In the name of Allah

The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful

  2^nd Rajab 1446 (3^rd January 2025)

Islamic Universal Association

20 Penzance Place, Holland Park

London, W11 4 PG

www.arafeh.co.uk

 

 

Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 61

 

As advised last week the word Khair in Arabic also refers to wealth and abundance, and in this context I quote below a few relevant Ayahs from the Holy Quran:

 

• Ayah 180 ofSurahAl-Baqarah:
• “It is prescribed for you that when death approaches any of you, if he leaves behind any wealth, that he make a bequest for his kinsmen in goodness; a duty incumbent upon the pious.”
• Ayah 19 of Surah al-Ahzaab:
• “Being niggardly to you, but when fear approached them, you find them looking towards you; their eyes rolling like one on whom death has casts its shadow, but when fear passes away, they smite you with sharp tongues, being niggardly of the good things; these are they who have not believed at all; so God has made their deeds vain, and this is easy for God.”
• Ayah 32 of Surah Saad:
• “He said: “Verily `I have loved the good things besides remembrance of my Lord, until they got hidden in the veil of darkness.
• Ayahs 23-27 of Surah Qaf:“And his companion (angel) will say: “This is (his record) ready with me!

   Cast into hell every ingrate rebel,

   Forbidder of good, transgressor, doubter,

   Who set up other gods with God; then cast him, you two, into the severe   

   torment.” 

   His companion (Satan) will say: “O’ Lord! I did not lead him to rebellion, but  

   he was himself had gone far astray.”

• Ayahs 8 and 9 of Surah Al-Adiyat:
• “And verily, he is violent in his love for wealth.

   Does he not know that all those in the graves shall be raised (to life)?”

As you can note that the pious believers of Allah (s.w.t) remember Him at all times. They are not niggardly with their wealth; they help the poor and the needy and they are the successful ones both in this world and the hereafter.

Second Sermon

Virtues of the month of Rajab

Today is the first Friday of the month of Rajab; the seventh month in the Islamic lunar calendar and I express my congratulations to you, my brothers and sisters, on the arrival of this blissful month and I thank Allah (s.w.t.) for granting us another opportunity to cleanse ourselves of our sins, transgressions and oversights.

 

My discussions today will centers on the virtues of the great month of Rajab, one of the four sanctified months in the Islamic calendar, which will be followed by recommendations of special deeds and supplications during my forthcoming session and finally I will discuss important Islamic events which occurred during this month.

 

The month of Rajab is a month of superabundant favors and benefits, reverence and sanctity. Even the Arabs during the days of ignorance held this month in great esteem, and with the advent of Islam its sanctity increased considerably. During this month Allah (s.w.t.) pays special attention to his servants and it is specifically associated with His blessings, mercy and forgiveness. Moreover it marks the beginning of the spiritual season of every believer ending with the fasting month of Ramadan. These three months (Rajab, Shabaan and Ramadan) are unmatched in their importance. The following hadiths have been reported in Bihar Al-Anwar V: 97 about the merits of Rajab:

 

• When the Holy Prophet (s.a.) would sight the moon of Rajab, he would pray to Allah (s.w.t) as follows:
• “O’ Allah make the months of Rajab and Shabaan blessed for us, and prolong our lives up to Ramadan so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings.” He has also has said: “Rajab is a great month of Allah, unmatched by any other month in sanctity and significance accorded to it. War with the infidels is prohibited during this month. Verily, Rajab is Allah’s month, Shabaan is my month and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah. Whosoever fasts even a day in Rajab will attain the greatest of rewards; the wrath of Allah will be distanced from him and a door of hell will be shut.”
• Imam Musa ibne Jafar (a.s.) narrated from the Holy Prophet (s.a.):
• “Whosoever fasts for a day in Rajab, the fire of hell will be away from him at a distance of one year’s journey, and whosoever fasts for three days in Rajab, he will enter paradise.” The Imam has also advised: “In the Garden of Paradise there is a river called Rajab, which is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. If anyone fasts for a day during the month of Rajab, Allah will quench his thirst from that river.”
• Imam Sadeq (a.s.) has also narrated from the Holy Prophet (s.a.):
• “The month of Rajab is the month of seeking forgiveness for my nation. O’ Muslims ask forgiveness and turn repentant to Allah as much as you can because mercy drops from the heavens like a gentle rain during this month.”