This Book is written by Ameer e Ahle Sunnat Hazrat Allama Maulana Ilyas Attar Qadri Razavi Ziaee.
This book include the following topics:
*The three letters of رجب
*The month of sowing seeds
*Five blessed nights
* And many more..
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2. َ
Ȋ
َ
ġS ِþ
َ
Ţ[واT± N
Kafan kī Wapasī
RETURN OF
THE SHROUD
This booklet was written by Shaykh-e-Tariqat Amīr-e-Aĥl-e-
Sunnat, the founder of Dawat-e-Islami ‘Allāmaĥ Maulānā
Abu Bilal Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadiri Razavi ʅ
in Urdu. The Translation Majlis has translated this booklet
into English. If you find any mistake in the translation or
composing, please inform Translation Majlis on the following
postal or email address with the intention of earning reward
[Šawāb].
Translation Majlis (Dawat-e-Islami)
Aalami Madani Markaz, Faizan-e-Madinah, Mahallah Saudagran,
Purani Sabzi Mandi, Bab-ul-Madinah, Karachi, Pakistan
Phone: +92-21-111-25-26-92 – Ext. 1262
Email: translation@dawateislami.net
3. ii
ۡ ٰۡۡ ٰ ٰٰۡۡ ۡۡ
ٰٰۡۡ ۡۡۡ
ٰ
ٰ ۡۡ
Du’ā for Reading the Book
ead the following Du’ā (supplication) before you study a
religious book or an Islamic lesson, you will remember
whatever you study, ˠȹ :
ّٰ
لل
َ
اُه
ۡ
اف َّمۡحَت
َ
ل
َ
عۡيِح اَن
ۡ
كَتَم
َ
ك
ۡ
انَوۡ ُ
ش
َ
ل
َ
عۡيَ ۡ
حَر اَنَت
َ
كـَيا
َ
ذ اَ ۡ
الِ
ۡ
اَو ِل
َ
ۡ
كامَر
Translation
Yā Allah ! Open the door of knowledge and wisdom for us,
and have mercy on us! O the One Who is the Most Honourable
and Glorious!
(Al-Mustaṭraf, vol. 1, pp. 40)
Note: Recite Ṣalāt-‘Alan-Nabī once before and after the Du’ā.
R
4. iii
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Du’ā for Reading the Book ............................................................ ii
RETURN OF THE SHROUD .....................1
Excellence of Ṣalāt-‘Alan-Nabī ................................................1
Various names of Rajab and their relevance................................2
The three letters of بَجَر [Rajab] .....................................................3
The month of sowing seeds............................................................4
Rajab is the name of a heavenly brook..........................................6
A heavenly palace.............................................................................6
Five blessed nights...........................................................................6
First fast of Rajab – an atonement for sins of 3 years .................7
Fasts were observed in the ark of Sayyidunā Nūḥ َ
عۡي
َ
ل
َ
َّالس ِهم .........8
Excellence of a single fast................................................................8
The reward of fasts of 60 months ..................................................9
The reward of fasts of 100 years.....................................................9
Excellence of lending a hand........................................................10
One virtue equals a hundred years’ virtues................................10
The fasts of Rajab-ul-Murajjab ....................................................11
A faith enlightening parable of respecting Rajab ......................13
5. Return of the Shroud
iv
Reward of two years.......................................................................14
Refulgent mountain.......................................................................15
Platter (Kūnḋay) in the month of Rajab .....................................16
Prophet’s companions would convey Šawāb.............................17
A companion donated the garden on behalf of his mother.....17
If 22nd
Rajab-ul-Murajjab is not the day of demise…...............18
Fixing the day.................................................................................19
•••
A letter from ‘Attar..................................................... 21
Excellence of fasts in first three days of Rajab......................21
1. Angels make Du’ā for forgiveness......................................22
2. When do the bones of a fasting person glorify
Allah ....................................................................................23
Occasion of Mi’rāj-un-Nabī .............................................26
A Madanī pearl for safeguarding the eyes.............................26
Madanī request.........................................................................27
•••
Transliteration Chart.....................................................................28
6. 1
ۡ ٰۡۡ ٰ ٰٰۡۡ ۡۡ
ٰٰۡۡ ٰۡۡۡ
ٰ ۡۡ
RETURN OF THE SHROUD
No matter how lazy satan makes you feel, read this booklet
completely. You will admit its virtues yourself.
