Rajab The sacred and venerable month

Indeed Rajab is a distinguished month. Ibadah in it carries immense reward, especially the acts of fasting, seeking of forgiveness and repentance from our crimes. In its first night dua is accepted by the permission of Allah. It is said that there are five nights in which dua is not rejected1: The eve of Rajab The eve of mid-Shaban The eve of Jumuah The eve of Eid ul Fitr The eve of Eid ul Adha

Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would enter the month of Rajab he would say, Oh Allah bless us in Rajab and in Shaban and bless us in Ramadan. He would also say that the night of Jumuah (i.e. Thursday night) is magnanimous and that the day of Jumuah (i.e. Friday) is radiant2. On the 27th night of Rajab was the Night Journey and Ascension to the Heavens of the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). This was a glorious night, as is known to most Muslims, in which the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) met his Lord and was given the commandment to perform the 5 daily prayers. Rajab stands alone amongst the Sacred months - the four months are : Rajab, Dhul Qida, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram. {The number of months is twelve according to God, in the decree of God, on the day God created the heavens and the earth; and four of them are sacred} (9:36) It is the month of Allah in which there is the greatest downpour of blessings, in it mercy is poured upon those who repent, and the lights of Allahs acceptance are poured forth over all the worlds. The scholars say: Rajab is the month of Istighfar (the seeking of forgivness), Shaban is the month of sending prayers upon the Chosen Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and Ramadan is the month of the Noble Quran. So strive, may Allah the Exalted have mercy

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[Al-Suyuti in his Al-Jami'] [Musnad of Imam Ahmad: 2259]

upon you, in Rajab for it is indeed the season of trade, and fill your time in this month for it is the time of building. So whoever is amongst the tradesmen (who strive in good deeds), then the seasons of trade have come! And whoever is ill from the weight of his sins, then the remedies have arrived! Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al Jaylani, may Allah sanctify his secret, mentioned in his book AlGhunyah (All that is needed by the seekers on the path) that the following dua is recited in the first night of Rajab: Ilh taarraa laka f hdhihi-l laylati-l mutaarrina, wa qasadaka-l qidna wa ammala falaka wa marfaka- libna wa laka f hdhihi-l laylati nafatun wa jawizu wa ay wa mawhibu, tamunnu bih al man tashu min ibdika wa tamnauh mimman lam tasbiq lahu-l inyata minka, wa h ana dh abduka-l faqru ilayka-l muammilu falaka wa marfaka, fain kunta y mawlya tafaalta f hdhihi-l laylati al aadin min khalqika, wa judta alayhi biidatin min afika, fa all al sayyidin Muammadin wa al lih wa abih wa jud alayya biawlika wa marfika, y rabba-l lamn. My Lord, those who expose themselves to goodness turn their attention to You in this night, to You do the aspirants aspire, and for Your gracious bounty and kindness do the seekers hope. You have special favors to bestow this night, and prizes, gifts and presents. You will bestow them upon whomsoever You wish from amongst Your servants, and You will withhold them from those who are not ready to receive Your providential care. Here I am, Your servant who is sorely in need of You, hoping for Your gracious bounty and kindness! So if it pleases You, O my Master, to bestow Your Grace this night upon one of Your creatures, and if You will be so generous as to grant him a favor out of Your kindness, then bless Sayyidina Muhammad and his family and his companions, and let me enjoy Your superabundance and kindness, Oh Lord of all the worlds! Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to allocate extra amounts of time for worship on four nights the first night of Rajab, the nights before the two Eids, and the 15th night of Shaban. The Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would make the folliwng dua: Allhumma brik lan f Rajab wa Shabn wa ballighn Raman. O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings)."

Imam Suyuti mentions that the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says, Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha`bn is my month, and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah. Imam Abu Bakr al-Warraq said, In Rajab you sow the seeds, in Shaban you irrigate them and in Ramadan you reap the harvest. Dhul Nun al-Misri said, Rajab is for leaving wrongdoing, Shaban for obedience and good works, and Ramadan for waiting for blessings and gifts from Allah. Rajab, a sacred month of peace, is the time for us to make peace with our Lord; to seek forgiveness, and to offer a genuine tawba. The theme of Rajab is to seek Allah and turn to him. The great return is tawbah and the Prophets great return to Allah was during this month. We should rejoice that Allah extends His hand by night for the one who sins by day, and that He extends His hand in the day for the one who sins by night. We should likewise stretch our hands out to Allah and embrace the divine downpour which comes for those who want to gain forgiveness. May Allah make us among those who repent to Allah, especially those who seek repentance during the latter part of the night before sunrise (al mustaghfirna bi-l ashaar)

Dua to read every night of Rajab

The Messenger of Allah said (peace and blessings be upon him): Seek much forgiveness from Allah in Rajab because in every hour (of the month) Allah frees people from the Fire. 3 The following is a compilation of istighfar, or seeking forgiveness, arranged by Habib Hasan the son of Imam `Abullah bin `Alawi al-Haddad. It is traditionally read every night in the month of Rajab. There follows a rough translation.

