Source: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/low-angle-shot-grand-mosque-abu-dhabi-with-glowing-lights-inside-building_12304799.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=27&uuid=8ade765d-1728-44b2-bb68-36b5e4909067
Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training – The month of Rajab, gang! The month that makes us feel closer to spirituality and goodness. So, you see, in Islam, the month of Rajab is very special, included in the four haram months that are considered special. There’s Muharram, Dhulqa’dah, Dhulhijjah, and the one we’re talking about now, Rajab.
So, in this month, we are all invited to upgrade our worship and goodness. The goal is simple: to intensify the spiritual atmosphere and make Rajab the month we’ve been waiting for. Hence, it’s no wonder that many Muslims fast throughout this month with their own style of fasting.
Some fast for one day, some fast for two, and some take it up to twenty-seven days. And don’t forget the Daud fasting, which is one day yes, one day no. All of that we do because we really believe that the month of Rajab is very special, and all the good deeds we do in this month are of higher value. The rewards promised by Allah are also extraordinary, gang, more than other months. The Prophet has talked about this in one of his hadiths, namely:
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَظَلَّكُمْ شَهْرٌ عَظِيْمٌ، شَهْرُ رَجَبَ، شَهْرُ الله تُضَاعَفُ فِيْهِ الْحَسَنَاتُ وَتُسْتَجَابُ فِيْهِ الدَّعَوَاتُ وَيُفَرَّجُ عَنْ الْكُرْبَات، لَا يُرَدُّ فِيْهِ لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ دَعْوَةٌ، فَمَنْ اِكْتَسَ فِيْهِ خَيْراً ضُوْعِفَ لَهُ فِيْهِ أَضْعَافاً مُضَاعَفَةً، وَاللهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ
Meaning, “O people! Indeed there has overshadowed upon you all, the great month of Rajab which is the month of Allah, every good will be multiplied in it and prayers will be accepted, anxiety will be removed, the prayers of the believers will not be rejected. Whoever does a good deed in it, it will be multiplied into many folds, and Allah can multiply (the reward) for whomever He wishes.” (HR Anas bin Malik).
It’s not just fasting, guys! In the month of Rajab, we can share kindness in other ways too. For example, (1) give alms; (2) continue the bond of friendship; (3) share food with the hungry; (4) stop by a sick person’s house; (5) spread good vibes for orphans; and many other kindnesses. If we do this in the month of Rajab, the rewards will be greater than in other months.
But, what’s even more exciting, besides talking about these kindnesses, we can also discuss the philosophical meaning behind each letter of the word ‘Rajab’. Rich, we can understand more about the meaning contained in it. So, it’s not just about the rewards, but also the philosophical side that can make us think deeper. Let’s explore the deeper meaning of ‘Rajab’! ?
The philosophical meaning of the word ‘Rajab’ is really cool, guys! Check this out: (رجب) has three letters, ra’, jim, and ba’. Well, each letter has its own philosophical meaning. Sheikh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani (deceased, 561 AH) discussed this in one of his books.
So, the letter ra’ symbolizes Allah’s mercy, jim means Allah’s generosity (jud), and ba’ means Allah’s kindness (birr). Imagine, in one word ‘Rajab’ there are already meanings of mercy, generosity, and kindness from Allah. It’s like a secret code of goodness that Allah shares in this month.
فَرَجَبُ ثَلاَثَةُ أَحْرُفٍ، رَاءٌ وَجِيْمٌ وَاءٌ. فَالرَّاءُ: رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَالْجِيْمُ: جُوْدُ اللهِ تَعَالىَ، وَالْبَاءُ: بِرُّ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
Meaning, “Rajab has three letters, namely (1) ra‘; (2) jim; and (3) ba’. Ra’ means the mercy of Allah azza wa jall, jim means the generosity of Allah ta’ala, and ba’ means the kindness of Allah azza wa jall.” (Shaykh Abdul Qadir, al-Ghunyah li Thalibi Thariqil Haq Azza wa Jall, [Beirut, Darul Kutub Ilmiah], juz I, page 319).
So, the point of the above explanation is that Allah will shower His servants with countless blessings from the beginning to the end of the month of Rajab. This grace is divided into three parts: (1) mercy from Him without torment, (2) absolute generosity with nothing left, and (3) His kindness without any antipathy. For more details, Shaykh Abdul Qadir said:
فَمِنْ أَوَّلِ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ اِلىَ أَخِرِهِ مِنَ اللهِ ثَثُ عَطَايَا لِلْعِبَادِ، رَحْمَةٌ بِلاَ عَذَابٍ، وَجُوْدٌ بِلاَ بُخْلٍ، وَبِرٌّ بِلاَ جَفَاءٍ Meaning, “So from the beginning of the existence of this month (Rajab) to its end, there are three gifts from Allah swt, namely compassion without punishment, generosity without miserliness, and kindness without antipathy. “ (Sheikh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, 319).
Yes, gang! The month of Rajab is not only a month full of grace, but also a time of preparation for Muslims to welcome the great month of Ramadan. Imam Al-Hafiz Abu Hasan bin Muhammad Hasan al-Khalal (deceased, 439 AH) in one of his books wrote about this, quoting a narration from Anas bin Malik who said that the Prophet once said:
قِيْلَ لِرَسُوْلِ اللهِ لِمَ سُمِيَ رَجَبَ؟ قَالَ: لأنَّهُ يُتَرَجَّبُ فِيهِ خَيْرٌ كَثِيرٌ لِشَعْبَانَ وَرَمَضَانَ
Meaning, “It was said to the Messenger of Allah: Why is (the month of Rajab) called Rajab? The Messenger of Allah replied: Because there is much good in it for the months of Sha’ban and Ramadan.” (Imam Abu Muhammad al-Khalal, Fadhailu Sayahri Rajab, [Lebanon, Beirut, Dar Ibn Hazm, first printing: 1996 AH/1416 AH], page 47).
According to the explanation of Sheikh Abdurrauf al-Munawi (deceased, 1031 AH) in his book, “yatarajjabu” in the hadith narrated by Anas means that Allah gives super rewards in the month of Rajab for every act of worship and goodness that we do, more than in other months.
And not only that, the month of Rajab is also the starting point and the beginning of our preparation to enter the next two holy months which are also special, namely the months of Sha’ban and Ramadan. Therefore, it is mandatory for us, Muslims, to be more enthusiastic about increasing obedience and goodness in welcoming these two precious months. The preparation must be full of enthusiasm, gang! ??
فَالْمَعْنَى أَنْ يُهَيَّئَ فِيْهِ خَيْرٌ كَثِيْرٌ عَظِيْمٌ لِلْمُتَعَبِّدِيْنَ فِي شَعْبَانَ وَرَمَضَانَ
“The meaning of this hadeeth is that it provides the worshipper with a great deal of good for the months of Sha’ban and Ramadaan.” (Shaykh al-Munawi, Faidhul Qadir Syarh Jami’us Shaghir, [Egypt, Maktabah at-Tijariah, first printing: 1356], juz IV, page 149).
So guys, in conclusion, the month of Rajab is like a period of spiritual improvement that we should make the most of. All our acts of worship and kindness should be upgraded beyond other months, not only because the rewards are multiplied, but also as preparation and self-training to welcome the great month of Ramadan. Hopefully we can all get the most out of this month of Rajab, gang! ?✨
Source:
- https://islam.nu.or.id/hikmah/makna-filosofis-tiga-huruf-rajab-olT45
- https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/low-angle-shot-grand-mosque-abu-dhabi-with-glowing-lights-inside-building_12304799.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=27&uuid=8ade765d-1728-44b2-bb68-36b5e4909067
