The Islamic month of Rajab has begun. I would like to take this opportunity to share the Khutba I held (on Friday 27th). It was originally written by brother Sameer, one of the participants in the local masjid who held the Khutba in Arabic. I shared a brief summary of it in English.
The Khutba
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Here we are in the month of Rajab, the first of the sacred months. Allah says describing their holiness:
سورة التوبة ٣٦
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ
Surah At-Tawba 9:36
The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year)- so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein
God Almighty cautioned to do wrongs in these months because the wrongs are intensified when done in a virtuous time or virtuous place. We would like to draw attention to a set of points in this:
First: On dedicating the month of Rajab to some fasting. It is customary for some Muslims to set aside the month of Rajab or the first day of it or the first Thursday or the first Friday in it to fasting, and that is not something that is ascribed to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), or his followers (رضي الله عنهم)– they did not fast these days, nor did they invite people to fast them. Rather, scholars are still warning people of such ideas. In and of itself, it is not wrong to fast, but be careful of singling out this month over any other month, since the habit of fasting is good regardless of when you do it.
Second: On dedicating the month of Rajab to some prayers. It is customary for some people to appoint the month of Rajab with a prayer that is performed on the night of the first Friday of it. However, this prayer appeared long after the Prophet’s death. There is no verse in the Qur’an that indicates this prayer, and it is not true that the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), prayed it or encouraged people to do so.
Third: About the incident of Isra and Mi’raj, and whether it took place in the month of Rajab or not. Scholars differed greatly in determining the time of its occurrence. And celebrating the night of it is an invention as it was not done among the followers, nor on the authority of any of the early imams.
Think about how you receive the month of Rajab. One of your life’s most important goals is to keep your hearts attentive to Allah. May Allah purify our hearts and enable us to make the most of the time we have left in this life.
I hope you found this an interesting input and that it has brought something good to consider.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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