Khutbah 06/25/2010 - Month of Rajab
Now it is the month of Rajab, and before it is too late we must remember the merits and blessings of this month.
It is enough that this month reminds us of Al-Masjid Al-aqsa (Jerusalem) and the great event in the Prophet's life, his journey to heaven, where he (peace be upon him) met many Prophets, among them Prophet Ibrahim (the friend of Allah) who named us as Muslims, and Prophet Musa who stayed after Prophet Muhammad until the number of prayers was reduced from fifty to only five.
You should remember Umar Ibn Alkhattab, the first person to open Jerusalem (Al Masjid Al-Aqsa) and Salah Al-Din, who freed it.
And we should say together, "Oh Aqsa, here we (come)" Even if thousands of Muslims, and families were kicked out from their homes, Jerusalem was our first Qibla (Direction of Prayer) and will remain the ascent of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and will return to us no matter how long it takes.
It is engraved in every Muslim's heart and a part of the Muslims.
Do not forget that, the Month of Rajab is regarded as one of the sacred months as the Prophet Muhammad informed us that Rajab is the month between Jumada and Shaban and Allah mentions in his book:
"The number of the month since the sight of Allah is twelve months. [They were already written in the Book of Allah on the day when He created the heavens and the earth; four of them are sacred. That is the right religion. So do not wrong yourselves in them...." (9:36)
The names of the four months referred to as sacred // are Rajab, Dhu'l-Qa'da, Dhu'l-Hijja and Muharram. And each of these sacred months have blessings before and after Islam.
In Pre-Islamic periods, battles and fighting was forbidden unless started by the enemy. For this reason, the month of Rajab is known as (Rajab Al-Asm) The deaf month. All the swords were all put down and no one called for his people to fight or hurt others.
The Sunnah of Islam is peace and calmness. The people before Islam continued to respect the month of Rajab even after Islam.
And The Honorable Messenger (pbuh) used to say in his supplications: “My Allah! Make Rajab and Sha’ban good and blessed for us; and let us reach Ramadan.”
It was even honored at the time of Prophet Ibrahim. You should be aware that the deeds are doubled in this month, as well as the bad deeds, so stay away from the bad deeds and do the good.
Therefore Allah has forbidden us to commit sins during these months, as He says: “wrong not yourselves therein”
Allah forbids Muslims from wronging themselves in this month. .
The scholars said that oppression and unjust manner in the sacred months is the greatest sin and although it is forbidding at all times, the sin is doubled in the sacred months.
Allah has chosen from each of his creation, he chose from the angels, and mankind messengers, and from the words his remembrance, and from the places on earth, he chose the masajids and from the months, the sacred months and the month of Ramadan, and from the days, this day and Friday from Rajab and out of all the nights, the night of Qadr, so glorify what Allah glorified.
There is no doubt that security and goodness are in the sacred months, and for Pilgrims to go to the house of Allah safely, and feel secure with their money, and belongings, and return back to their homes safely.
Knowing the virtues of the sacred months and honoring them as Allah and his messenger honored and glorified the sacred months, is important for the time to pass safely
For the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Verily, truly times has revolved like the day on which Allah created the heavens and the earth! The year is twelve months, including four (that are) Sacrosanct (sacred); three consecutive months: Dul Al-Qa’da, Dul Al-Hijja and Muharram, and Rajab alone, which is between Jumada and Shaban.
The present month.
And when Majeba Al-Bahilia (a righteous woman) came to the Prophet peace be upon him, advised her three times to fast part of the sacred months and leave some and he contracted his fingers and retracted them
The Prophet’s advice to his companions that the best prayer after the obligatory is the night prayer and the best fasting after the month of Ramadan is fasting during the sacred months.
Allah prohibited us to argue, do evil and have bad morals in the sacred months.
And this is in the month of Dul Hijja ( one of the sacred months)
We should not lose this chance and respect the sacred months.
Two important surah were revealed in this sacred month, the journey from Mecca to Aqsa ( surat Al-Israa) and a surah that describes the journey to Heaven ( surat Al-Najm).
The journey of Israa is a big sign of the signs of the Muslim Ummah. The most important thing in it is the selection of the location in which the prophet (s) lead the rest of the prophets in prayer.
و لا تهنوا و لا تحزنوا و انتم الأعلون
"So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory)"and to tell them "that My righteous slaves shall inherit the land (i.e. the land of Paradise).".
And to tell them "that My righteous slaves shall inherit the land
And praise be to Allah, this is clear sign since a large number of people entering Islam in this Islamic Center,we have to keep it safe and show the best image and Alhamduillah we have many activities for the Muslims and Non-Muslims to raise our community and that's the difference between our masjid and other masajids.
So, we see that this masjid has a certain connection and similarity to Almasjid Al-Aqsa in leading people and guiding them to their Lord (s).
Alhamduillah our Adminstration plans is to provide many services for our community and this will be evident soon.
Again and Again I will remind you to the Jerusalem ascending to heaven as a reminder of the location where Prophet Musa, Isa, and Ibrahim have been and Prophet Muhammad who also passed by, stayed and prayed in.
and all these are from (ألي العزم) the steadfast of the prophets. This calls us to hold on to our masjid and not to give up to demand every part of this earth. Even the holes that happened under the Aqsa masjid found nothing but traces of Islamic civilizations.
Whenever Allah says in his book “ ( Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa) which We have blessed”
This is a message for us to think about this blessing. It has many meanings
Oh nation of Islam
This book of your lord calls you to look out for this blessing
Then why aren’t you asking about it?
And the Prophet peace be upon him calls us to donate our money for this Masjid
This means to fill our heart with faith and piety and for the righteous youth to stand around this house (Jerusalem) so that it may return back to us.
That day, the earth will shine with its lord’s light
It will be the day the believers will be happy with the victory of Allah
The One who grants victory to whomever He (swt) wants for He is the most merciful
الدعاء
O’ Allah make us love your مساجد
O’ Allah make us from those who build your مساجد
O’ Allah make us from those like to visit your مساجد
O’ Allah make us not to be afraid of anyone except you
O’ Allah make us from those who do the prayer regularly and on time
O’ Allah make us on the correct path of Islam and our prophet Mohammed (PBUH)
O’ Allah give us the ability to do all the good deeds
O’ Allah unite the Muslims and return them back to their high status
O’ Allah guide the Muslim youth and make of them a great nation
O’ Allah make us do الصلاةon time and accept our دعاء
O’ Allah forgive our sins and the sins of our parents in the Day of Judgment