Rajab, Salaah - and the Life of Islam

As it is presently the month of Rajab, I thought I’d write a little about what Salaah has taught me, and what I have learned about it…

The word “Rajab” means “Respect” and “Honour”. It is the month of our Prophet’s (SAW) Night Journey to Jerusalem and through the seven heavens, passing through 70 000 veils of Noor (light) to reach Allah SWT. It is an incredible journey which is hard to imagine in our limited minds, yet it was very real. Whilst Nabi Muhammad (SAW) was there, he received the gift of salaah from Allah Ta’ala Himself. At first it was given to us, the Ummah, to perform 50 times a day, but was reduced to 5 – each one with the reward of ten. Although there was no fixed date for this blessed night, Laylatul-Mi’raj, it is celebrated on the 27^th Rajab.

Hence this month is a particularly special time to focus on our salaah and perfect it even more by making sure we perform it as prescribed. As the basis of our deeds, it is essential to know how to best offer our salaah. It is also a blessing to learn about the rewards and significance of our salaah and the inner reality of our worship.

Some of the wonderful things I learnt about Salaah, is that it is the mi’raj of the believer. It takes us right to the Throne of Allah Ta’ala. When we raise our hands and recite the first Allahu Akbar, we put the world behind us (or at least try to!) When we perform ruk’u, we bow to the Almighty, and as we  prostrate, we place our head down at His Feet. I thought this was absolutely amazing; what an immense privilege – heaven and earth meet! Yet it is often so hard to imagine and we so often forget it as we perform our daily duty… The good news is that Allah is the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful, and He sees our attempts and what is in our hearts.

Not only do we learn about Salaah, but we learn from it as well. Over the last four months as a new Muslim, it taught me that within it are three levels of humility – standing, bowing and prostrating.

As we stand before Allah SWT, we show that we choose to turn to Him and ask Him for guidance. “You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help. Guide us on the Straight Path…”  This is the first step in all worship – the desire to please Allah Ta’ala and seek refuge in Him. It is the beginning of submission to Him in Islam.

As we bow before Allah SWT, we show that we acknowledge His supremacy over us; that He is our King and we His subjects.  “Glory be to my Lord the Most Great…”  This is the second step in all worship – the act of giving Him precedence in our lives; putting Him first. This is probably where the most Jihad occurs, as it is when our words and choice to turn to Allah SWT must begin to be acted out in our lives.

And as we prostrate before Allah SWT, we show that we totally submit ourselves to Him. As we say “Glory to my Lord, the Most High” we bring ourselves to the lowest position, as if we also add: “I am Your slave, the most lowly.” In one gesture, the whole essence of our Deen of Islam is portrayed. It is the third and final step of all worship. In it, we come to fulfil our deepest purpose – to worship our Maker completely.

Salaah helps us to learn how to concentrate on Allah SWT alone, and put Him first. It brings us to be aware of keeping clean – inside and out. It also has the power to teach us to be punctual.

In Rajab, serious preparations for Ramadhaan begin. It is said that the month of Rajab is the month of Allah SWT, Sha’baan is the month of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and Ramadhaan is the month of the Ummah. This trilogy of months seems to have a similar gradual threefold process as Salaah – as Muslims we begin with Allah and the Qur’an, then we turn to Nabi Muhammad and the Sunnah, then finally we turn to the Ummah and practice the Shari’ah – the Way of the Qur’an and Sunnah in lives of love and charity to others.

I heard something wonderful on the radio as I typed: Rajab is when the seed is planted; when it grows. Sha’baan is when the plant is nurtured; when it develops. And Ramadhaan is when the fruits are reaped.

Islam all starts with a simple act of choosing to turn to Allah SWT, standing before Him. On recognising the truth that the Qur’an teaches, we are planted in Imaan and begin to grow. Then it proceeds with bowing to Allah’s Will, developing and nurturing this reverent fear (taqwa) by faithfully imitating the blessed man who taught us how to best please Him – Nabi Muhammad (SAW). Finally it ends with accomplishing what Allah Ta’ala wants from us and reaping the fruits of pleasing Him – a united Ummah and happiness here on earth and in Jannah.

There is a special duaa’ our Prophet SAW prayed from the beginning of Rajab, and through to the end of Sha’baan:

“Ó Allah, grant us blessing in Rajab and Sha’baan and deliver us to Ramadhaan”

This is also my prayer for you, dear reader.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us an Imaan which grows, Taqwa which is carefully nurtured, and Life with Him forever in Jannah, ameen.

Salaam

Saadiqah

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