Excellence of Ṣalāt-‘Alan-Nabī
The Prophet of Raḥmaĥ, the Intercessor of Ummaĥ, the Owner
of Jannaĥ ʋ ʄٖ has stated, ‘Whoever writes my name
in a book, for as long my name remains therein, the angels will
continue asking absolution (supplication of forgiveness) for
him.’ (Al-Mu’jam-ul-Awsaṭ, vol. 1, pp. 497, Ḥadīš 1835)
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
At the time of her death, a pious lady in the city of Basra made
a will to her son to shroud her in the clothes she used to wear
whilst worshipping in the holy month of Rajab. After her
demise, her son buried her, shrouding in some other piece of
cloth. When he returned home from the graveyard, he was
astonished to witness that the cloth in which he had shrouded
his mother was at home. After anxiously searching for the clothes
7. Return of the Shroud
2
which she had instructed him to shroud her with, he found
that those clothes had disappeared from their place. Suddenly,
a voice was heard from the unknown, ‘Take back your shroud.
We have shrouded her (in the cloth which she had willed); we
do not leave the people who observe fast in Rajab to be stricken
with grief in their graves.’ (Nuzĥa-tul-Majālis, vol. 1, pp. 208)
May Allah have mercy on them and may He forgive us
without holding accountable for their sake!
ٓ
اِم
ۡ
يِ
ّ
ِبَّال ِهاَ
ِب
َ ۡ
اِم
ۡ
ي
ُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َص
َ
ل
َ
ع
ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
تِهۡيِل
ٰ
اَوٖم
َّ
لَسَو
Various names of Rajab and their relevance
It is stated in Mukāshafa-tul-Qulūb, ‘Actually, the name of بَجَر
[Rajab] has been derived from the word ِجۡر
َ
تۡيب [Tarjīb], which
means to pay respect. It is also known as ۡب َص
َ ۡ
َ
ا [Al-Aṣab], which
means ‘fast flowing’, as the downpour of mercy is increased
exponentially upon those who repent in this month and those
who worship in this month are blessed with the light of
acceptance. It is also called ّم َص
َ ۡ
َ
ا [Al-Aṣam], which means ‘the
most deaf’ because war noise is not heard at all, in this month.
(Mukāshafa-tul-Qulūb, pp. 301) It is stated in Ghunya-tuṭ-Ṭālibīn that
this month is also called
َ
شۡهِرمَجَر (the month of stoning), as the
satans are stoned in it so that they do not cause aggravation to
the Muslims. This blessed month is also known as ّم َص
َ
ا [Aṣam],
which means ‘the most deaf’ because it has not been heard [or
8. Return of the Shroud
3
recorded] that Allah punished any nation in this month,
contrary to other months in which Allah has sent down
punishment on the previous nations.
