Assalamu’alaikum wrh wbkt dear brothers and sisters
Alhamdulillah we are now at thea door in the blessed month of Allah, Rejab Shahrullah.
1st of Rejab is this Friday, 8th of March 2019.
Hence, by the azan of maghrib on Thursday, 7th March 2019, we enter into this blessed month.
It is a month of forgiveness and fasting, a month that is likened, in a hadees to winds that bring clouds, while Sha’aban is like the month where rain clouds gather, and Ramadhan is the month that the rain falls. These three holy months are very important for all those aspiring for nearness to Allah.
These below are some of the devotions that can be done for the rest of the month.
Welcoming Rejab
We should be filled with thankfulness and happiness that we have reached such an auspicious month. A believer feels very happy to welcome these months, while a munafiq feels heavy and burdened.
The devotions to welcome this month begin at asar time on Thursday 7th March 2019, and can be found here:
http://recent.naqshbandi.sg/?p=504
Fasting
Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever fasts the entire month of Rejab, 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 (saw) that he could not fast the entire month due to his old age, the Prophet (saw) 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 Rejab and it is given to him.”
Abu Darda (ra), a Companion of the Prophet (saw) said, that ten do’as will be granted at the time of breaking the fast, on each day of Rejab, be they do’as for worldly needs or for the afterlife.
This year, the first night of Rejab coincides with Lailatul Ragha’ib.
This night is the first Thursday night of Rejab (night of 07/03/19), known as Lailatul Ragha’ib (Night of Desires). It is very important to fast during its 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 quddoosun rabbul malaaikati war-Rooh. (All Glorious and All Holy is the Lord of the Angels and Spirits.)
Then sit up as in tahiyyat & 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 quddoosun rabbul malaaikati war-Rooh. (All Glorious and All Holy is the Lord of the Angels and Spirits.)
Finally, while still in sujud, one should ask Allah to grant his personal request, for that request will surely be fulfilled.
Prophet (saw) 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 solat, 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.
On the first night that worshipful servant spends in his grave, the reward for this solat will come to visit him (in the shape of a human being), with a cheerful face and an eloquent tongue. “O my dear friend,” it will say to him, “rejoice in the good tidings, for I am here to tell you that you have been delivered from every severe affliction!” This will prompt the servant to exclaim, “Who are you? By Allah, I swear that I have never seen a man with a better looking face than yours, never have I heard a form of speech more charming than your way of speaking, and never have I smelled a fragrance more delightful than that of your perfume.” So it will tell him, “O my dear friend, I am the reward for that prayer, the one you performed on….(and he will tell you the day, month and year that you did it). I have come here tonight in order to fulfil your request, to entertain you in your solitary state, and to banish your loneliness from you. Later on, when the Trumpet is sounded, I shall provide you with shade to protect your head from the scorching heat on the Plains of Resurrection (Padang Masyar). So rejoice in the good tidings, for you will never be deprived of the blessing that comes from your Maula (Master).”
Since this prayer is rather long, it may be difficult to complete it in before ishak. Not to worry, Imam Ghazali (ra) said, this prayer can be done after ishak, but in the first third of the night.
Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (q) teaches another Sunnat prayer, Solat al-Khusama, that is to be done on the first night of Rejab.
In addition to the Sunnat prayer above, this is another special Solat that is done on the first night of Rejab.
It is a 4 raka’at prayer, done at one go with one salam at the end, that is done, so that the reward of it is donated to all people whom you have harmed and sinned against, so that Allah will use the reward to satisfy their claims on the Day of Resurrection, if He so wills.
It is done as follows:
- 1st raka’at: Surah al-Fatihah, followed by Surah al-Ikhlas (Qul hu Allau ahad) 11 times
- 2nd raka’at: Surah al-Fatihah, followed by Surah al-Ikhlas (Qul hu Allau ahad) 10 times, and Surah al-Kafiroon, 3 times
- 3rd raka’at: Surah al-Fatihah, followed by Surah al-Ikhlas (Qul hu Allau ahad) 10 times, and Surah al-Takathur (Alha kumu takathur), 1 time. Surah al-Takathur is Surah number 102.
- 4th raka’at: Surah al-Fatihah, followed by Surah al-Ikhlas (Qul hu Allau ahad) 15 times, and Ayatul Kusi 1 time.
Then donate the spiritual reward of the performance of this prayer, to all those enemies who will have a claim against you on Judgement Day.
