27th Rajab

 

27th Rajab

 

 

 

27th Rajab is a highly blessed night / day called ‘laylat al-mab`ath’,which stands for the beginning of the Holy Prophet’s Mission of promulgating the true religion of Almighty Allah On this day, the Holy Prophet (saws)was appointed for conveying the Divine Mission of Almighty Allah when Archangel Gabriel first came to him with the Divine Revelation.  It is recommended to have Ghusl (bath) on this day.& observe Fasting. This day is one of the four days that are specified for highly recommended fasting during the whole year. The reward of observing fasting on this day is mentioned to be equal to seventy years fasting. It is recommended to repeat very frequently the salwat ie sending blessings upon Prophet Muhammad and his Household.

 

Understand the greatness the 27thof Rajab

 

 

 

The most important thing that can be done on this day is to Understand the greatness of the night and day of the 27th of Rajab.There is no person greater or higher in rank than the Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his progeny). He is the leader of all of the creations and the noblest and closest of all of them to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and the most beloved of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)!

 

It is the Prophet Muhammad (blessings of Allah be upon him and his progeny) who is: The First Nur, The Closest Hijab (to Allah), The Greatest Name (of Allah) and there is not a single Prophet or Angel who can even come close to this station. He is also the Mercy to all the Worlds. Therefore, if we see the greatness of an individual and his nobility then we can realize the importance of the day of his official appointment. It is because of this reason that the importance of giving the Prophet (blessings of Allah be upon him and his progeny) his right is even more important for the Ummah and the Shi`a just as our intelligence dictates.

Just think about what has been said ñ do we accept this? If we accept it then we must take this day seriously and there is nothing else that needs to be said to encourage anyone about this day. Since goodness ñ in itself ñ should pull and attract one to that which is recommended to be done on this day. If what has been said is not accepted, then either we are out of the folds of Islam or our hearts must be corrected so that we can permit Iman (true faith) to enter it.

However, we suspect that the majority of Muslims who fall short and do not recognize the importance and greatness of this day is not because they do not have faith ñ may Allah protect us from this ñ rather, it is due to being immersed and engrossed in the beauties and attractions of this despicable world and being deluded by it. We are so busy in competing with one another to gain material pleasures that we are completely oblivious of everything else and when the time comes that we see our grave in front of us, will we remain in this state of heedlessness! The remembrance of this world has caused the hearts of such people to be negligent of the remembrance of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to forget their creation and their eventual end.

In summary, the Salik (the one who is spiritually traveling towards Allah) must sincerely try to consider this day as something great and seek to understand and appreciate the blessings of the official appointment and the blessing of the divine light (nur) and all the blessings that the Prophet of Islam (blessings of Allah be upon him and his progeny) has brought including the happiness and goodness - just as he deserves to be understood and appreciated.

We must all look into ourselves and gauge our own happiness on this day. If we see that our happiness and pleasure is the same on this day or more as it is on other days for worldly events and pleasures, then we know that our soul is polluted and we must try to correct it and strive to remove the animalistic traits in us ñ we must try to distance ourselves from the natural world and its pleasures and move closer to the spiritual world and its divine light (nur).

In closing we mention one final point in regards to this day and that is that after these supplications are finished, we should sit back and think about the days of Ignorance before the Bi`that of the Prophet and see what a state mankind had reached to.

A group of people were Jews; another group Christians; and yet others were idol worshippers. The laws of Islam had been forgotten; people had lost the etiquette of humanity and acted as wild animals. The people had reached to such a low state that they used to bury their new born daughters alive. They took pride in vain talk and activities; did not practice justice in the least and took the rights of other people around them. The strong were subjecting the weak to oppression such that they destroyed the worth and dignity of a person. They hated Scholars and were weary of intelligent people. They took pride in keeping slaves. The broke off all family relations, were busy in gambling and drinking alcohol and were constantly at war with one another. Self gratification and pride were their characteristics and they boasted of being impatient people! Cursing and evil words were common place and vain talk, including lies, back biting, etc were the norm. They killed the Prophets and their successors and helpers, and in their place they permitted the lowest amongst themselves to lead the society!

In such an environment did Allah raise a Prophet for the task of, as it is mentioned in the Quran: It is He who has sent to the illiterate a Messenger from among their own people to recite to them His revelations and purify them.

He will teach the Book to them Wisdom even though before this they were in manifest error. Insha-Allah, may Allah accept all of our acts of worship on this day and all days of the months of Rajab, Sha`ban, till Ramadan.