Shia Calendar - 1 Rajab

1 Rajab

First Night of Rajab

A number of rites have been reported to be advisably said or done at the first night in Rajab, which is a holy night. These rites are as follows:

Supplication at the Sighting of the moon

At the sight of the new moon, it is recommended to say the following supplication:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْاَمْنِ وَ الْاِيمَانِ وَ السَّلامَةِ وَ الْاِسْلامِ رَبِّي وَ رَبُّكَ اللّٰهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ .

It has been also reported that when his eyes fell on the new moon of Rajab, the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) used to say the following:

اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَجَبٍ وَ شَعْبَانَ وَ بَلِّغْنَا شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ وَ اَعِنَّا عَلَى الصِّيَامِ وَ الْقِيَامِ وَ حِفْظِ اللِّسَانِ وَ غَضِّ الْبَصَرِ وَ لَا تَجْعَلْ حَظَّنَا مِنْهُ الْجُوعَ وَ الْعَطَشَ .

Ghusl

It is highly advisable to bathe oneself at the first night of Rajab. In this respect, some scholars have reported the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) as saying,

Whoever receives the month of Rajab and bathes himself in the first, middle, and last of it, will be released from all of his sins to return as pure as the day of his birth.

Visit Imam Husain (a.s)

It is recommended to visit the shrine of Imam al-Husayn (عليه السلام).

20 rakat prayer

It is recommended to offer, after the obligatory Maghrib Prayer, a twenty unit prayer (in 2 rakat each) and to recite in each rakat Surah al-Fātiḥah once and Surah al-Tawḥīd once. Whoever offers this prayer, his family members, property, sons, and he will be kept saved from harm, rescued against the grave torture, and pass the Sirāt as swiftly as lightning without being called to account.

2 rakat prayer & Salawat

After the Isha’ Prayer, it is recommended to offer a two rakat prayer in the first rakat of which Surah al-Fātiḥah should be recited once, Surah al-Inshirah (No. 94) recited once, and Surah al-Tawḥīd recited three times. In the second rakat, Surahs al-Fātiḥah, al-Inshirah, al-Tawḥīd, al-Falaq, and al-Nas should be recited once each. After Taslim, the following should be recited thirty times:

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ

Similarly, Salawat on Holy Prophet and their Progeny should be recited thirty times:

The reward of this prayer is that whoever offers it, will have all his sins forgiven and will return as sin-free as the day of his birth.

30 rakat prayer

It is recommended to offer a thirty unit prayer in each unit Surah al-Fātiḥah is recited once, Surah al-Kafirun (No. 109) recited once, and Surah al-Tawḥīd repeated three times.

Supplications & Prayers

Referring to the recommended rites at the first night of Rajab, Shaykh al-Tusi has mentioned, in his book of Misbah al-Mutahajjid, that Abu’l-Bukhtari Wahab ibn Wahab has narrated on the authority of Imam al-Sadiq(عليه السلام) on the authority of his father (عليه السلام) on the authority of his grandfather (عليه السلام) who said that Imam Ali(عليه السلام) used to devote himself to acts of worship in an exclusive way at four nights, (1) the first night of Rajab, (2) the middle night (i.e. fifteen) of Sha’ban, (3) the ‘Id al-Fitr Night (i.e. the first night of Shawwal), and (4) the Nahr Night (the tenth of Dhu’l-Hijjah).

Imam Abu-Ja’far II (عليه السلام) is reported to have recommended saying this the following supplication at the first night of Rajab after the Isha’ Prayer:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْأَلُكَ بِاَنَّكَ مَلِكٌ وَ اَنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مُقْتَدِرٌ وَ اَنَّكَ مَا تَشَاءُ مِنْ اَمْرٍ يَكُونُ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَتَوَجَّهُ اِلَيْكَ بِنَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيِّ الرَّحْمَةِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ يَا رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ اِنِّي اَتَوَجَّهُ بِكَ اِلَى اللّٰهِ رَبِّكَ وَ رَبِّي لِيُنْجِحَ [لِي‏] بِكَ طَلِبَتِي اَللّٰهُمَّ بِنَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ الْاَئِمَّةِ مِنْ اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَيْهِمْ اَنْجِحْ طَلِبَتِي

You may then mention your requests.

Ali ibn Hadid has narrated that Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (عليه السلام) used to recite the following supplication while prostrating after the completion of the Night Prayer (Salat al-Layl):

لَكَ الْمَحْمَدَةُ اِنْ اَطَعْتُكَ وَ لَكَ الْحُجَّةُ اِنْ عَصَيْتُكَ لَا صُنْعَ لِي وَ لَا لِغَيْرِي فِي اِحْسَانٍ إِلَّا بِكَ يَا كَائِنُ [كَائِنا] قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَ يَا مُكَوِّنَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ اِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَدِيلَةِ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَ مِنْ شَرِّ الْمَرْجِعِ فِي الْقُبُورِ وَ مِنَ النَّدَامَةِ يَوْمَ الْآزِفَةِ فَاَسْاَلُكَ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَنْ تَجْعَلَ عَيْشِي عِيشَةً نَقِيَّةً وَ مِيتَتِي مِيتَةً سَوِيَّةً وَ مُنْقَلَبِي مُنْقَلَباً كَرِيماً غَيْرَ مُخْزٍ وَ لا فَاضِحٍ اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الْاَئِمَّةِ يَنَابِيعِ الْحِكْمَةِ ، وَ اُولِي النِّعْمَةِ وَ مَعَادِنِ الْعِصْمَةِ وَ اعْصِمْنِي بِهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ سُوءٍ وَ لَا تَأْخُذْنِي عَلَى غِرَّةٍ وَ لَا عَلَى غَفْلَةٍ وَ لَا تَجْعَلْ عَوَاقِبَ اَعْمَالِي حَسْرَةً وَ ارْضَ عَنِّي فَاِنَّ مَغْفِرَتَكَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ وَ اَنَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا لَا يَضُرُّكَ وَ اَعْطِنِي مَا لا يَنْقُصُكَ فَاِنَّكَ الْوَسِيعُ رَحْمَتُهُ الْبَدِيعُ حِكْمَتُهُ وَ اَعْطِنِي السَّعَةَ وَ الدَّعَةَ وَ الْاَمْنَ وَ الصِّحَّةَ وَ الْبُخُوعَ وَ الْقُنُوعَ وَ الشُّكْرَ وَ الْمُعَافَاةَ وَ التَّقْوَى وَ الصَّبْرَ وَ الصِّدْقَ عَلَيْكَ وَ عَلَى اَوْلِيَائِكَ وَ الْيُسْرَ وَ الشُّكْرَ وَ اعْمُمْ بِذَلِكَ يَا رَبِّ اَهْلِي وَ وَلَدِي وَ اِخْوَانِي فِيكَ وَ مَنْ اَحْبَبْتُ وَ اَحَبَّنِي وَ وَلَدْتُ وَ وَلَدَنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

