Before we miss out of Rajab

The month of Rajab is one of the four months declared by Qur’an 2:194 and Qur’an 2:217 as sacred and within which fighting is prohibited. Rajab is the seventh month in the Islamic lunar year. The other three sacred months are Muharram, Dhul Qa’dah and Dhul Hajj. Allah (SWT) states in Quran 2:217 “When they ask thee concerning fighting in the prohibited month, say: fighting therein is a grave (offence): But graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny him, to prevent access to the sacred month and drive out its members. Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter…”

The Arabic verb ‘Rajaba’ literary means ‘to hold something in awe.’ It is stated that this month is named ‘Rajab’ because of the high esteem in which believers hold it. We are currently in the Islamic lunar month of Rajab. Today, Saturday January 10, 2026 is the 20th day of Rajab 1447AH. Although two-third of the month is already behind us, it is never late to engage in meritorious acts of devotion to enable us reap from the blessings of this sacred month.

It is reported on the authority of Annas bn Malik that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever offers twenty raka’ats of nafilat (superogatory) prayers after observing the Maghrib obligatory prayer on any day within the month of Rajab shall be protected by Allah against the calamities of this world and from the punishment of the grave. A worshipper who intends to do this should recite Surat ul-ikhlas after Surat ul-fatiha in each of the twenty raka’ats”. The twenty raka’ats shall be observed in ten sets of two raka’ats each with a total of ten pronouncements of the termination of prayer (taslim).

The Prophet (SAW) declared that while Rajab is Allah’s sacred month, Sha’aban is my sacred month and Ramadan is the holy month for my ummah. Abu Hurayrah (RA) reports that the only month in which the Prophet (SAW) fasted beside Ramadan are the months of Rajab and Sha’aban. Both Bukhari and Muslim report that there is a river in al-Jannah, which is whiter than milk and has a taste that is sweeter than honey. This river is preserved for believers who fast for at least a day in the month of Rajab. The first Caliph of Islam, Abubakar Sadiq (RA) said that when it is three days in to the month of Rajab, all angels would gather at the holy Ka’abah in Makkah. Allah would ask them of their request and they would plead with Allah  to forgive those who fasted in the month of Rajab. Allah (SWT) in His infinite mercy would grant their request. Aisha (RA), wife of the Prophet (SAW) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Every soul would be hungry on the Day of Judgment except prophets, their families and believers who fasted in the month of Rajab, Sha’aban and Ramadan.

It is also reported that on the Day of Judgment, a voice would call upon those who fasted for some days in Rajab (who in Arabic are referred to as ar-Rajabiyyun) to follow a light that will lead them across the Sirat bridge at the speed of light. As for such people, they would neither be hungry nor thirsty. Allah (SWT) would say to them, “O you who spent your Rajab days in fasting and prostrations! Walk in to your respective residences in al-Jannah.”

One of the prophet’s companions, Thaubaan, reports that they were once passing by a cemetery in company of the Prophet (SAW) and he suddenly stopped and shed tears. I asked the Prophet (SAW) about the matter. He (SAW) explained that occupants of some of the graves were being punished in their graves. That was why he stopped and prayed to Allah (SWT) to lighten the punishment for them. The Prophet (SAW) further asserted that if those people who were being punished in their graves had fasted even for a day and kept at least a night for worship in the month of Rajab, they wouldn’t have witnessed punishment in their graves. May Allah (SWT) grant us the ability to observe some days of fast in this holy month of Rajab, Amin.

Let’s respect the mosque

The mosque, which is meant to be strictly and exclusively used for worship is being turned, in spite of the enlightenment by Muslim scholars and preachers, into phone call centers or bedrooms where unholy speeches and actions are heard. While some worshippers feel ‘too big’ to mute their phones while prayer is being observed in the mosque, others turn the mosque into chambers for political and vague discussions.

Abu Dharr (RA) once asked the Prophet (SAW) about the first mosque in Islam. He replied that the holy mosque of Ka’bah in Makkah was first after which the holy mosque of al-Aqsah was built with an interval period of forty years between them. The Prophet’s mosque in Madinah is also a holy mosque built by him (the Prophet) after his migration there. When a believer observes prayer in any of the holy mosques, he earns one thousand times of the reward due for observing the same prayer in other mosques.

Except for purposes of teaching and learning, it is prohibited for one to raise his voice even in his recitation of the holy Qur’an to the point of distracting other worshippers in the mosque.

Imam Ahmad relates on the authority of Ibn Umar (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, “A worshipper in prayer communes with his Lord. Let not some of you therefore distract others with their loud recitations.” Based on this assertion therefore, making and receiving telephone calls in the mosque falls under the same ban that prohibits recitations with a voice that could distract other worshippers. Let us train our minds to switch off our cell phones, alarm wrist watches and speaking electronic organizers right from the point of performing ablution so that we do not forget to leave it on.

While emphasizing on the sacredness of the mosque, the Prophet (SAW) remarked that a believer is considered to be in a state of (observing) prayer as long as he remains in the mosque until he comes out (from the mosque). The ringing of a cell phone especially when the owner is in prayer, congregationally or as an individual, constitutes serious embarrassment to everyone in the mosque. Noise making in the mosque is generally prohibited even though today’s young Muslims are fond of it. May Allah guide and keep us on the straight path of guidance, Amin.

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