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[Narrated by al-Daylami]

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Alhamdulillahi rabbil aalameen, wa sallAllahu taaala ala sayyidina Muhammadin wa ala aalihi wa sahbihi wa baaraka wa sallam. Astaghfirullaha Astaghfirullaha Astaghfirullaha, wa atoobu ilallahi min jameei ma yakrahullahu qawlan wa filan wa khaatiran wa nadhiran wa baatinan wa dhaahiran, Astaghfirullahal adheem alladhi la ilaha illa huwal hayyul qayyumu wa atoobu ilayh.

Allahumma innii astaghfiruka lima qaddamtu wa ma akhkhartu wa ma asrartu wa ma aalantu wa ma asraftu wa ma anta aalamu bihi minnee, antal qadeemu wa antal muakhkhiru wa anta alaa kulli shayin qadeer. Astaghfirullaha dhal jalaali wal ikrami min jameeidh-dhunoobi wal aathaam, Astaghfirullaha li dhunoobi kulliha sirriha wa jahriha wa sagheeriha wa kabeeriha wa qadeemiha wa jadeediha wa awwaliha wa aakhiriha wa dhaahiriha wa baatiniha wa atoobu ilayh. Allahumma innee astaghfiruka min kulli dhanbin tubtu ilayka minhu thumma udtu feeh, wa astaghfiruka lima aradtu bihi wajhakal kareema fakhaalatahu ma laysa laka feehi rida, wa astaghfiruka lima waadtuka bihi min nafsi thumma akhlaftuka feeh, wa astaghfiruka lima daaanee ilayhil hawaa min qibalir rukhasi mimmaa ishtabaha alayya wa huwa indaka haram. Wa astaghfiruka ya man la ilaha illa anta ya aalimal ghaybi wash-shahadati min kulli sayyiatin amaltuha fee bayaDin nahaari wa sawaadil layli fi malain wa khalain wa sirrin wa alaaniyatin wa anta naadhirun ilayya idhar takabtuha wa ataytu biha maal isyaani fa atoobu ilayka ya haleemu ya kareemu ya raheem. Wa astaghfiruka min an niamillati anamta biha alayya fataqawwaytu biha alaa masiyatik, wa astaghfiruka minadh-dhunoobillati la yarifuha ahadun ghayraka wa la yattaliu alayha ahadun siwaaka wa la yasuha illa hilmaka wa la yunjeeni minha illa afwak, wa astaghfiruka li kulli yameenin salafat minne fahanithtu feeha wa ana indaka muaakhidhun biha. Wa astaghfiruka ya man la ilaaha illa anta subhanka innee kuntu minadh-dhalimeen, fastajabna lahu wa najjaynahi minal ghammi wa kadhalika nunjil mumineena, wa zakariyyaa idha naadaa rabbahu rabbi la tadharni fardan wa anta khayrul waaritheen rabbighfir warham wa anta khayrur rahimeen. Wa astaghfiruka min kulli fareeDatin awjabtaha alayya fee aanaail layli wa atraafin nahaari fataraktuha khataan aw amdan aw nisyaanan aw tahaawunan aw jahlan wa ana muaaqabun biha. Wa astaghfiruka min kulli sunnatin min sunani sayyidil mursaleena wa khaatamin nabiyyeena nabiyyika sayyidina muhammadin sallAllahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallama fataraktuha ghaflatan aw sahwan aw nisyaanan aw tahaawunan aw jahlan aw qillata mubaalaatin biha, wa astaghfiruka ya man la ilaaha illa anta wahdaka la shareeka laka wa anna sayyidana muhammadan sallAllahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallama abduka wa rasuluk. Subhanaka ya rabiil alameen lakal mulku wa lakal hamdu wa anta hasbuna wa nimal mawla wa niman naseer, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil aliyyil adheem. Ya jaabira kulli kaseerin wa ya munisa kulli waheedin wa ya saahiba kulli ghareebin wa ya muyassira kulli aseerin, ya man la yahtaaju ilaal bayaani wat tafseeri wa anta alaa ma tashaau qadeer. Wa sallAllahu taala alaa sayyidina Muhammadin bi adadi man salla alayhi wa bi adadi man lam yusalli alayh, Allahumma salli alaa roohi sayyidina Muhammadin fil arwaah, Allahumma salli alaa turbati sayyidina Muhammadin fit turb, Allahumma salli alaa qabri

sayyidina Muhammadin fil quboor, Allahumma salli alaa soorati sayyidina Muhammadin fis suwar, Allahumma salli alaa ismi sayyidina Muhammadin fil asmaai, laqad jaaakum rasoolun min anfusikum azeezun alayhi ma anittum hareesun alaykum bil mumineena raoofun raheem, fa in tawallaw faqul hasbiyAllahu la ilaaha illa huwa alayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa rabbul arshil adheem. Wa sallAllahu taala alaa sayyidina Muhammadin wa alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa baaraka wa sallam, wal hamdulillahi rabbil alameena fee kulli lahdhatin abadan adada khalqihi wa rida nafsihi wazinata arshihi wa midada kalimaatihi.

