Deeds (A’maal) of Night of the 15^th of Sha’ban

The 15^th of Sha’ban is remarked as one of the most significant days in the Islamic culture.  The most obvious basis of that is the glorious birthday of the final Reason (Hujjat) of the Almighty Allah (SWT), the one who will fill the Earth full of justice.  He is the most beloved of the Ahl al-Bait (PBUT) by them and all the Imams (PBUT) and the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) have promised his advent and his lovely and joyful government.  Shia are expecting his arrival at any time which is the choice of the Almighty Allah (SWT).

However, further to such great coincidence, the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) and the Imams (PBUT) have notified the excellence of the 15^th of Sha’ban even before the birth of Imam Mahdi (PBUH).  This day has been appreciated as highly as the Night of Qadr when the fate of the world is determined by the Almighty (SWT).

Due to the high importance of the night of the 15^th of Sha’ban, some deeds (a’maal) have been advised to be fulfilled in order to have been showered by the blessings of such divine night.  The details of a’maal can be found here.  The more the a’maal one can do, the more the reward he will receive.  However, even just doing the minimum of the deeds will glorify the heart of the believer and will create the ground of happiness of the Almighty Allah (SWT).

Liverpool Shia Society

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

Thursday Meeting   –   05 August 2010

Below is the timetable of the meeting:

19.00 – 19.10: Meeting up
19.10 – 19.30: Mounaajaat Sha’baaniah – مناجات شعبانیه
19.30 – 19.50: Discussion on LSS programme during Holy Ramadan

The venue of the meeting is:

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

In previous years, as the set time of Thursday meetings coincided with the Maghrib Adhan, and also as fasting days were long, not leaving good time after breakfast for the students to gather for the meeting, no meeting was set for the holy Ramadan while all loved to had attended LSS meeting at least once a week. Therefore, we will discuss about the ideas on how to keep the programmes of LSS ongoing during holy Ramadan. LSS, thus, invites all the members to kindly make their programme to attend this Thursday meeting so as to successfully schedule for holy Ramadan. However, LSS, due to its limited resources, reserves this right to waive meetings during holy Ramadan.

The moon crescent is getting thinner and thinner to end Sha’baan and deliver the opportunities of the faithful brothers and sisters to holy Ramadan. However, still Sha’baan is on, and it is to us to do our best to gain further boons and gifts of this bounteous month. Having been said from Imam Ridha (PBUH), the Almighty Allah releases lots of His servants from the fire flames they have created due to their faults just to greet and respect holy Ramadan. Again, fasting the final three days of Sha’baan, and fasting on the last Friday of Sha’baan has been highly advised by Imam Ridha (PBUH). He has asked us to find our own way to get rid of the effects of the faults we have made. For instance, whispering the following dua (which can be used within Qonut section of daily prayers) has been recommended:

اللـّهُمَ اِن لــَم تـَکـُن غـَفـَرتَ لـَنا فیما مـَضی مـِن شـَعبان، فـَاغـفـِرلـَنا فیما بـَقـِیَ مـِنه

Please have a look to your Mafaatih for further information about the final days of Sha’baan.

Hope to see you all again.

Liverpool Shia Society

Quran Recitation Gifted to Imam Mahdi (May the Almighty Allah Hasten His Advent)

Dear faithful brothers and sisters,

Hope you enjoy minutes of Sha’baan al-Mo’azzam, the month of the Messenger of Allah. Probably, further to the spiritual position of this months preceding holy Ramadan which could interpret its relation the Prophet, five of the Prophet’s sons have been born in this month to give this honour to the sons of Adam Abu-ul-Bashar (PBUH) concurrency of life with the purposes of the whole creation. We have just passed three outstanding birthday anniversaries of three VIPs of Karbala, are waiting for another one of them and to another birthday anniversary which relates to a person whose movement will direct the world finally, and this will, by the will of God, take place in a near future.

To highlight this, and to gain best of ours from these moments, Essa, one of LSS members, has planned a full round recitation of Quran to be gifted to Imam Mahdi (PBUH) with the hope of pleasing him. Those who are interested to assist him and contribute in getting their share of this great work should text their interest to Essa on 07747786812. If you are intending a particular part (joz’) of Quran to recite, mention it in your text message, and that will be taken subject to availability. Otherwise, Essa will inform you which part you would better to recite to complete the circle. Since this decision was made in the afternoon of July 17^th, 15 parts of Quran were quickly taken until midnight. Those who cannot text Essa can leave a comment on the post. The comments will be dealt with as soon as possible to assign the parts. Please note that reciting the part assigned to you must be accomplished before Sha’baan al-Mo’azzam 15th.

May the Almighty Allah hasten the advent of our Imam (PBUH), gift mutually your gifts to His Hojjah, and make the lovely heart of our Imam (PBUH) happy with us.

Let’s pray for each other, for the faithful men and women either passed away or alive, and for visiting our Imam (PBUH) with a smile on his bright face very soon.

Liverpool Shia Society

Sha’baan, the Month of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF)

Sha’baan, as the month of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF), has  just started offering its boons and blessing to people, and we are to get our benefits out of this opportunity. In summary, let’s try the duas of Sha’baan, whispering with the Almighty Allah and invocation, as such opportunities may not be obtainable again. Let’s keep praying for our brothers and sisters, and more importantly, for the advent of our Imam, al-Hujjah (PBUH).

Sha’baan has got another meaning; Holy Ramadan is approaching. We are supposed to prepare ourselves for Ramadan from now, as that feast is not missable. LSS would be heartily thankful if you could send your ideas about how LSS could be of more benefit during Holy Ramadan to <info@liverpool-shia.com>. Your ideas are highly appreciated and will be considered and dealt with extra care. We are looking forward to receiving your ideas in this regard.

Liverpool Shia Society