(Ghunya-tuṭ-Ṭālibīn, vol. 1, pp. 319-320)
The three letters of بَجَر [Rajab]
Dear Islamic brothers! ˠȹ , what can be said about
the wonderful virtues of the month of Rajab. It is stated in
Mukāshafa-tul-Qulūb that our pious saints ȹ have stated,
‘There are three letters in the word Rajab; ر [Rā], ج [Jīm] and ب
[Bā]. The first letter ر [Rā] stands for the Mercy of Allah
[Raḥmat of Allah ], ج [Jīm] stands for Crime (Jurm) of the
person and ب [Bā] stands for Kindness (Birr). In other words,
Allah says, ‘Place my servant’s crime between My Mercy
and My Kindness. (Mukāshafa-tul-Qulūb, pp. 301)
‘Iṣyān say kabĥī ĥam nay kanārā na kiyā
Per Tū nay dil āzurdaĥ ĥamārā na kiyā
Ĥam nay to Jaĥannam kī baĥut kī tajwīz
Laykin Tayrī raḥmat nay gawārā na kiyā
Sins, we have parted from them never,
But You did not afflict our heart with sorrow
Into the Hell, we did everything for entry,
But what prevented from was Your Mercy
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
9. Return of the Shroud
4
The month of sowing seeds
Shaykh Sayyidunā ‘Allāmaĥ Ṣaffūrī ȹ has stated,
‘Rajab is the month of sowing the seeds, Sha’bān for watering
and Ramadan is the month for harvesting the crop. Therefore,
if someone does not sow the seeds of worship in Rajab and
does not water them with tears of remorse in Sha’bān, then
how will he be able to harvest mercy in Ramadan?’ The Shaykh
ʋ has further added, ‘Rajab purifies the body, Sha’bān
purifies the heart and Ramadan purifies the soul.’
(Nuzĥa-tul-Majālis, vol. 1, pp. 209)
Dear Islamic brothers! Affiliate yourself with the Madanī
environment of Dawat-e-Islami to develop the mindset of worship
and fasts in the month of Rajab-ul-Murajjab. Make yourselves a
traveller in the Madanī Qāfilaĥs for the propagation of Sunnaĥ
and partake in Ijtimā’ī I’tikāf (Collective I’tikāf) set up by
Dawat-e-Islami in Ramadan-ul-Mubārak. ˠ ȹ , your
life will have a Madanī revolution.
Here I present to you a Madanī incident for your inspiration:
An Islamic brother of Fatehpur Kamal (district Rahim Yar
Khan, Punjab, Pakistan) himself narrated that prior to adhering
to the Madanī environment, I did offer my Ṣalāĥ but despite
that I was indulged in various sins such as: listening to songs,
watching movies and dramas, playing cards, etc. Whilst attending
college, I always used to place my bicycle in the shop of an
Islamic brother.
10. Return of the Shroud
5
Those were the days of Rajab-ul-Murajjab when as usual I went
to place my bicycle in the shop and the Islamic brother invited
me to the Ijtimā’ of Żikr-o-Na’at on the account of Shab-e-Mi’rāj
(the Night of Ascension). After building up the urge to attend,
on that night I left from my village (which was a fair distance
away) for the Ijtimā’ of Żikr-o-Na’at and stayed there for the
whole night.
I felt immense peace and pleasure from the Ijtimā’ of Żikr-o-
Na’at and for that reason, I started attending the weekly Ijtimā’
regularly. Meanwhile, the onset of the blessed month of
Ramadan-ul-Mubārak had taken place. The Islamic brothers
with their individual efforts had prepared me for observing
I’tikāf. I was already impressed and therefore readied myself
for I’tikāf. I learnt numerous pearls of Islamic knowledge in
the 10-Day I’tikāf and ȹ I crowned my head with the
‘Imāmaĥ, adorned my face with the beard and I felt resentment
from the sinful life.
At the time of writing this, I am privileged to perform Madanī
activities as responsible for Madanī In’āmāt at a division level.
May Allah bestow me with steadfastness in the Madanī
environment!
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
11. Return of the Shroud
6
Rajab is the name of a heavenly brook
Sayyidunā Anas Bin Mālik ʝȹ has narrated that the
Beloved and Blessed Rasūl ʄȹ ٖ has stated, ‘In
Heaven, there is a brook called Rajab, its water is whiter than
milk and sweeter than honey; whoever observes one fast of
Rajab, Allah will make him drink with this brook’s water.’
