(b) First Night of Rajab

Text and Translation

(b) First Night of Rajab

A number of rites have been reported to be advisably said or done at the first night in Rajab, which is a holy night. These rites are as follows:

First: At the sight of the new moon, it is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَهِلَّهٗ عَلَيْنَا بِالْاَمْنِ وَالْاِيْمَانِ

ALLAAHUMMA AHILLAHU A’LAYNAA BIL-AMNE WAL EEMAANE

O Allah, let this moon rise over us with security and faith,

وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالْاِسْلَامِ

WAS SALAAMATE WAL ISLAAME

with safety and Islam.

رَبِّیْ وَرَبُّكَ اللّٰهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ

RABBEE WA RABBOKAL LAAHO A’ZZA WA JALLA

My Lord and your Lord (O moon) is Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.

It has been also reported that when his eyes fell on the new moon of Rajab, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to say the following:

اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِىْ رَجَبٍ وَشَعْبَانَ

ALLAAHUMMA BAARIK LANAA FEE RAJABIN WA SHA’BAANA

O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha'ban,

وَبَلِّغْنَا شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ

WA BALLIGHNAA SHAHRA RAMAZAAN

and let us reach the month of Ramazan.

وَاَعِنَّا عَلَى الصِّيَامِ وَالْقِيَامِ

WA A-I’NNAA A’LAS SEYAAME WAL QEYAAME

And assist us in fasting, standing in prayer (at night),

وَحِفْظِ اللِّسَانِ وَغَضِّ الْبَصَرِ

WA HIFZIL LESAANE WA GHAZZAL BASARE

guarding the tongue, and lowering the gaze.

وَلَا تَجْعَلْ حَظَّنَا مِنْهُ الْجُوْعَ وَالْعَطَشَ.

WA LAA TAJ-A’L HAZZANAA MINHUL JOO-A’ WAL A’TASHA.

And do not let our only share of it (the fast) be hunger and thirst.

Second: It is highly advisable to bathe oneself at the first night of Rajab. In this respect, some scholars have reported the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying, “Whoever receives the month of Rajab and bathes himself in the first, middle, and last of it, will be released from all of his sins to return as pure as the day of his birth.”

Third: It is recommended to visit the shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.).

Fourth: It is recommended to offer, after the obligatory Maghrib Prayer, a twenty unit prayer and to recite in each unit [Surah al-Faatehah](A5) once and [Surah al-Tawheed](A116) once, and to separate between each couple of units with Taslim. Whoever offers this prayer, his family members, property, sons, and he will be kept saved from harm, rescued against the grave torture, and pass the Sirat as swiftly as lightning without being called to account.

Fifth: After the Isha’ Prayer, it is recommended to offer a two unit prayer in the first unit of which [Surah al-Faatehah](A5) should be recited once, Surah al-Inshirah (No. 94) recited once, and [Surah al-Tawheed](A116) recited three times. In the second unit, Surahs al-Faatehah, al-Inshirah, al-Tawheed, al-Falaq, and al-Nas should be recited once each. After Taslim, the following litany should be repeated thirty times:

لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ

LAA ELAAHA ILLAL LAAH.

There is no god save Allah.

Similarly, salawaat on Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his Progeny (a.s.) should be repeated thirty times:

The reward of this prayer is that whoever offers it, will have all his sins forgiven and will return as sin-free as the day of his birth.

Sixth: It is recommended to offer a thirty unit prayer in each unit [Surah al-Faatehah](A5) is recited once, [Surah al-Kaaferoon](A113) (No. 109) recited once, and [Surah al-Tawheed](A116) repeated three times.

Seventh: Referring to the recommended rites at the first night of Rajab, Shaykh al-Tusi has mentioned, in his book of Misbah al-Mutahajjid, that Abul Bukhtari Wahab ibn Wahab has narrated on the authority of Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) on the authority of his father (a.s.) on the authority of his grandfather (a.s.) who said that Imam Ali (a.s.) used to devote himself to acts of worship in an exclusive way at four nights, (1) the first night of Rajab, (2) the middle night (i.e. fifteen) of Sha’ban, (3) the Eid al-Fitr Night (i.e. the first night of Shawwal), and (4) the Nahr Night (the tenth of Zilhajj).

