Salamun alaykum,
Question to Salim:
In the last days of Rajab, Salim visited the sixth Imam Ja’far As Sadiq a.s.
On seeing him the Imam inquired if he had kept any fast during the month
of Rajab. Salim responded that he had not.
Reflect:
What would be your response if today, our beloved living Imam al Mahdi
(AF) were to pose this question to you?
Reply to Salim:
The Imam said,” How much reward have you missed that only Allah can
estimate; for this is the month to which Allah has granted excellence over
other months and great honour and has made respect for those who fast in
this month obligatory upon Himself”.
Great reward missed: What to do?
Salim then asked if he would be able to earn some of the rewards for fasting
in this month if he kept fasts for the remaining days.
Imam J’afar As Sadiq a.s. replied, ”O Salim! Whoever keeps even one fast
during its last days will be protected by Allah from the pains at the time of
death, the fear after death and the punishment in grave. If a person keeps
two fasts during its last days, he will pass over ‘sirat’ with ease and whoever
keeps three fasts during its last days, will be protected from the great fear
of the Day of Judgment and the great difficulties of the day and will be
granted pardon from the fire of hell.”
Close a door of hell:
“Rajab is the name of a river in Jannah whose colour is whiter than milk and
taste is sweeter than honey. One who fasts a day in Rajab will have the
thirst quenched from this river.”
“Know that whosoever fasts a day in the month of Rajab will be granted the
great reward of Ridwan (Divine pleasure); the wrath of Allah shall be
distanced, and a door of the Hell shall be closed.”
(Noble Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w.)
What if I am unable to fast?
There is great emphasis on fasting even for a day during this month such
that if one is unable to fast then it is recommended to offer food to the
needy for each day.
As for one unable to do so then, in order to reap the thawab for fasting, one
is to recite the following tasbih hundred times every day:
Subhaanal ilahil Jalil , Subhaana man la yanbaghi-t tasbihu illa lahu ,
Subhaanal a-'azzil akram , Subhaana man labisal ‘izza wa huwa lahu Ahlun.
(Glory be to Allah the Grand. Glory which befits none but Him. Glory to the
Most Mighty, the Most Bountiful. Glory to Him Who reserved the power for
Himself and which He alone deserves.)
Do not miss fast of 27 th day of Rajab:
“Do not abandon fasting of the day of 27 th Rajab. For it is the day on which
Prophethood was commissioned upon Muhammad (SAWW) and its reward
for you is equivalent to fasting sixty months.” Imam Ja’far As Sadiq a.s.
This year, InshAllah, it will be on Sunday 18 th February, 2026.
Take advantage of these last days of Rajab:
We have been blessed by Allah SWT with life to once again witness this
auspicious month of Rajab. Sadly, we are now drawing close to the end of
this sanctified month of Rajab.
Wouldn’t you like to quench your thirst from the river Rajab on the final day,
granted the great reward of Ridwan (Divine pleasure); be distanced from the
wrath of Allah and a door of the Hell to be closed for you?.
Why not grab the opportunity to act on the recommendation for fasting?
What else will you do to take advantage of the remaining days of Rajab?
Tip: If you aim to harvest enormous fruits on Eid ul Fitr, then plant the
seeds in Rajab. Water the saplings in Sha’baan. Tend to them in Shahru
Ramadhan.
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah.
With salaams and duas,
Fazle Abbas
Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo BA(Hons),Cert. Ed.(DTLLS)
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat