Lailat ul-Raghaib  –  The Night of Hopes

Peace and blessings upon the Holy Prophet, his Holy Household, and his Respectable Companions.

The night before the first Friday of Rajab is known as Lailat ul-Raghaib, the Night of Hopes. It is one of the brightest nights in one of the brightest months of the year per lunar calendar.

It has been narrated that the person, who recites Surah (Chapter) Al-Yaseen before going to bed and performs special prayers for Lailat ul-Raghaib, will be saved from the terror of the grave. The Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) has said, these prayers are means of forgiveness and on the first night in our grave, the Almighty (SWT) will send the reward off this prayer in the best and the most enlightened and eloquent form. When it is inquired, it will reply, “my Beloved, glad tidings to you that you have found salvation from every hardship and horror.” When it is asked, “who are you? By God, I have not seen any one more beautiful than you, I haven’t heard a word sweeter than yours, and a fragrance better than yours?”, the reply is, “I am the prayer which you offered on the eve before the first Friday of the month of Rajab. I have come to you, to be your companion in this loneliness and to remove from you your fright and horror. Be lest assured that my shelter will be with you until the blowing of the Horn of the Day of Judgment.”

It is said that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF) used to fast on the first Thursday of the Holy Rajab and recite 12 rak’ats of prayers in six sets of 2 rak’ats between Maghrib and Isha prayers. In every rak’at after reciting Surah al-Fatiha, recite 3 times Surah al-Qadr and 12 times Surah al-Ikhlaas (al-Towhid). After completing the full prayers:

Recite 70 times: «اَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلي مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ الاُْمِّيِّ وَعَلي آلِهِ».
Translation: O Allah, send blessings on Muhammad, the Ummi Prophet, and on his descendants.
Transliteration: Allahumma s’alle a’laa Muhammadin an-nabiyy il-ummi wa a’laa aaleh.

Then do sajdah (prostration) and recite 70 times: «سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلائِکَةِ وَالرُّوحِ»
Translation: Holy and the most Holy is the Lord of the Angels and spirits.
Transliteration: Sobbuhun quddoos, rabbul malaaikati war-rooh.

Next sit and say 70 times: «رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَتَجاوَزْ عَمّا تَعْلَمُ اِنَّکَ اَنْتَ الْعَلِيُّ الاَعْظَمُ»
Translation: O Lord! Forgive, have mercy and be indulgent about that which Thou knows well, verily Thou art Sublime, Mighty.
Transliteration: Rabbi eghfir wa erham wa tajaawaz a’mmaa ta’lam, innaka anta al-a’liyy ul-a’zam.

Afterwards, do sajdah again and recite 70 times: «سُبُّوحٌ قُدّوُسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلائِکَةِ وَالرُّوحِ»
Translation: Holy and the most Holy is the Lord of the Angels and spirits.
Transliteration: Sobbuhun quddoos, rabbul malaaikati war-rooh.

Now, it is time to ask the Almighty Allah (SWT) whatever you wish.  It has been promised that you will achieve your wishes for good.

Allah (exalted is He) will condescend to notice that they have assembled there, and He will say, “My angels! Ask Me for whatever you wish!” Their response to this will be, “Our Lord! The request we wish to make is that You grant forgiveness to those who faithfully keep fasting in Rajab.” Whereupon, Allah (Exalted is He) will tell them, “I have already done!”

Don’t forget to pray for your brothers and sisters.

The video below can help you with understanding more about Lailat ur-Raghaib:

Liverpool Shia Society

By Zahra Karimi Nasab

Acts of the Holy Month of Rajab

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) said, “The month of Rajab is the month of Allah (SWT); Sha’baan is my month; and Ramadhan is the month of my people. Therefore, if anyone observes fasting on a day of this month, he will be seeking the pleasure of Allah (SWT)…”

Here is the month of Rajab; the month for self-purification. May God help all of us purify ourselves from evil desires and bad habits, and help us overcome our worldly desires.
First day of the month of Rajab is the birthday anniversary of Imam Baqir (PBUH), the 5^th Imam of Shia and a famous figure in Muslim world. Congratulations to all.
Imam Mohammad Baqir said, “Learn the good words, even from those who do not act upon it.”
“Convey my greetings to my Shias. Order them to fear Allah, the Great. Their rich should visit their poor. Their sound should visit their ill. Their living should attend the funeral of their demised. They should meet each other in their houses. Indeed their meeting each other enlivens our affair. May Allah have mercy on one who enlivens our affair and puts the best of it into effect. Say to them, we will suffice nothing for them with Allah except through their good deeds. They will not obtain our intercession but through piety and hard work. Indeed the most intense of all people in regret on the Day of Judgment is the one who describes a certain deed, and then he does other than it.” (Uyun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Atha)

The Holy Month of Rajab is upon us. The largest number of Islamic occasions in an Islamic year is within this month.

Important Dates and Events in Rajab
1^st – Birthday anniversary of Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (PBUH)
3^rd – Martyrdom anniversary of Imam Ali Al-Naqi Al-Hadi (PBUH)
10^th – Birthday anniversary of Imam Muhammad Al-Taqi Al-Jawad (PBUH)
13^th – Birthday anniversary of Amir ul-Mo’mineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (PBUH)
14^th – Birthday anniversary of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) (according to another source 1^st of Zhul Hajjah has been mentioned too)
15^th – Demise of Lady Zainab (PBUH)
25^th – Martyrdom anniversary of Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (PBHU)
26^th – Night of Me’raaj and Ba’that (proclaim) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF)
28^th – Imam Hussain Ibn Ali (PBUH) leaves Medina for Karbala

Islamic Insights – Allah loves us too much to let us fall behind in good deeds – He has gifted us with an opportunity in the form of Rajab that easily trumps the ‘business’ excuse! This blessed month is filled with simple ways to develop a stronger sense of God-consciousness; so why let it slip by unnoticed?

The Gifts of Rajab
Rajab is a month of many special days, including the birth anniversaries of our first, fifth and ninth Imams, the day when the Prophet (PBUH&HF) officially proclaimed Islam, and the day when he ascended to the heavens (Me’raaj). To top it all off, the Almighty Allah (SWT) has made it an especially honoured month for us to seek His forgiveness, to earn rewards, and – above all – to attain nearness to Him through worship.

Do not forget to pray for your brothers and sisters.

Liverpool Shia Society

Sent by: Zahra Karimi Nasab

Birth of Islam and Mission of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF)

“Read in the name of thy lord and cherisher who created: Created man out of a clot of congealed blood. Read! And thy lord is most bountiful, He who taught the use of pen; Taught man that which he knew not.”

To celebrate the birthday anniversary of Islam, and the commencement of the mission of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF), Liverpool Towhid Centre is running an event at the place of the centre. All brothers and sisters are invited to enjoy the celebrity of the anniversary of such great day.

The programme in Liverpool is on Friday 09 July 2010 and will start by 8.30 pm and will last until 10.30 pm with group prayers and supper. The venue is as usual at the centre the address of which is on the poster.

Also, another programme is held at Manchester Islamic Institute on Saturday, 10 July 2010, starting at 8 pm to celebrate the 1402^nd birthday of Islam and descent of the first verse of the Holy Quran to the great heart of the Messenger of Allah. The address of the venue is as follows:

Manchester Islamic Institute
5 Sidney Street
Off Oxford Road
Manchester     M1 7HB

http://www.revertmuslims.com/islam/birth_of_islam.htm

Hope to see you all again.

Liverpool Shia Society

Thursday Meeting   –   01 July 2010

Below is the timetable of the meeting:

19.00 – 19.10: Meeting up
19.10 – 19.15: One of daily duas in Rajab
19.15 – 19.40: Dua Kumayl
19.40 – 20.00: Discussion on Dua Nodbah (15)

The venue of the meeting is:

Prayer Room (Ground Floor)
James Parsons Building
Liverpool John Moores University
Byrom Street
Liverpool        L3 3AF

Hope to see you all again.

Liverpool Shia Society

Condolence on Demise Anniversary of Sayyeda Zainab (PBUH)

Sayyeda al-Suqraa, Umm ol-Masaaib are the attributes of a great lady whose name will last for ever not merely in the history of Islam but in the history of mankind. Named as Zainab Kobra (the Great Zainab) (PBUH), she was truly a pride for her father, the Commander of the Believers, Amir al-Mo’meneen (PBUH), an absolute follower of her mother, the Great Lady Fatima (PBUH), in abiding the imam of her time.

Further to all these parental issues, she was the carrier of the message of the Ashuraa and her imam, Imam Hussain (PBUH), and confidently, without such supporters, Ummaids (CBOT) would have buried the massage of Imam Hussain. Therefore, one can find her an unrivalled follower of her imam.

We all hope take her life style as lessons for ourselves.

For more information, you may visit:

http://www.al-islam.org/masoom/bios/zaynab.html

Liverpool Shia Society

Birthday Anniversary of Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawad (PBUH)

Congratulations on the birthday anniversary of Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawad, the only son of Imam Ali al-Riza (PBUT) and the 9^th imam for Twelver Shia.