This solat must be done on 7 specific occasions:
- on the first night of Rajab
- on the night of the middle of Sha’ban (15th Sha’ban)
- on the last Friday of Ramadhan
- on Idul Fitri (Hari Raya Puasa, 1st Syawal))
- on Idul Adha (Hari Raya Haji, 10th Zulhijjah)
- on the Day of Arafah (9th Zulhijjah)
- on the day of Ashura (10th Muharram)
Special 30 rakaat sunnat done in Rejab
From the Kitab, ‘Sufficient Provision for the Seekers of the Path of Truth’ written by Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (q), Prophet (saw) 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-Kafiroon 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 Rejab, 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 solat, 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 (swt).”
Jibrail (as) then added, “Oh Muhammad, this is a clear sign to mark the distinction between true believers and the mushrikin (unbelievers) and munafiqin (hypocrites), because the hypocrites do not perform this prayer.”
This special prayer is done in this manner:
10 rakaats (5 sets of 2 rakaats) are done on the first day of Rejab. (Another naration says the first part of Rejab)
10 rakaat (5 sets of 2 rakaats) are done in the middle of Rejab.
10 rakaat (5 sets of 2 rakaats) are done at the end of the month.
Once the first ten rakaats are done tomorrow night (Thursday 7th March 2019) or as soon as possible in the early days of Rejab, raise your hands, and recite:
La ilaha illallahu Wahdahu la shareekalah, lahul mulku, walahul hamdu, yuhyi wa yumitu, wa Huwa hayyun la yamoot, bi ya dihil khairu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shai’ing Qadeeer.
Allahumma laa maani’a lima a’taita, wa laa mu’tiya lima mana’ta, wa laa, yanfa’u zhaljaddi, minkal 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.”
22nd March 2019 is the 15th day of Rejab.
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 shareekalah, lahul mulku, walahul hamdu, yuhyi wa yumitu, wa Huwa hayyun la yamoot, bi ya dihil khairu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shai’ing Qadeeer.
Ilahan, Waahidan, Ahadan, Samadan, Fardan, Witran. 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 on 6th April 2019, raise your hands, and recite:
لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ،لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ،يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ،
وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لا يَمُوتُ،بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ،وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ.
وَصَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ،
وَلا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إلاّ بِاللّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
La ilaha illallahu Wahdahu la sharikalah, lahul mulku, walahul hamdu, yuhyi wa yumitu, wa Huwa hayyun la yamoot, bi ya dihil khairu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shain’ing Qadeeer.
Sallahu ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammadin wa ‘ala ‘alihith-thohireen, laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billahil ‘aliyyil adzheem.
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 (saw) 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, whereupon He will surely give you a positive response to your prayer of supplication (do’a).
- 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 Rejab, 5th April 2019
Be sure to mark your calendar on the last Friday in Rejab. The practice we learned to do on this special Friday (today) 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) would guarantee much provision for you for the entire year.
Isra’ and Miraj on Wednesday 3rd April 2019
Prophet (saw) said, “If someone keeps the fast on the 27th day of Rejab (3rd April 2019), he will be credited with the same reward as that which is earned by fasting for 60 months.” In another hadees, Prophet (saw) said, “Rejab 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).” For us, that night is Tuesday night 2nd April 2019, and the day is the next day, Wednesday, 3rd of April 2019.
When I was in Lefke, I saw that Maulana Shaykh Nazim, even when he was in poor health then, still fasted on this day, and broke his fast up in the mountains with all of us on that day. MasyaAllah.
According to Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (ra), this is the way one of the Companions, Sayyidina Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (ra), used to worship on that day:
He would 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 do’a until asar.
“This,” said the Sahabah, “is exactly what Rasulullah (saw) always did on this particular day.”
Remember, fasting means that you must fast your eyes and tongue and all organs, it is no point fasting if you are looking at haram things and backbiting/lying/gossiping. Prophet (saw) said, “Many a person who keeps the fast gains nothing from his fasting but hunger and thirst, and many a person who stays awake at night, gains nothing from his vigil, except insomnia.”
Our Naqshbandi Shuyukh also do a sacrifice of a goat on this day, and distribute its meat to the poor.
Istighfar Rejab
There are many do’as of forgiveness that should be read, amongst them is the Doa of the Saint of Rejab and the famous Istighfar Rejab. I have attached two files with some do’as that you may find useful. Read them daily! Mawlana Sheikh Nazim said that the do’a of the Saint of Rejab cleans you from all your sins and leaves you as pure as a newly born child.
THE SUMMARY OF THESE DEVOTIONS CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE: