Khutbah: Receiving Rajab

Indeed, all praises and thanks are due to Allāh. We praise Him, we seek His Help and and we seek His Forgiveness. And we take refuge in Allāh from the evils of ourselves and from the bad of our actions. Whomever Allāh guides, none can misguide. And whomever Allāh misguides, none can guide. And I testify that there is no god except Allāh. And I testify that Muḥammad is His slave and messenger, may blessings and peace be upon him and upon his family and companions.

O Slaves of Allāh! I first and foremost advise you to fear Allāh and to remain conscious of Him at all times, for indeed he ought to be feared and obeyed at all times.

To proceed:

Allāh states:

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ

"Indeed, the number of months with Allāh is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allāh [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them." (Qur’ān 9:36)

The four sacred months that this verse refers to are Dhu al-Qaʿdah (Month #11), Dhu al-Ḥijjah (Month #12), Muḥarram (Month #1) and Rajab (Month #7), which is the month we have just entered.

Rajab is a sacred month. Know that in all the sacred months, good deeds are multiplied and extra-virtuous. Thus, I advise you to increase in worship in this month, whether by extra fasting, extra istighfār, extra charity or otherwise. Also, be extra-cautious of falling into sin as sin is considered graver in the sacred months. This is why Allāh tells us to "not wrong yourselves during them".

A sacred month is similar to a sacred place. It is recommended to bathe and purify oneself before entering the Sacred Precinct of Makkah, and while in it one is more conscious of the weight of one’s actions. Likewise with a sacred month – we try to enter it in a state of purity and we try to maintain that purity throughout through doing good and avoiding evil.

Use Rajab as a launchpad to prepare for Ramaḍān. Rajab is the key to the months of goodness which follow it. For that reason, Imām Abū Bakr al‐Warrāq said, “In the month of Rajab you sow the seeds, in Shaʿbān you irrigate them and in Ramaḍān you reap the harvest.”

O Honourable Believers! The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:

 إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا أَذْنَبَ كَانَتْ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فِي قَلْبِهِ

"When the believer commits sin, a black spot appears on his heart."

Indeed, over the months and years, we have blackened our hearts with with many of these black spots due to our sins. Now in any month of the year, you shouldn't be delaying the time when you clean these black spots, though this is the case particularly in this month. Use this month especially to polish off and clean these black spots, so that once Ramaḍān arrives, you meet it with a clean heart. And the way to polish off these black spots is by seeking Allah's Forgiveness and turning to Him in tawbah. The ḥadīth continues:

 فَإِنْ تَابَ وَنَزَعَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ صُقِلَ قَلْبُهُ فَإِنْ زَادَ زَادَتْ فَذَلِكَ الرَّانُ الَّذِي ذَكَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ

"If he repents and gives up that sin and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished. But if [the sin] increases, [the black spot] increases." (Narrated by Ibn Mājah)

So take more time to seek forgiveness from Allāh and repent to him during this month. Remember that this is one of the sacred months, wherein the merit of good deeds are multiplied and the weight of bad deeds are heavier, so be mindful of that.