Majlis Summary

Excellence of Rajab:

Scholars of Irfan explain the hidden meaning of the letters spelling the word to convey the meaning ofrahma (mercy), Jud /Jawad (generosity) and Bir (goodness). The month of Rajab is an opportunity to nurture these virtues.

“Rajab is a great month of Allah, unmatched by any other month in the respect and significance (accorded to it);… Verily, Rajab is linked to Almighty Allah…(Noble Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w.)
“Rajab is a great month, during which Allah SWT multiplies the rewards of good deeds and deletes the sins” (Imam Musa Al Kadhim a.s.)
Rajab is given title of ‘al Asabbu’ (the effusion or pouring) because the Mercy of Allah pours in abundance on my ummah.

Rajab – the 7th month: Seven Campaign Strategies:

The Ahlul Bayt have recommended several deeds to be undertaken during Rajab.
Campaign (1): Recitation of 2 rakat salat recommended for the 1st day of the lunar month. (AQAIN). One who performs the prayer, would safeguard himself for the month. It would mean that as if one has acquired his/her insurance for that month from Almighty Allah.

Campaign (2): Fasting:

“Rajab is the name of a river in Jannah whose colour is whiter than milk and taste is sweeter than honey. One who fasts a day in Rajab will have the thirst quenched from this river.”
“Know that whosoever fasts a day in the month of Rajab will be granted the great reward of Ridwan (Divine pleasure); the wrath of Allah shall be distanced and a door of the Hell shall be closed.”
(Noble Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w.)

Campaign (3): Istighfar:

Rajab is a month of istighfar-seeking forgiveness- for my ummah, so increase in seeking forgiveness. Verily He is All Forgiving, All Merciful.”
· “..and Rajab is known as ‘Al Asab-ba’ (pouring like the rain), for Divine Mercy pours on my Ummah in this month. Therefore increase in reciting: Astaghfirullaaha wa as aluhut tawba”(Noble Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w.)

Campaign (4): Laylatu Raghaaib: First Thursday of Rajab:

To fast and perform the amals between Maghrib and Isha. Details by separate email.
Take advantage of being blessed with life to be present in this auspicious month of Rajab.
…………………………to be continued…………………………………………………………

Wiladat 5th Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir a.s.:

Al Baqir: It is an abbreviation of the word Baqir Al Ulum meaning the one who splits open knowledge. This was foretold by the Noble Prophet.

Greetings from Noble Prophet:

Noble Prophet mentions to his renowned companion Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari, that,”… you would live long enough to see a descendant of mine, who will have the same name and characteristics as me. He will certainly be Al Baqir (the one who is deeply knowledgeable, sharply wise and cuts deep through the science of religion). Convey my salams to him”.

Unique lineage:

He was born on 1st Rajab 57 A.H. in Medina. His parents are the 4th Imam Ali Zaynul ‘Abidin a.s. and Bibi Fatima bint Hasan. Note that both his paternal grandfather (Imam Husayn) and maternal grandfather (Imam Hasan) are Imams.

Engaging with Banu Umayya:

As Hujjat of Allah, Imam Muhammad Al Baqir, provides counsel and writes several letters to the Umayyad Rulers. These had great influence on Umar bin Abdul Aziz, one of the final Umayyad rulers, such that the rights of Ahlul Bayt were restored as below :

• L’anat /cursing the 1st Imam is stopped: The custom introduced by Muawiyah whereby the Jum’a and Eid khutba included curse on 1st Imam was stopped. This was replaced with recitation of the verse:- Surely Allah enjoins the doing of justice and the doing of good (to others) and the giving to the kindred, and He forbids indecency and evil and rebellion; He admonishes you that you may be mindful.(Sura An Nahl 16:90)
• Fadak the propert of Bibi Fatima a.s. is returned to its rightful owner through the 5th Imam.

Adherence to Wilayat (Divine Leadership) is an obligation:

Whilst the community was observing the practices of Islam, a critical part of the guidance in scholarship by the Imam to the Ummah was to revive and re-affirm the obedience to the Divinely appointed leaders after the holy Prophet.

This is seen from below hadith of the 5th Imam:

“Islam is set up on Five (i.e. items considered to be building blocks of eiman): Establishing prayers, giving Zakat, pilgrimage to the house (of Allah),fasting in the month of Ramadhan, and Wilayat ( Divine Leadership) of us Ahlul Bayt. In four of these there is leave whereas in wilayat there is no leave.
As for one who does not possess wealth there is no obligation of zakat upon him. As for one who does not possess wealth he has no obligation of haj upon him. One who is ill offers his prayers sitting and eats (does not fast) in the month of Ramadhan. As for wilayat, it is binding whether one is healthy or ill, wealthy or poor.” (Imam Muhammad al Baqir a.s.)

Point to reflect:

During the challenges of contemporary times whilst fulfilling the other four building blocks of eiman, how committed is one to wilaya and in extension to the leadership of the Marja taqleed?

We are blessed to be lovers of Ahlul Bayt and of those who recognize the rightful wilayat. Do we have a deficit in the fulfillment of the other mentioned practices /building blocks in the hadith?
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah

With salaams and duas

Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat