AS-SIRAAT AL-MUSTAQEEM

Sunnah

4 SACRED MONTHS

Muharram and Rajab (7th Month) During these months (even before the time of the Prophet (SAW) were considered holy. Need to spend time contemplating Godly realities and freeing themselves from the turmoil that surrounds the life of the dunya.  During these months fighting and warfare are prohibited and contentious arguing, slander and offering insults which are normally forbidden become even more offensive. This is a time for those who Love ALLAH (SWT) to practice peace inwardly and outwardly, to strive to realise consciousness of the source of peace. The 29th or 30th is the last day of Dhul Hijjah, which is also the last day of the Islamic lunar calendar.  The next day is the first day of the Month of Muharram and the Islamic New Year.  The Prophet (SAW) said,  \\\"Whoever fasts the last day of the year and the first day of the year, ALLAH makes it an expiation of 50 years for him, fasting one day of Muharram is equal to 30 days of fasting.\\\"  For this reason these are important days to fast. Also, there is a du\\\'aa to one reads it 3 times on the night before the New Year. This du\\\'aa is: \\\"In the Name of ALLAH, the Merciful, the Compassionate, and ALLAH bless our Prophet (SAW), his family, his Companions and grant them peace. O\\\' ALLAH, whatever actions I have committed this past year which have not pleased You, which I may have forgotten though You do not forget, while You are forbearing with me though fully capable of punishing me, while You called me to relent and atone even after my audaciousness before You - O ALLAH, I surely seek Your Forgiveness for that, so forgive me!  O\\\' ALLAH, and as for my actions that have pleased You and for which recompense and forgiveness has been promised, please accept them from me. And do not dash my hopes in You, O Generous, O most merciful of the Merciful. And ALLAH, Most Exalted, bless our Prophet (SAW) and his family and Companions and grant them peace.\\\" Anyone who recites this du\\\'aa 3 times, the Devil will cry out in agony.  Fasting in these days and for each day will be farther from Hell by a trench the distance the sky is from Hell.  Prophet (SAW) said. 69:24 -fasting person gets the reward of an accepted du\\\'aa before he breaks his fast.  ALLAH (SWT) gives those who do rewards 7 times as much reward, up to 700 hundred, except fasting; ALLAH (SWT) said that it is for Him and only for Him. We know that fasting is for ALLAH (SWT); it is a secret and the reward of that is so large that ALLAH (SWT) will compensate dearly for it.   Forgiveness from sins of previous year:  Fasting the day of Ashura does expiate for the past year. Fasting on the Day of Arafah the Prophet (SAW) hoped ALLAH will expiate thereby for the year before it and the year that came before it. (Muslim 1162) Repentance of 50 years -  Narrated from Ibn al-Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said,  \\\"Whoever fasts the last day of Dhul Hijjah and the first day of Muharram, he completes a year\\\'s worth of fasting in that previous year, and ALLAH gives him penance for 50 years.\\\" Reward of Worshipping and Praying for Continuous 900 years-  Narrated from Anas (RA) that, the Prophet (SAW) said: \\\"Whoever fasts the first Friday of Muharram ALLAH will forgive his preceding sins, whoever fasts 3 days of Muharram - Thursday, Friday and Saturday, ALLAH will write him worship and prayers for 900 years.\\\"  Fasting on Day of Arafah is equivalent to 1000 days (Tabarani). 
Rajab - 7th month (sacred month) ALLAHUMA baa-rik-lanaa fee-rajaba Wa sha\\\'bana Wa bal-lig-naa ramadana. O\\\'ALLAH, make the months of Rajab and Sha\\\'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e, prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings. On the day when ALLAH created the heavens and the earth; of them are 4 sacred months; 1st, 7, 11, 12. Al-Tawbah Qur\\\'an 9:36. Sacred because: 1. Fighting is forbidden unless by enemy; 2. Transgression/sins is worse than at any other times.  Sins are forbidden anyway, but more so in these sacred months.  Al-Tawbah 9:36 (Qur\\\'an). The Prophet (SAW) said,  \\\"Fast some days of the sacred months and not others.\\\" Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2428. So, it\\\'s Mustahabb to fast during the sacred months, there is nothing wrong with that. Do not single out Rajab for fasting.  Fasting and praying on the 27 Rajab night is Biddah!  Majmoo\\\'Fataawa Ibn \\\'uthaymeen, 20/440.  In this month fasting is highly recommended - it erases previous sins.

Thursday 21 Nov 2024