(a) First night of Friday (Laylat al Raghaaeb)

Text and Translation

(a) First night of Friday (Laylat al Raghaaeb)

Be it known to you that the first Friday night in Rajab is called Laylat al-Raghaaeb (Night of Desires). It is reported that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to practice a (recommendable) rite that brings about remarkable rewards at this night, which is a prayer with a special formula. As is mentioned by Sayyid Ibn Taawus in Iqbal al-Aamaal and Allamah al-Majlisi in Ijaazaat Bani Zohrah, the rewards of one who offers this prayer are (1) a great number of his sins are forgiven, (2) on the first night in the grave, Almighty Allah sends him the reward of this prayer in the form of a life form with happy mien and fluency to say to him, “Good tidings, darling! You have escaped all hardships.” The offerer of this prayer will then ask, “Who are you? Indeed, I have never seen such good-looking face, I have never heard such fluent words, and I have never smelled such nice scent.” He will be answered, “I am the reward of the prayer you offered at so-and-so night in so-and-so month in so-and-so year at the town of so-an

The description of this prayer, however, is as follows:

One should observe fasting on the first Thursday in Rajab. Between the Maghrib (sunset) and Isha’ (evening) Prayers, one should offer a twelve unit prayer each couple of which is separated by Taslim (i.e. the concluding part of a ritual prayer). In each unit, one should recite Surah al-Faatehah once, Surah al-Qadr three times, and Surah al-Tawheed twelve times. After accomplishing the prayer, one should repeat the following invocation of blessings seventy times:

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ الْاُمِّيِّ وَ عَلٰى اٰلِهٖ

ALLAAHUMMA SALLE A’LAA MOHAMMADENIN NABIYYIL UMMIYYE WA A’LAA AALEHI.

O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad, the Unlettered Prophet, and upon his family.

Then, one should prostrate himself and repeat this litany seventy times:

سُبُّوْحٌ قُدُّوْسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلَاۤئِكَةِ وَ الرُّوْحِ

SUBBOOHUN QUDDOOSUN RABBUL MALAA-EKATE WAR ROOHE.

Perfectly Pure, Infinitely Holy, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit.

Then, one should raise the head from prostration and repeat this supplicatory prayer seventy times:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَ ارْحَمْ وَ تَجَاوَزْ عَمَّا تَعْلَمُ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْعَلِيُّ الْاَعْظَمُ

RABBIGH FIR WAR HAM WA TAJAAWAZ A’MMAA TA’LAMO INNAKA ANTAL A’LIYYUL A-A’ZAM.

My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and overlook [the sins] that You know. Indeed, You are the Most High, the Greatest.

One should then prostrate himself again and repeat the same litany seventy times:

سُبُّوْحٌ قُدُّوْسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلَاۤئِكَةِ وَ الرُّوْحِ

SUBBOOHUN QUDDOOSUN RABBUL MALAA-EKATE WAR ROOHE.

Perfectly Pure, Infinitely Holy, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit.

Then, one may pray Almighty Allah for granting one’s needs, for they will be surely granted, God willing.

Finally, it is highly advisable to visit the Holy Shrine of Imam al-Reza (a.s.) in Rajab, since it enjoys a special rank in this month. Similarly, to go on Umrah in Rajab also brings about a great reward. In this respect, it has been narrated that Umrah comes directly after the ritual Hajj in the amount of rewarding. Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zaynul Aabedin (a.s.) is also reported to have gone on Umrah in Rajab. In addition to offering prayers near the Holy Ka’bah, the Imam (a.s.) used to prostrate himself before Almighty Allah too much, day and night, and used to say the following words while prostrating:

عَظُمَ الذَّنْبُ مِنْ عَبْدِكَ فَلْيَحْسُنِ الْعَفْوُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ

A’ZOMAZ ZANBO MIN A’BDEKA FALYAHSONIL A’FWO MIN I’NDEKA

The sin from Your servant has become great, so let the forgiveness from You be beautiful.