Imam Abu-Ja’far II (a.s.) is reported to have recommended saying this the following supplicatory prayer at the first night of Rajab after the Isha’ Prayer:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّىْ اَسْاَلُكَ بِاَنَّكَ مَلِكٌ

ALLAAHUMMA INNEE ASALOKA BEANNAKA MALEKUN

O Allah, I ask You by the fact that You are the Sovereign,

وَاَنَّكَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مُقْتَدِرٌ

WA ANNAKA A’LAA KULLE SHAY-IN MUQTADERUN

And that You are All-Powerful over all things,

وَاَنَّكَ مَا تَشَاءُ مِنْ اَمْرٍ يَكُوْنُ

WA ANNAKA MAA TAHSAA-O MIN AMRIN YAKOONO

And that whatever You will of any matter, it comes to be.

اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّىْ اَتَوَجَّهُ اِلَيْكَ بِنَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٍ

ALLAAHUMMA INNEE ATAWAJJAHO ELAYKA BE-NABIYYEKA MOHAMMADIN

O Allah, I turn to You through Your Prophet Muhammad,

نَبِيِّ الرَّحْمَةِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ

NABIYYIR RAHMATE SALLAL LAAHO A’LAYHE WA AALEHI

The Prophet of Mercy—may Allah send blessings upon him and his family.

يَا مُحَمَّدُ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ

YAA MOHAMMADO YAA RASOOLAL LAAH

O Muhammad, O Messenger of Allah,

اِنِّیْ اَتَوَجَّهُ بِكَ اِلَى اللّٰهِ رَبِّكَ وَرَبِّيْ

INNEE ATAWAJJAHO BEKA ELAL LAAHE RABBEKA WA RABBEE

Indeed, I turn through you to Allah, your Lord and my Lord,

لِيُنْجِحَ لِيْ بِكَ طَلِبَتِيْ

LE-YUNJEHA LEE BEKA TALEBATEE

That He may grant success to my quest through you.

اَللّٰهُمَّ بِنَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٍ

ALLAAHUMMA BENABIYYEKA MOHAMMADIN

O Allah, through Your Prophet Muhammad,

وَالْاَئِمَّةِ مِنْ اَهْلِ بَيْتِهٖ

WAL AIMMATE MIN AHLE BAYTEHI

And the Imams from his Household (Ahl al-Bayt)—

صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَيْهِمْ

SALLAL LAAHO A’LAYHE WA A’LAYHIM

May Allah bless him and them—

اَنْجِحْ طَلِبَتِيْ.

ANJEH TALEBATEE.

Grant success to my quest.

You may then mention your requests.

Ali ibn Hadeed has narrated that Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) used to say the following supplicatory prayer while prostrating after the accomplishment of the Night Prayer (Salat al-Layl):

لَكَ الْمَحْمَدَةُ اِنْ اَطَعْتُكَ

LAKAL MAHMADATO IN ATA’TOKA

To You belongs the praise if I obey You,

وَلَكَ الْحُجَّةُ اِنْ عَصَيْتُكَ

WA LAKAL HUJJATO IN A’SAYTOKA

And to You belongs the (conclusive) argument if I disobey You.

لَا صُنْعَ لِىْ وَلَا لِغَيْرِيْ فِي اِحْسَانٍ اِلَّا بِكَ

LAA SUN-A’ LEE WA LAA LE-GHAYREE FEE EHSAANIN ILLAA BEKA

There is no ability for me, nor for anyone else, to do good except through You.

يَا كَاۤئِنًا قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ

YAA KAA-ENAN QABLA KULLE SHAY-IN

O He Who existed before all things,

وَيَا مُكَوِّنَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ

WA YAA MOKAWWENA KULLE SHAYIN

And O Creator of all things,

اِنَّكَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيْرٌ

INNAKA A’LAA KULLE SHAY-IN QADEERUN

Indeed, You are All-Powerful over all things.

اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّىْ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَدِيْلَةِ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ

ALLAAHUMMA INNEE A-O’OZO BEKA MENAL A’DEELATE I’NDAL MAWTE

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the ‘deviation’ (from faith) at the time of death,

وَمِنْ شَرِّ الْمَرْجِعِ فِي الْقُبُوْرِ

WA MIN SHARRIL MARJE-E’ FIL QOBOORE

And from the evil of the place of return in the graves,

وَمِنَ النَّدَامَةِ يَوْمَ الْآزِفَةِ

WA MENAN NADAAMATE YAWMAL AAZEFATE

And from regret on the Day of the Imminent (Resurrection).

