On the excellent qualities of the holy month of Rajab

[JEELANI MESSAGE]

On the excellent qualities of the holy month of Rajab
Excerpts from Al-Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq
by El-Sheikh Syed Abdul-Qadir al-Jilani
(Radhi Allahu Anhu)
(PART 1)

Traditional prayers of supplication (ad'iya ma'thura) that are particularly appropriate on the first night of Rajab.

   When the worshipper has duly performed his salat on the first night of Rajab, he is recommended to offer the following Du’a:

“O Allah, to You the applicants apply this night, to You the aspirants aspire, and for Your gracious bounty and beneficence the seekers look in hope. You have special favors [nafahat] to bestow this night, and prizes and gifts and presents. You will bestow them upon whomever You choose from among Your servants, and You will withhold them from those who are not ready to receive Your providential care ['inaya]. Well, here am I, Your servant who is sorely in need of You, hoping for Your gracious bounty and beneficence! If it pleases You, O my Master [Ya Maulaa-ya], to bestow Your Grace this night upon one of Your creatures, and if You will be so generous as to grant him a favor out of Your kindness, then bless Sayyidina Muhammad and his family, and let me enjoy Your Superabundance and Beneficence, Ya Rabbal-'Aalameen!”

   Hazrat Babul-'Ilm, ’Ali bin Abu Talib (karramallah wajhah) would devote himself entirely to worship during four nights of the year, namely: The first night of Rajab; the Night of the Fastbreaking [Lailat al-Fitr]; the Night of the Sacrifices [Lailat al-Adha]; and the night of the middle of Sha’ban. Here is the prayer of Du’a he used to offer on those nights:

"O Allah, bless Sayyidina Muhammad and his family, those Lanterns of Wisdom [masabih al-hikma], Masters of Grace [mawali 'n-ni'ma] and Mines of Virtue [ma'adin al-'isma]! Let them be my protection against all evil. Do not take me by surprise or unawares. Do not cause the outcome of my life's work to be nothing but disappointment and regret. May it please You to view me with favor, for Your forgiveness is granted to the wrongdoers and I am one of the wrongdoers. O Allah, forgive me that which cannot do You any harm, and grant me that which cannot bring You any benefit. You are the One whose Rahmah is all-embracing, the One whose Hikmah is incomparable, so grant me the blessings of comfort and composure, security and good health, thankfulness, well-being, and taqwa. Instill patience and honesty in me and in your Awliya. Let ease [yusr] be Your gift to me, and do not let it come with difficulty ['usr] attached. Extend these same blessings to my wife and children, to my brothers in You, and to all those Muslim men [Muslimin] and Muslim women [Muslimat], those believing men [mu'minin] and believing women [mu'minat], who have helped me to become the man I am today."