Allah Ta`ala created the earth and preferred the land of Makkah. And Allah Ta`ala created time and created the moon and the sun for a reference of time. He set two calendars, the solar and the lunar calendar. And Allah Ta`ala preferred the lunar calendar:’’ Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein.’’(9:36) The beloved prophet SAW said: ‘’ .the four sacred months are: the three consecutives are Zil Qa`dah, Zil Hijjah, Muharram and then RAJAB.’’(Bukhari)
THE SACREDNESS OF THESE FOUR MONTHS:
Because sanctity of a place or a time increases its value, then it increases the gravity of sins or disrespect committed by that place or during that time. That is why Allah Ta`ala stresses in the above ayah that during these 4 sacred months ‘’..wrong not yourselves therein.’’(9:36) And the beloved prophet SAW delivering the Khutbah in Hajj explained the last definition of the sanctity of these 4 sacred months:
فَإِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ وَأَعْرَاضَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ حَرَامٌ كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا فِي شَهْرِكُمْ هَذَا فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا لِيُبَلِّغ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ
‘’Your blood, your wealth and your dignities are all sacred, like this day is sacred(10th of Zil Hijjah), like this month is sacred(Zil Hijjah) and this city is sacred(Makkah).’’(Bukhari)
So the sanctity of these months calls us to be more careful in hurting someone with the tongue, with the hands or to take someone`s possessions. Although these are always haraam, but the sacred months brings more importance of avoiding the sins of causing harm to anyone. Some sahabas used to fast all the sacred months.
Tonight or whenever sighting the moon of Rajab, do read the masnoon duas of sighting the moon:
أَللّهُمَّ أَهِلَّه عَلَيْنَا بِالْيُمْنِ وَاْلإِيْمَانِ وَالسَّلاَمَةِ وَاْلإِسْلاَمِ رَبِّىْ ورَبُّكَ الله
Allahoumma ahillahou `alainaa bil youmni wal imaani wassalaamati wal islaami rabbi wa rabbukallah. (Tirmizi )
And also read this dua:
أَللّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيْ رَجَبَ وَشَعْبَانَ وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَان
Allahoumma baarik lanaa fee rajab wa sh’abaan wa ballighnaa ramadwaan.
And know that the month of Rajab is made sacred by the Qur-aan and sunnah. So be more careful against sins during that month.
And also the sunnah teaches us to look forward and prepare for the month of Ramadhan well before Ramadhaan. This shows the prestige and importance of Ramadhaan. So let’s pray that Allah Ta’ala keeps us alive and healthy so that we may pray a lot for this incoming Ramadhaan. In approximately two months time now insha Allah Ta’ala.