Duties of Holy Rajab

The month of Rajab starts tonight insha’Allah. The three holy months – Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan. The specialty of the month of Rajab is that there is another thing: it is one of the forbidden months. Rajab, Dhu l-Qa’dah, Dhu l-Hijjah and Muharram are the four forbidden months. They have their special features. And Rajab is one of them. It has the virtue of the three holy months and the virtue of the forbidden months.

We should see it as opportunity and benefit from this holy month. It starts tonight insha’Allah. After Maghrib prayer, the 1st of Rajab will have come insha’Allah. Certainly, we must look at the moon. But people don’t know where the moon rises and where it sets anymore. Therefore, follow what your government says. Insha’Allah Allah ﷻ will accept that.

People should make partial seclusion; an hour or two hours, as much as they can do. There is no permission for the other seclusion now. There is no permission to stay in seclusion for forty days now. Because people have no tolerance. Therefore, with the mercy of Allah ‘Azza wa-Jalla, you can make the partial one. Make intention for seclusion and make it between Maghrib and ‘Isha, or between ‘Asr and ‘Isha, or from Tahajjud until sunrise. There is Wazifah (Duty) of Tasbihat and Tahlilat. You can do that. You will attain their virtue, as there shouldn’t be anyone who is in Naqshbandi Tariqah but hasn’t done seclusion.

Therefore, the partial seclusion substitutes for the big seclusion, said Mawlana Shaykh Nazim. There must be easiness in everything. People can’t bear difficult things. Therefore, out of mercy, as we live in the end of times, as our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam said to the Sahabah, “If you do 99 things and skip 1, you are responsible for it. But in the end of times, if they do 1 out of 100, that will be enough for them.” Therefore, Shukr to Allah ﷻ, we must do it when there is such easiness.

Certainly, there is also fasting. Who can fast in these three holy months should fast. Who can’t do that, tomorrow is the 1st, and then there is a holy night on Thursday. Fast on that day. Then fast on Thursdays and Mondays, Mondays and Thursdays. Who can fast more can do so. You will have great benefit from that. There will be benefit to people insha’Allah.

Also, there are thirty Rakat in Rajab. If you pray them as two Rakat every other day with 1 Fatiha and 11 Ikhlas in each Rakah, the thirty Rakat will be done throughout the whole month. No need to pray all of them at once. If you pray two Rakat every other day in order to attain the virtue of Rajab, that is good. There is Tasbihat: Subḥana Llāhi l-Ḥayyi l-Qayyūm, Subḥana Llāhi l-Aḥadi ṣ-Ṣamad, Subḥana Llāhi r-Ra’uf. Each one changes every ten days accordingly. There is a written instruction anyway. You should do that.

May Allah ﷻ make it blessed. May our three holy months be blessed. May they be the means of goodness insha’Allah. May we have the strength of Iman. May there be guidance to Muslims. May they be protected from the evil of shaytan. May they be protected from the evil and Fitnah of the end of times insha’Allah. With the intention of reaching Mahdi ‘alayhi s-salam insha’Allah, may Allah ﷻ make it blessed upon you. Insha’Allah there will be much better days. Days of test will be over, and good days will come with Mahdi ‘alayhi s-salam insha’Allah. May Allah ﷻ grant it to all of us.

Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq. Al-Fatiha.

• Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbani 

31 December 2024/ 30 Jumada al-Thani 1446

Fajr Prayer, Akbaba Dergah