Dear Islamic brothers! We learn that the one who is unable to cry should make an attempt to cry. Sometimes, due to the high number of sins and hardness of the heart, tears become dry. One method of removing this hardness is to remain hungry and keep Nafl fasts in abundance. Because of this, the heart will become soft and you will gain the privilege to cry in the fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه the blessed month of Rajab-ul-Murajjab is spreading its blessings. There are many blessings of fasting in this month. Therefore, those who have the ability to keep Nafl fasts in this month should definitely attain the privilege of doing so.

By doing this, not only the hardness of the heart will be removed, but the blessings of the month of Rajab will also be gained, it will be easier to keep the Fard fasts of Ramadan by the blessing of keeping Nafl fasts of Rajab and Sha’ban, and this way, you will be prepared to keep the Fard fasts from beforehand. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه

It is narrated: ‘The days of the month of Rajab are inscribed on the door of the sixth sky. If a person fasts for one day in Rajab and completes it with piety, then that door and that day (in which he fasted) will seek forgiveness for him from Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and will humbly say: ‘O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Forgive this bondman!’ Whereas, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: ‘There is one day and night in Rajab; the one who fasts during that day and worships during that night, it is as if he has fasted for 100 years and worshipped Allah Almighty by staying awake at nights for 100 years; and this is the 27^th of Rajab.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, pp. 374, Hadees 3811; Kafan ki wapsi, pp. 8-9)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! Those who fast in Rajab-ul-Murajjab are very fortunate. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has created a special palace for those who fast in Rajab-ul-Murajjab; Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will quench the thirst of those fortunate people from a lake called ‘Rajab’; the doors of hell will close for them and the doors of paradise will open for them; their fasts will become a means of erasing their sins and in the unbearable heat, hunger and thirst of the day of judgement, arrangements will be made for their food and rest.

After listening to such excellent virtues and blessings of Nafl fasts, we should all try our best to keep Nafl fasts along with the obligatory fasts. The arrival of Rajab-ul-Murajjab is as if the season of fasting has started. First, the fasts of Rajab-ul-Murajjab and then the fasts of Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam.

Let’s listen to a beautiful letter of Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ relating to the persuasion of keeping Nafl fasts and its virtues:

A Letter from ‘Attar

﷽

Having circled around the Holy Ka’bah, having kissed the blessed Green Dome, enriched with the blessings of those who fast in Rajab-ul-Murajjab, Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam and Ramadan-ul-Mubarak, Salaam from Sag-e-Madinah Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qaadiri Razavi to all Islamic brothers, Islamic sisters, teachers and students of Madrasa-tul-Madinah and Jami’a-tul-Madinah:

اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَ رَحۡمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهٗ

اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ عَلٰي كُلِّ حَالٍ

اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه! The days of happiness are coming once again. The month of Rajab-ul-Murajjab is about to start. The seed of worship is sowed in this month, watered with the tears of repentance in Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam and the harvest of mercy is gathered in the month of Ramadan-ul-Mubarak.

Three months of fasting

O those who value Rajab-ul-Murajjab! If studying, teaching, or earning Halal are not affected, your parents do not prevent you, and nobody’s rights are violated, get ready as soon as possible to keep as many Nafl fasts along with the obligatory fasts of Ramadan. Apply Qufl-e-Madinah by eating less at the time of Sahari and Iftar. May the blossoms of fasting appear in every home and in all my