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate. All praise is due to Allah Lord of the Worlds. O Allah bestow peace and blessings upon our Master Muhammad and upon his family and Companions. I seek the forgiveness of Allah (3 times) for every word, act and thought and every inward and outward action of mine which Allah dislikes. I seek the forgiveness of Allah, besides Who there is no god; the Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him. O Allah forgive me for what I have done previously, what I will do, what I have done in secret and in private, for my excesses and for that about which You have more knowledge than I. You are the one who puts people ahead and puts people behind and You have power over all things. I seek the forgiveness of Allah, the Possessor of Majesty and Honour, for all my sins and wrongdoings. I seek the forgiveness of Allah for every one of my sins, those committed in private, those committed in public, the small and the large, those committed previously and those committed recently, the first and the last of them, outward and inward sins, and I repent to Him. O Allah I seek Your forgiveness for any sin from which I have repented and then committed again. I seek Your forgiveness for any action which I did initially for Your noble countenance and then something else which is displeasing to You detracted from my sincerity. I seek Your forgiveness for anything that I have promised to do for Your sake and then broken my promise to You. I seek Your forgiveness for anything that my caprice has called me to do by taking dispensations in affairs which are dubious, which are in Your sight forbidden.

I seek Your forgiveness, there is no god but You, O Knower of the seen and unseen, for every wrong or act of disobedience that I have committed in broad daylight or in the darkness of the night, in the company of people or whilst alone, in public or in private, in the knowledge that You were gazing upon me as I committed it. I repent to You, O Forebearant One, O Most Generous, O Most Merciful. I seek Your forgiveness for deriving strength from the blessings You have bestowed upon me and then using that strength to disobey You. I seek Your forgiveness for sins which only You know about and only You can see, sins which only Your forbearance can encompass and from which only Your pardon can save me. I seek Your forgiveness for every oath I have made and then broken, for which I will be taken to account. I seek Your forgiveness, there is no god but You, transcendent are You, truly I am amongst the wrongdoers. So We responded to him and delivered him from distress; thus do We deliver those who have faith. And remember Zakariya, when he cried to his Lord: O my Lord! Leave me not without offspring, for You are the best of inheritors. My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the Best of those who show mercy. I seek Your forgiveness for every obligation which You have requested that I fulfil in the day or the night which I have subsequently neglected out of heedlessness, absent-mindedness, forgetfulness or ignorance, and for which I will be punished. I seek Your forgiveness for every sunnah of the Master of the Messengers, the Seal of the Prophets, Your Prophet our Master Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) which I have left out of heedlessness, absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, ignorance or not caring. I seek Your forgiveness, there is no god but You, alone without partner, Muhammad is Your slave and messenger. Transcendent are You, O Lord of the Worlds. To You belongs the dominion and all praise. You are sufficient for us, and You are the best disposer of our affairs. He is the best of those who protect and the best of those who assist. There is no strength nor might except in Allah, the Sublime, the Awesome. O Allah, You are the Repairer of every breakage, the Companion of everyone who is alone, the One who brings ease to every difficulty, the One who is not in need of clarification or explanation. You are able to do whatever You will. Send blessings upon our Master Muhammad to the number of those who send blessings upon him, and to the number of those who do not. O Allah send blessings upon the spirit of our Master Muhammad, upon the earth in which our Master Muhammad is buried, upon the grave in which our Master Muhammad lies, upon the physical form of our Master Muhammad and upon the name of our Master Muhammad. There has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves, grievous to whom is your burden, concerned (is he) for you; for the believers (he is) full of compassion, merciful. If

they turn away then say: Allah is sufficient for me; there is no god but He. On Him do I rely; He is the Lord of the Awesome Throne. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Master Muhammad and upon his family and Companions. All praise is due to Allah Lord of the Worlds, in every instant forever, the number of His creation, to His satisfaction, the weight of His throne and the amount of ink of His words.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Information taken from: Min Kunuz al-dua by Hanan Al-Yafi Kanz Al-Najah wal -Suroor (The Treasures of Success and Happiness) by Shaykh `Abd alHamid Quds Lecture Rajab and Repentance of the Prophet by Sheikh Ibrahim Osi Efa Dua for every night of Rajab taken from the scholars of Tarim