The month of Rajab is here

Once again, dear brethren, we are back to the path again. The month of Rajab is here. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is reported to have said: “Verily, Rajab is the month of the Almighty, Sha’ban is my month and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah; whosoever fasts a day in the month of Rajab will […]

Once again, dear brethren, we are back to the path again. The month of Rajab is here. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is reported to have said: “Verily, Rajab is the month of the Almighty, Sha’ban is my month and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah; whosoever fasts a day in the month of Rajab will be granted the great reward of Ridwan (attainment of eternal bliss); the wrath of the Almighty shall be distanced from such a person and the hell fire shall be closed against him”.

Today marks 7 Rajab, 1445 AH. Since the month started a week ago, we began the countdown to the sacred month of Ramadan. The month of Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. Arabic linguists would remind us that the lexical definition of the word Rajab, particularly when it is converted to the tri-literal verb –rajaba, means “to respect”. In other words, the word Rajab speaks to the essence of the month – a month in which Muslims are expected to conduct themselves with dignity and decorum.

The month of Rajab is regarded as one of the four sacred months in Islam. The other months are Muharram, Dhul-Qi’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram. But why is the month sacred? The month is held in awe and reverence because the Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, demands that from us. He says “do not perpetrate injustice against yourself during the sacred months)’ (Quran 9; 36).

Whenever the crescent announcing the beginning of the month of Rajab appeared, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) used to supplicate to the Almighty in the following words: “Allahumma baa-rik-lanaa fi-Rajab wa Sha’ban wa bal-lig-na shah-ra Ramadan” -”O Almighty! Make Rajab and Sha’aban blessed months for us, and grant us the blessings of witnessing the month of Ramadan.” Put differently, the month of Rajab is a divine blessing to the Muslims as it opens the floodgate of divine redemption and salvation for Ummah.

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Perhaps the greatest reason why this month enjoys an iconic status in Muslim weltanschauung is that the Prophet’s journey from the earth to His presence took place during this period. The Almighty alludes to this important journey in the Quran where He says: “Glory be to Him Who took His servant (Muhammad) on a journey one night from Masjid-al-Haram (in Makkah) to Masjid-al-Aqsa, (in Jerusalem) whose vicinity We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs: surely He is the One Who is the Hearer, the Observer. (Quran 17;1). Otherwise known as al-Israi wal  M’iraj, the Prophet’s journey to the heavens began in Makkah, unto Jerusalem, from where he was guided in the ascension to the heavens by Angel Jibril (upon him be peace).

The core of the message that the Prophet brought to the Muslim world is the observance of the five daily prayers; that the observance of the Salat is the most fundamental act of worship in Islam and an identity marker for membership of the Islamic commonwealth.

The prophet’s ascension to the heavens provided Makkah and its inhabitants the opportunity to partake of the celestial bliss that the occasion eventuated. But while some of them like Abu Bakr, son of Abi Quhafah, became a Siddiq as a result of the event, others affirmed their places in hell by trying to discredit both the personality of the Prophet and the facticity of the ascension altogether. In other words, by disbelieving the ascension of the Prophet some of the unbelievers in Makkah lost the opportunity to enjoy eternal bliss, and forever too. Their circumstance reminds me of the tendency in humans to grumble whenever opportunities come their way.

Whenever it rains, humans complain of lack of sunshine; sometimes when they are blessed with daughters they become disconsolate because they desire sons. Yes. some among humankind would appreciate the truth in the message of Islam only after they have left this world!

Brethren, the month of Rajab is also significant because the battle of Tabuk took place during the period. It was also during the month of Rajab that the second Oath of Aqabah was given to the Prophet. It was during the month of Rajab that Salahudin al-Ayyubi rescued Jerusalem from oppression of the oppressors.

Ironically, brothers and sisters, it was during the month of Rajab that the Ottoman Caliphate in Turkey was liquidated by the combination of external powers in collusion with forces within the Islamicate community- forces which preferred the specious to the real. Unfortunately, today the Muslim world is also under occupation; Gaza is bleeding. Yet, we remain feckless and asthenic to offer any help!

Do as much of good deeds as you can during this month. Seek forgiveness of your sins as many times as you can and endeavour to give sadaqa – charity and alms giving. The Prophet says: “the best of you is the one who is most compassionate with the creatures of Allah.”