• Activities
• 29 Jumada II 1444

The Representative of the Leading Marja’iya in Europe congratulates Muslims on the advent of the month of Rajab, and invites them to benefit from its spiritual atmosphere.

The statement was issued for the advent of the month of Rajab, which is one of the Allah’s holy and sacred months held with high regard. For this reason, Ali Amirul-Momineen [Commander of the Faithful] (a.s.) says, "Rajab is my month, Shaban is the month of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.w.), and the month of Ramadan is the month of Allah." It has also been narrated from Imam al-Kadhim (a.s.) that he said, "Rajab is a great month in which Allah multiplies the good deeds, and erases the bad ones. Whoever fasts one day of Rajab, will be distanced one year's journey away from hell, and whoever fasts three days becomes entitled to paradise."

This month is known as Rajab Al-Assab [the Pouring month] because, in it, Allah Almighty pours mercy and forgiveness on his servants. It is one of the seasonal months for worship in Islam in which acts of worship and obedience are increased. Here, we may ask the following question: Are not all months and days seasons of worship in Islam?

The answer is yes. All of Allah’s days are days of worship and all of Allah’s months are months of worship, but there are certain days in which worship is affirmed and rewards are multiplied. The month of Ramadan for example has a unique status [among the months] in which acts of worship are increased, and rewards and blessings are multiplied. Although all of Allah’s nights are nights of worship, the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) is better than a thousand months. Even though all of Allah’s days are days of worship, but the days of Arafah and Friday (Jumah) are special days. A holy narration describes Friday saying, "[It is] the master of Days and the greatest in the sight of Allah." A narration from Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) says, "The sun has not risen on a day better than Friday." In another narration from Imam al-Sadiq (a.s), he says, "Whoever of you witnesses Friday, should not be occupied with anything but worship, for indeed, in it the servants are forgiven and mercy is bestowed upon them."

When we describe the seasonality of worship, we do not mean that worship and obedience is limited to these specific seasons, rather they are charging stations in which we supply ourselves with spiritual energy that moves us in the way of Allah, because the way of Allah is long and arduous, and requires fuel and energy so believer can continue his worship in the way of Allah. "O' man, you are labouring towards your Lord laboriously, then you are bound to meet Him." Those on Allah’s path face His enemies who stand in their way and seek to divert them from His path, beginning with the Satan [who said], "I will lie in ambush for them on Your Straight Path" and seeks to divert the believers until they are defeated and retract from obeying Allah.

The same applies to False Masters [Taghoot] "And those who avoided worshipping false masters" that stand in the path of Allah seeking to obstruct His servants with force and all means of tyranny and terror, and so is the case of temptations and urges that divert us from the path of worshipping Him.

Therefore, we need energy and spiritual charging because fuel may run out, and if it does, the person will collapse and the believer traveling on the path of Allah will be paralyzed.

Thus, the month of Rajab is one of those seasonal stations that supply us with spiritual energy, and many different acts of worship like reciting Quran, giving charity, and performing acts of good that bring us closer to Allah Almighty – as recommended in this month including:

1. Fasting, which has great rewards. It has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.w) that he said, "Whoever fasts a day of Rajab with faith and reward-seeking will be forgiven." In another narration, "Whoever fasts three days of Rajab, Allah will make a trench or veil with a length of a seventy-year journey between him and hell, and Allah Almighty will say when he breaks his fast: Your right on Me has become obligated and I have entitled to you my Love and connection. O' Angels, I hold you witness that I have forgiven his sins, what has passed and what has come. Whoever fasts four days of Rajab, will be safe from all calamities including insanity, leprosy, leukoderma, and the temptation of the Dajjal. He will be safe from the punishment of the grave and given the rewards of the Repenting People of Deeper understanding." The narration further explains the rewards of the days of fast in this month.

2. The special prayers for every night of Rajab.

3. Continuously reciting Surah ‘al-Tawheed’ as its reward is so great and unbeknown to others except Allah. Reciting this Surah once is like reciting one-third of the Quran, and reciting it two times is like reciting two-thirds of the Quran, and reciting it three times is like completing the whole Quran. It has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.w) that he said, "O' Aba al-Hassan, you are in my nation like 'Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad.' Whoever recites it once has recited one-third of the Quran, whoever recites it two times has recited two-thirds of the Quran, and whoever recites it three times has completed the whole Quran. Indeed, whoever loves you with his tongue has completed one-third of his faith, whoever loves you with his tongue and heart has completed two-thirds of his faith, and whoever loves you with his tongue and heart, and supports you with his hand has completed his faith."

4. Reciting Istighfar, "I seek forgiveness from Allah and no deity other than Him, One, with no partner, and I repent to Him" (Astaghfurullah alathi la ilaha Ila huwa wahdahu la sharika Lahu w atubu Ilayh) one-hundred times in the morning and evening of every day.

5. Reciting the Holy Quran.

6. Sending blessings (Salawat) to Mohammed and the Progeny of Mohammed. It has been narrated from Imam al-Redha (a.s.) that he said, "A person who is incapable of atoning his sins should continuously send blessings to Mohammed and His Progeny, for indeed it annihilates sins." But it must not be an incomplete Salawat for the saying of the Prophet (s.a.w.w) that has been mentioned in the books of all Muslims, "Do not invoke incomplete blessings upon me." If the salawat does not include the Progeny, it is not accepted. It is one of the acts of worship that is recommended at all times, especially in the month of Rajab and on Friday.

7. Reciting the following supplication after every prayer, "O' He who I seek for every good, and feel safe from His anger at every evil. O' He who gives a lot for a little. O' He who gives those who ask Him. O' He who gives those who do not ask Him and do not know Him out of affection and mercy. Give me, for my request from You, all the good of this world and all the good of the hereafter, and protect me, for my request from You, from all the evils of this world and the evil of the hereafter. For indeed, it is not diminishing what is given by You, and increase Your blessings on me from Your Grace, O' Generous One."

8. Reciting the Rajab Ziyara

There are other acts of worship and supplications [Duas] for the month of Rajab that can be found in Dua books, and one will be rewarded greatly by Allah for performing these acts in this month. Surely, we are in grave need to take advantage of this spiritual atmosphere that brings us closer to the Lord Almighty, so that He may shower His mercy and grace upon us, for Indeed He is of vast mercy and great grace.

We ask Allah Almighty to grant us His blessings to perform the acts worship of this month and its nights, indeed He is All-Hearing, All-Responding