فَاَسْاَلُكَ اَنْ تُصَلِّىَ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

FA-ASALOKA AN TOSALLEYA A’LAA MOHAMMADIN WA AALE MOHAMMADIN

So I ask You to send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad,

وَاَنْ تَجْعَلَ عَيْشِيْ عِيْشَةً نَقِيَّةً

WA AN TAJ-A’LA A’YSHEE E’ESHATAN NAQIYYATAN

And that You make my life a pure life,

وَمِيْتَتِيْ مِيْتَةً سَوِيَّةً

WA MEETATEE MEETATAN SAWIYYATAN

My death a balanced (and peaceful) death,

وَمُنْقَلَبِيْ مُنْقَلَبًا كَرِيْمًا

WA MUNQALABEE MUNQALABAN KAREEMAN

And my ultimate destination a noble destination,

غَيْرَ مُخْزٍ وَلَا فَاضِحٍ

GHAYRA MUKHZIN WA LAA FAAZE-HIN

Neither humiliating nor shameful.

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَاٰلِهِ

ALLAAHUMMA SALLE A’LAA MOHAMMADIN WA AALEHIL

O Allah, bless Muhammad and his family,

الْاَئِمَّةِ يَنَابِيْعِ الْحِكْمَةِ

AIMMATE YANAABEE-I’L HIKMATE

The Imams, the springs of wisdom,

وَاُوْلِي النِّعْمَةِ

WA OOLIN NE’MATE

The possessors of blessings,

وَمَعَادِنِ الْعِصْمَةِ

WA MA’DENIL I’SMATE

And the mines of impeccability.

وَاعْصِمْنِيْ بِهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ سُوْءٍ

WA’ SIMNEE BEHIM MIN KULLE SOO-IN

Protect me through them from every evil,

وَلَا تَاْخُذْنِيْ عَلٰى غِرَّةٍ وَلَا عَلٰى غَفْلَةٍ

WA LAA TAAKHOZONEE A’LAA GHIRRATIN WA LAA A’LAA GHAFLATIN

And do not take me unawares or in a state of heedlessness,

وَلَا تَجْعَلْ عَوَاقِبَ اَعْمَالِيْ حَسْرَةً

WA LAA TAJ-A’L A’WAAQEBA A-A’MAALEE HASRATAN

And do not make the consequences of my deeds a source of regret.

وَارْضَ عَنِّيْ

WAR ZA A’NNEE

Be pleased with me,

فَاِنَّ مَغْفِرَتَكَ لِلظَّالِمِيْنَ وَاَنَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِيْنَ

FA-INNA MAGHFERATAKA LIZ-ZAALEMEENA WA ANAA MENAZ ZAALEMEENA

For indeed, Your forgiveness is for the wrongdoers, and I am among the wrongdoers.

اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ مَا لَا يَضُرُّكَ

ALLAAHUMMAGH FIR LEE MAA LAA YAZURROKA

O Allah, forgive me for what does not harm You (my sins),

وَاَعْطِنِيْ مَا لَا يَنْقُصُكَ

WA A-A’TENEE MAA LAA YANQOSOKA

And grant me what does not diminish You (Your mercy),

فَاِنَّكَ الْوَسِيْعُ رَحْمَتُهُ

FA-INNAKAL WASEE-O’ RAHMATOHUL

For You are the One whose mercy is vast,

الْبَدِيْعُ حِكْمَتُهٗ

BADEE-O’ HIKMATOHU

And whose wisdom is marvellous.

وَاَعْطِنِي السَّعَةَ وَالدَّعَةَ

WA A-A’TENIS SA-A’TA WAD DA-A’TA

Grant me abundance and tranquillity,

وَالْاَمْنَ وَالصِّحَّةَ

WAL AMNA WAS SEHHATA

Security and health,

وَالْنُّخُوْعَ وَالْقُنُوْعَ

WAN NOKHOO-A’ WAL QONOO-A’

Benefit and contentment,

وَالشُّكْرَ وَالْمُعَافَاةَ وَالتَّقْوٰى

WASH SHUKRA WAL MO-A’AFAATA WAT TAQWAA

Gratitude, well-being, and piety,

وَالصَّبْرَ وَالصِّدْقَ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلٰى اَوْلِيَاۤئِكَ

WAS SABRA WAS SIDQA A’LAYKA WA A’LAA AWLEYAAA-EKA

Patience and truthfulness toward You and Your friends,

وَالْيُسْرَ وَالشُّكْرَ

WAL YUSRA WASH SHUKRA

And ease and thankfulness.

