"And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers."
(Al-Quran 51:55)

Wednesday 22 May 2013

The Month of Rajab

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem 


In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.


We all know that it's May at the moment. A month famous for being the middle month of spring. But by the looks of the weather, it's not living up to its reputation. May is also the month when the blossom trees are in full bloom, as is the exam season. 


But did you know that the current Islamic month is Rajab which is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. This month was regarded as one of the Sacred Months (Ashurul Haram), in which battles were not allowed in the days of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).


The month of Rajab is one of two months before Ramadan, the second being Sha'baan. When the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) saw the moon of Rajab, he used to pray to Allah in the following words:




"O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'baan blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan".

Rajab is also the month in which the famous Mi'raaj event took place. The was the time when the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) travelled to Jerusalem, and then onto the Heavens.


The angel Jibraeel (a.s) came to Makkah with an animal called Buraq. He took them to Masjidul Aqsa in Jerusalem.


In Masjidul Aqsa, all the prophets (a.s) since the beginning of time were present. They stood up to pray, and the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) led them in the prayer as their Imam. 


Then, they went up to the Heavens. There, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) met various prophets (a.s) at each heaven. All the prophets (a.s) welcomed the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).


The Prophet (s.a.w) was offered drinks of milk, wine, honey and water. He (s.a.w) chose to drink the milk. Had he drank the wine, then the ummah would have strayed from the straight path.


Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w) was given a gift on this blessed night. This was the gift of Salah. Our ummah was first ordered to pray 50 prayers each day. But, when the Prophet Musa (a.s) found out, he told him to ask Allah to decrease it. Bit by bit, the amount of 50 went down to 5. Even then, Prophet Musa (a.s) said this is too much. But our Prophet (s.a.w) was too embarrassed to go back to Allah and ask for another reduction. He (s.a.w) was promised that the Muslims will get the reward of 50 prayers by just praying 5!


During the Mi'raaj journey, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) saw Jannah and Jahannam. He saw the various different punishments for different sins. 


When the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) returned back to Makkah, and he told everyone about his journey, the non-believers made fun of him and didn't believe  him. 


But, there was one example who stood out, who had strong Imaan and belief in the Prophet Muhammad (s.aw), and this was his closest companion, Abu Bakr Siddiq (r.a.)! It was on this occasion that he recieved the name As-Siddiq which means the most truthful. When he was informed about what the Prophet (s.a.w) was saying from the non-believers, he simply replied, "If Muhammad (s.a.w) has said this, then it is the truth"


Subhanallah, look at the way he believed what the Prophet (s.a.w) had said without even hearing the story from him. 


I want to end with another incident which shows the love that Abu Bakr (r.a) had for the Prophet (s.a.w). Once he was beaten until he was unconscious by some of the non-believers. When he became conscious  he only wanted to know about the state of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). His mother, seeing his great loyalty and love, took him to see the Prophet (s.a.w), and it was there that she became a Muslim. Subahanallah, through his state, his own mother was guided to the beauty of Islam!


So, in this month of Rajab, whilst we start preparing our minds and bodies for Ramadan, let us keep in mind the love and loyalty that Abu Bakr (r.a) had for the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), and pray to Allah to bring this level of love and loyalty into our lives - Ameen.


Wasalaam! 


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