Ibn Ashyam says: It is recommended to recite this supplication after offering the eight-unit salat al-Layl (Night Prayer) and before offering the three-unit salat al-witr. Immediately after offering this prayer, it is recommended to recite this supplication while sitting:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لا تَنْفَدُ خَزَائِنُهُ وَ لَا يَخَافُ آمِنُهُ رَبِّ اِنِ ارْتَكَبْتُ الْمَعَاصِيَ فَذَلِكَ ثِقَةٌ [ثِقَةً] مِنِّي بِكَرَمِكَ اِنَّكَ تَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِكَ وَ تَعْفُو عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَ تَغْفِرُ الزَّلَلَ وَ اِنَّكَ [فَاِنَّكَ‏] مُجِيبٌ لِدَاعِيكَ وَ مِنْهُ قَرِيبٌ وَ اَنَا تَائِبٌ اِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا وَ رَاغِبٌ اِلَيْكَ فِي تَوْفِيرِ حَظِّي مِنَ الْعَطَايَا يَا خَالِقَ الْبَرَايَا يَا مُنْقِذِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَدِيدَةٍ [شِدَّةٍ] يَا مُجِيرِي مِنْ كُلِّ مَحْذُورٍ وَفِّرْ عَلَيَّ السُّرُورَ وَ اكْفِنِي شَرَّ عَوَاقِبِ الْاُمُورِ [فَاِنَّكَ‏] فَاَنْتَ اللّٰهُ عَلَى نَعْمَائِكَ وَ جَزِيلِ عَطَائِكَ مَشْكُورٌ وَ لِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ مَذْخُورٌ .

It is worth mentioning that our scholars have mentioned special prayers to be offered at each night in Rajab.

FIRST DAY OF RAJAB

The first day of Rajab is a holy day on which there are several rites to be advisably done:

Fasting

It is advisable to observe fasting on this day. According to narrations, Prophet Noah (عليه السلام) embarked on the Ark on such a day; he therefore ordered his companions to observe fasting. Hence, whoever observes fasting on this day, Hellfire will move away from him for a distance of one year walking.

Ghusl

Bathing oneself is also advisable on this day.

Ziyarah of Imam Husain (a.s)

It is also recommended to visit the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (عليه السلام) on this day. Shaykh al-Tusi has narrated on the authority of Bashir al-Dahhan that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(عليه السلام) said, “Whoever visits (Imam) al-Husayn ibn Ali(عليه السلام) on the first day of Rajab, Almighty Allah will forgive him all his sins.”

Supplication

It is recommended to say the long supplication, specifically for this day mentioned in the book of Iqbal al-A’mal.

Salaat-e-Salman

It is recommended to begin with offering the famous Salat Salman (The Prayer of Salman al-Farsi), which consists of thirty units. On the first of Rajab, it is advisable to offer ten units of this prayer separating each couple with a Taslim. In each unit, one should recite Surah al-Fātiḥah one time, Surah al-Tawḥīd three times, and Surah al-Kafirun three times. After Taslim, it is recommended to raise the hands up and say the following litany:

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ وَ هُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ

The following invocation should be said thereafter:

اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا اَعْطَيْتَ وَ لَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ وَ لَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ

Then, one should pass the hands over the face.

Other ten units of this prayer should be offered on the fifteenth (i.e. middle) of Rajab in the very aforementioned form. However, the following invocation should be added after the first one:

إِلَهاً وَاحِداً أَحَداً فَرْداً صَمَداً لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ صَاحِبَةً وَلَا وَلَداً

The last ten units of this prayer should be offered on the last day of Rajab in this very form; rather, the following invocation is added after the first one:

وَ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ

Then, one should pass the hands over the face and submit his requests.

This greatly beneficial prayer must not be neglected. However, Salman has another prayer, to be offered on this day, which consists of ten units in each of which Surah al-Fātiḥah should be recited once and Surah al-Tawḥīd three times. This prayer brings about a great reward; it achieves forgiveness of all sins, protects against the grave torture and the chastisement on the Resurrection Day, and saves from leprosy, elephantiasis, and pleurisy.

Sayyid Ibn Tawus has also mentioned, in his book of Iqbal al-A’mal, another prayer that is offered on the first of Rajab.

Birth of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s)

According to some narrations, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (عليه السلام) was born on the first of Rajab, AH 57. Yet, I (Shaykh Abbas Qummi (a.r)) believe that his birth was on the third of Safar.