Shining on his nickname, he is well known for his generosity as his distinguished attribute. He undertook the post of imamat at his very young age of nine, and thus, it looked surprising for ordinary people when he found him answering all their questions at the wisest. Therefore, some people were trying to test his knowledge based on their own ignorance. For example, once he was asked a question concerning Islamic jurisprudence. The Imam was asked, “What is atonement for a person who hunts a game while he is dressed in the pilgrimage garb (Ihram).” Imam Jawad (PBUH) responded, “your question is utterly vague and lacks definition. You should first clarify whether the killed game was outside the sanctified area or inside it; whether the hunter was aware of his sin or did so in ignorance; if he killed the game purposely or by mistake; if the hunter was a slave or a free man; if he was adult or minor; whether he committed the sin for the first time or he had done so before; if the hunted game was a bird or something else; if it was a small animal or a big one; if the sinner is sorry for the misdeed or he insists on it; if he killed it secretly at night or openly during daylight; if he was wearing the pilgrimage garb for Hajj or for the Umra? Unless you clarify and define these aspects, how can you have a definite answer?”

You can obtain some information about his golden biography on:

http://www.al-islam.org/kaaba14/12.htm

Liverpool Shia Society

Congratulation on birthday anniversary  of Hazrat Ali Asghar (PBUH)

Congratulations on the birthday anniversary of the youngest soldier of Imam Hussain (PBUT), who did what all he remarkably did with his childish hands, putting in shame those with big hands who left the Imam (PBUH) with his enemies. Either 8^th or 10^th of Rajab is called as his birthday.

As our great Islamic peers used to do and do, we have been recommended to request our needs pleading the Almighty via the little hands of Hazrat Ali Asghar (PBUH).

For some information, you may visit:

http://www.emamhossein.com/index.htm

http://www.emamhossein.com/english%20site/english.htm

Liverpool Shia Society

Laylat ul-Raqaaib   –   First Thursday of Rajab

Rajab, as promised by the Messenger of Allah and his family (PBUT), is bringing the bliss along for the people, as one of the steps of purification towards Holy Ramadan.

The first Friday night of Rajab is called “Laylat ul-Raqaaib” which carries numerous advantageous with itself as one of iconic nights of year. It is related that the person who recites Chapter Yaaseen before going to bed and performs special prayer for Laylat ul-Raqaaib will be saved from the horror of the grave.

The Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) has said that these prayers are means of forgiveness, and on the first night in our grave, the Almighty Allah will send the reward of this prayer in the best, enlightened and eloquent form. When inquired, it will reply, “my beloved, glad tidings to you that you have found salvation from every hardship and horror.” When asked, “who are you? By God, I haven’t seen any one more beautiful than you, not heard a word sweeter than yours, and a fragrance better than yours?” In reply, “I am that prayer which you offered on the eve of the first Friday of the month of Rajab. I have come to you to be your companion in this loneliness and to remove from you your fright and horror. Be lest assured that my shelter will be with you until the blowing of the Horn of the Judgment Day.”

For more information about the prayer, please visit: http://www.duas.org/rajab_1st_thu.htm

Please do not forget to pray for the others, particularly those confined by damn Zionists.

Liverpool Shia Society

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Reference:

http://www.duas.org/rajab_1st_thu.htm

Rajab al-Morajjab

Rajab month has approached us, and this means that, in one order, we are approaching holy Ramadan, i.e. the greatest feast of Allah. In another order, Rajab means that the Almighty Allah is re-opening the special gates of Mersey. Definitely, the biggest Mersey gate that the Almighty Allah has ever opened has been the birth of the commander of faithfuls, Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH).

Several recommendations have been given by Ahl al-Bait for the believers to perform in this month. Just refer to Mafaatih al-Jinan and find lots of the means of getting the bonuses of Allah in this month. You may fancy reciting the dua of “yaa man arjuh” (یا من ارجوه) [http://www.duas.org/rajab3.htm] after every prayer. Interestingly, you can find some dua pieces issued from the site of Imam Mahdi (May Allah Advent His Great Return) as dua recommendations from our current Imam. Also, there are some short phrases that you can whisper while walking, biking, driving or on board. Fasting and visiting Imam Hussain (PBUH) by reciting Ziaarat Ashuraa has been highly recommended. For a list of a’maal in Rajab, you may visit: http://www.duas.org/rajab4.htm

And another important point, do not forget to pray for your brothers and sisters whole around the world, particularly, the Shia ones.

Let’s hope we will get enough of this month to prepare ourselves for the next step, Sha’baan.

Liverpool Shia Society