وَاعْمُمْ بِذَالِكَ يَا رَبِّ اَهْلِيْ وَوَلَدِيْ

WA’ MUM BE-ZAALEKA YAA RABBE AHLEE WA WALADEE

Include in all of that, O Lord, my family, my children,

وَاِخْوَانِيْ فِيْكَ

WA IKHWAANEE FEEKA

My brothers in You (in faith),

وَمَنْ اَحْبَبْتُ وَاَحَبَّنِيْ

WA MAN AHBABTO WA AHABBANEE

Those whom I love and those who love me,

وَوَلَدْتُ وَوَلَدَنِيْ

WA WALADTO WA WALADANEE

Those whom I have fathered and those who fathered me,

مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ

MENAL MUSLEMEENA WAL MOAMENEENA

From among the Muslims and the believers,

يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ.

YAA RABBAL A’ALAMEENA.

O Lord of the Worlds.

Ibn Ashyam says: It is advisable to say this supplicatory prayer after offering the eight-unit salat al-Layl (Night Prayer) and before offering the three unit salat al-Watr. Immediately after offering this prayer, it is recommended to say this supplicatory prayer while sitting:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِىْ لَا تَنْفَدُ خَزَاۤئِنُهٗ

ALHMADO LILLAAHIL LAZEE LAA TANFADO KHAZAAA-ENOHU

Praise be to Allah, whose treasures are never exhausted

وَلَا يَخَافُ آمِنُهٗ

WA LAA YAKHAAFO AAMENOHU

and whose protected ones never fear.

رَبِّ اِنِ ارْتَكَبْتُ الْمَعَاصِيَ

RABBE ENIR TAKABTUL MA-A’ASEYA

My Lord, if I have committed acts of disobedience,

فَذَالِكَ ثِقَةٌ مِنِّي بِكَرَمِكَ

FAZAALEKA SEQATUN MINNEE BEKARAMEKA

it was only because of my trust in Your generosity;

اِنَّكَ تَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِكَ

INNAKA TAQBALUT TAWBATA A’N E’BAADEKA

for indeed, You accept repentance from Your servants,

وَتَعْفُوْ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ

WA TA’FOO A’N SAYYAATEHIM

You pardon their evil deeds,

وَتَغْفِرُ الزَّلَلَ

WA TAGHFERUZ ZALALA

and You forgive their lapses.

وَاِنَّكَ مُجِيْبٌ لِدَاعِيْكَ

WA INNAKA MOJEEBUN LE-DAA-E’EKA

Indeed, You are the Answerer of the one who calls upon You

وَمِنْهُ قَرِيْبٌ

WA MINHO QAREEBUN

and are close to him.

وَاَنَا تَاۤئِبٌ اِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا

WA ANAA TAAA-EBUN ELAYKA MENAL KHATAAYAA

I turn to You in repentance for my mistakes,

وَرَاغِبٌ اِلَيْكَ فِىْ تَوْفِيْرِ حَظِّىْ مِنَ الْعَطَايَا

WA RAAGHEBUN ELAYKA FEE TAWFEERE HAZZEE MENAL A’TAAYAA

and I desire from You an abundant share of Your gifts.

يَا خَالِقَ الْبَرَايَا

YAA KHAALEQAL BARAAYAA

O Creator of all beings,

يَا مُنْقِذِيْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَدِيْدَةٍ

YAA MUNQEZEE MIN KULLE SHADEEDATIN

O my Savior from every hardship,

يَا مُجِيْرِيْ مِنْ كُلِّ مَحْذُوْرٍ

YAA MOJEEREE MIN KULLE MAHZOORIN

O my Protector from every danger!

وَفِّرْ عَلَيَّ السُّرُوْرَ

WAFFIR A’LAYYAS SOROORA

Grant me an abundance of joy

وَاكْفِنِيْ شَرَّ عَوَاقِبِ الْاُمُوْرِ

WAK FENEE SHARRA A’WAAQEBIL OMOORE

and protect me from the evil consequences of affairs.

فَاَنْتَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى نَعْمَاۤئِكَ وَجَزِيْلِ عَطَاۤئِكَ مَشْكُوْرٌ

FA-ANTAL LAAHO A’LAA NA’MAAA-EKA WA JAZEELE A’TAAA-EKA MASHKOORUN

For You, O Allah, are thanked for Your blessings and Your lavish giving,

وَلِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ مَذْخُوْرٌ.

WA LE-KULLE KHAYRIN MAZKHOORUN.

and You are the Treasure stored for every good.

It is worth mentioning that our scholars have mentioned special prayers to be offered at each night in Rajab. Yet, it takes a long time to mention these prayers.