive you and it is nothing to Me.”

If someone allows Rajab to enter and they have no concern for their wrongdoings, then they do not truly possess taqwa. The believer sees his sins as a mountain towering over him which he fears will fall upon his head, whereas the hypocrite sees his sins as a fly which lands on his nose which he brushes away with his hand. One of the Followers was told that a group of people were talking about something which did not concern them. He said: “If they were concerned with their own wrongdoings, they would not have talked about that subject.”

Seek forgiveness in abundance and seek to unite people’s hearts. Beware of provoking hatred, or tale bearing, for “among the worst slaves of Allah are those that constantly bear tales, those that cause division between those that love each other.” Choose words that unite people: Say to My slaves that they should only say those things that are best, for the Devil sows dissension among them.⁶

Attempt to fast in this month. `Ali bin Muhammad al-Rabi` narrates from a chain of narrators most of whom are reliable that one of the Followers asked one of the Companions: “Did the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) fast in Rajab?”

He replied: “Yes, and he would ennoble it.” He would ennoble and honour the month by fasting in it. May Allah awaken our hearts!

Prepare for the first night of Rajab. He said (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): “There are five nights on which du`ā’ is not rejected: the first night of Rajab, the fifteenth night of Sha`bān, Thursday night, the night before `Eid al-Fitr and the night before `Eid al-Nahr (al-Adha).”⁷ Sayyiduna `Ali would spend this night in worship.

May Allah purify our hearts and enable us to take advantage of the time that we have left in this life.

(link - http://abdulkarimyahya.com/2012/05/20/lesson-returning-to-allah-in-repentance-in-rajab/)

A reminder.