THE RAJAB LETTER

This is an excerpt from the book Kanz Al-Najah wa As-Suroor (”The Treasures of Success and Happiness”), a book highlighting the special qualities of each month. As the blessed and holy month of Rajab approaches (please check your local sightings or mosques to know when the month of Rajab begins in your area - Rajab will most likely begin on Friday, July 4th), hopefully this information will be of use in allowing us all to appreciate it and benefit from it:

So, my dear friend, put forth a great effort in the month of Rajab, may Allah have mercy on you. It is the season of great profits, so take advantage of your time! Whoever is spiritually sick due to their sins - the medicine has come.

• Know that Rajab is a virtuous month in which worship is gloriously rewarded - especially fasting and seeking repentance (istighfar).
• Also, making dua during the fist night of Rajab is highly recommended. The Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, said, “There are five nights in which du’a (supplication) is not rejected: the first night of Rajab, the 15th night of Sha’aban, the night before Friday, the night before Eid Al-Fitr, and the night before Eid Al-Adha.” [Al-Suyuti in his Al-Jami'].
• On the 27th night of Rajab, the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, was taken on the Isra wa Mi’raj (The Night Journey and Ascension to the Heavens). This was a great and glorious night, as is known to most Muslims, in which the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, met his Lord and was given the commandment to perform the 5 daily prayers.
• Rajab is one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Quran (the four months are : Rajab, Dhul Qi’da, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram):
  ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ???
  {The number of months is twelve according to God, in the decree of God, on the day God created the heavens and the earth; and four of them are sacred} (9:36)
• Rajab is Allah’s month in which He pours His Mercy upon the penitent and He accepts the actions that people have done for His sake. The Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, said, “Rajab is the month of Allah, and Sha’aban is my month, and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah.” (Imam Al-Suyuti in “Al-Jami”).
• Scholars say: Rajab is the month of repentance (istighfar), and Sha’aban is the month of sending peace and mercy (salawat/durood shareef) upon the Prophet, and Ramadan is the month of Quran.
• One highly recommended act to do is say 70 times after the ‘Isha prayer every night of Rajab:
  “????? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ?????”
  Transliteration: “Allahuma ighfir li wa Arhamni wa tub ‘alayya.”
  Translation: (Oh Allah forgive me, have mercy upon me, and grant me repentance)
• Sayyidna ‘Ali, may Allah be well pleased with him, used to allocate extra amounts of time for worship on four nights - the first night of Rajab, the nights before the two Eids, and the 15th night of Sha’aban.
• It is also highly recommended to say the following Prophetic prayer 3 times every morning and every evening in Rajab:
  ????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???
  Transliteration: Allahuma anta rabi la ilaha illa ant, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduk, wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa wa’adika ma astata’at, ‘authu bika min shar ma san’at, abu’u laka bi ni’matika ‘allaya wa abu’u bi dhanbi, faqhfir li fa’innahu la yaghfir al-dhunub ila anta.
  Translation: (O Allah, you are my Lord, and there is no god but you. You created me and I am your servant, and I am upon the convenant to the best of my ability. I seek refuge in you from the evil I have brought upon myself. I admit all the blessings you have given me and I admit my sins, so forgive me, for no one can forgive sins save You)

And Allah success is from Allah

Notes provided by Sidi Amjad Tarsin, a dear friend and beloved brother. Originally shared on Facebook.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani has just announced (via the ever-popular Facebook status) that his new venture is SeekersMedia. After recently leaving Sunnipath, questions about where Shaykh Faraz would surface were rampant on our minds. Now we know.

What is SeekersMedia?
SeekersMedia is an online media portal for Islamic and inspiration, through downloadable media. There will be educational media, quality Qur’anic media (with translation and commentary), and inspiring Islamic songs available, insha’Allah. We will also offer some courses, such as the current courses on Islamic law (Mukhtar Dars) and beliefs (Kharida Dars)
We also have plans to give high priority to an Islamic Answers Service (SeekersAnswers.com) which will be forthcoming, insha Allah.

Source: http://seekersmedia.com/shop/index.php?main_page=page&id=26

More info can be found on their FAQ page. Their structure is very similar to the Zaytuna Distance Learning program (which the faqir manages, alhamdulillah): Register, login, access your weekly course file, additional files uploaded throughout the remainder of the course.

Shaykh Faraz informed us that this is just the beginning and that there are bigger things planned.

There are two current courses available:

• Understanding Islamic Law: Mawsuli’s Mukhtar Explained (Part I: Worship)
• Understanding the Way of Islamic Beliefs: Imam Dardir’s Kharida Explained with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz also teaches at The Razi Institute in Toronto.

Here is the video of the interview conducted on live television on May 12, 2008 at the Noor TV studios for the FALAH TV program. This is my abridged ‘conversion to Islam’ story.

To view the full interactive video, please click on the speech bubble icon next to the time code (00:21:49). You can add comments and tags at specific points on the video by mousing over the large white and gray circle. A green ‘plus’ icon will show, click on that to add your comments and tags. You can mouse over the small black and gray dots on the progress bar to see comments and tags from others.

Click here to see a larger version video: http://www.viddler.com/explore/islamcrunch/videos/1/

I would like to thank Sidi Feraidoon Mojadeddi for inviting me for the interview. I would also like to thank Sidi Fahim Mojadeddi for taking care of me during the interview. Most importantly, I would like to thank my wonderful Su for her support, patience, love and companionship.

It is with great honor to announce that Shaykh Abdul-Kareem Yahya is visiting the San Francisco Bay Area during the months of May and June, 2008. He will be teaching and lecturing at various venues during his visit.

Shaykh Abdul-Kareem will be teaching about the Seerah of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) at the Hayward Halaqah gatherings.

• Session 1: From birth to prophethood
• Session 2: Makkah
• Session 3: Madinah

Shaykh Abdul-Kareem will also be teaching from “The Book of Assistance” at the Zawiya in Fremont on Sunday evenings after Maghrib.

His first public lecture will be conducted on Sunday, May 25 at Masjid Abu Bakr in Hayward from 5pm  - 7pm. Here is a link to the Facebook events page.We will continue to provide updates as we finalize the details.

IslamCrunch is honored to be working with the Hayward Halaqah team and the Zawiya Outreach Program.

  Imam Ghazali Institute is pleased to announce that Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yacoubi (hafizahullah) is confirmed and will be escorting our “SACRED KNOWLEDGE RETREAT2008” (formerly DAWRAH) to Makkah, Madinah and Syria, Insha-Allah.

Insha-Allah, we will depart JFK, New York for Makkah on July 3rd and will be staying at the Zam Zam Hotel for 4 days. In addition, we will spend approximately 5 days in Madinah at the Movenpick - Anwarul Madinah Hotel and thereafter depart to Syria for 20 days.

Our theme this year is, “QUENCHING YOUR THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE.”

Our Noble Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yacoubi (hafizahullah) will be conducting the entire program. We are urging all students of sacred knowledge to make use of this opportunity and reserve your seats as early as possible.

FOR RESERVATIONS & INFO

Imam Zameer Sattaur - (516) 582-9233

Web: http://imamghazaliinstitute.org/ Email: Info@imamghazaliinstitute.org

Special thanks to Sidi Muhammad Sohail Mian & Sidi Syad Hyderali for providing the info and Sidi Adnaan Sattaur for purchasing an ad spot.