(Shu’ab-ul-Īmān, vol. 3, pp. 367, Ḥadīš 3800)
A heavenly palace
A Tabi’ī saint, Sayyidunā Abū Qilābaĥ ʝ has stated,
‘There is a palace in Heaven for those who observe fasts in Rajab.’
(Shu’ab-ul-Īmān, vol. 3, pp. 368, Ḥadīš 3802)
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َص
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
تدَّم
َ ُ
م
Five blessed nights
Sayyidunā Abū Umāmaĥ ʝ has narrated that the Beloved
and Blessed Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ has said, ‘There are five
nights in which Du’ā is not rejected: the first night of Rajab,
the 15th
night of Sha’bān (Shab-e-Barā-at), the night between
Thursday and Friday, the night of Eid-ul-Fiṭr and the night of
Eid-ul-Aḍḥā (the 10th
Żul-Ḥijja-til-Ḥarām).’
(Tārīkh Damishq li-Ibn ‘Asākir, vol. 10, pp. 408)
12. Return of the Shroud
7
Sayyidunā Khālid Bin Ma’dān ʋ has stated, ‘There are
5 such nights in a year if one spends them in worship out of
recognition with an intention of gaining reward, Allah will
make him enter into the Heaven:
1. the first night of Rajab; worship during this night and
observe fast during the day.
2. the 15th
night of Sha’bān (i.e. Shab-e-Barā-at); worship
during this night and observe fast during the day.
3-4. the night of Eid-ul-Fiṭr Eid-ul-Aḍḥā (the night between
the 9th
and 10th
Żul-Ḥijja-til-Ḥarām); worship during these
nights but do not observe fast during the days (as it is
impermissible to fast on the days of Eid festivals).
5. the night of ‘Āshūrā (10th
night of Muḥarram); worship
during the night and observe fast during the day. (Faḍāil
Shaĥr-e-Rajab lil-Khallāl, pp. 10; Ghunya-tuṭ-Ṭālibīn, vol. 1, pp. 327)
First fast of Rajab – an atonement for sins of 3 years
Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāĥ Ibn ‘Abbās ʝȹ has narrated that
the Beloved and Blessed Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ has said, ‘The
fast of the first day of Rajab is atonement for three years, the
fast of the second day is atonement for two years, the fast of the
third day is atonement for one year and then the fast of each
remaining day is atonement for one month.’ (Al-Jāmi’-uṣ-Ṣaghīr
lis-Suyūṭī, pp. 311, Ḥadīš 5051; Faḍāil Shaĥr-e-Rajab lil-Khallāl, pp. 7)
13. Return of the Shroud
8
Fasts were observed in the ark of Sayyidunā
Nūḥ َ
عۡي
َ
ل
َ
َّالس ِهم
Sayyidunā Anas ʝ has reported that the Prophet of
Raḥmaĥ, the Intercessor of Ummaĥ, the Distributor of Na’maĥ,
the Owner of Jannaĥ ʄȹ ٖ said, ‘Anyone who
observes a fast in the month of Rajab; it will be like fasts of one
year. Whosoever observes seven fasts, the seven doors of Hell
will be closed for him, whosoever observes eight fasts, the eight
portals of Heaven will be opened for him, anyone who observes
ten fasts, whatever he beseeches before Allah , it will be
granted to him. And, whosoever observes 15 fasts, a heavenly
herald announces, ‘Your past sins have been forgiven; therefore
you commence deeds afresh as your evil deeds have been replaced
by good deeds.’ And whosoever does more, may Allah
grant him more.’ Sayyidunā Nūḥ ʄ stepped
onto his Ark in Rajab; he himself observed fast and ordered his
fellow-voyagers to observe fast too. His Ark travelled for six
months until the 10th
of Muḥarram-ul-Ḥarām.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Īmān,
vol. 3, pp. 368, Ḥadīš 3801)
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
Excellence of a single fast
The master of Ḥadīš, Sayyidunā ‘Abdul Ḥaq Muḥaddiš Diĥlvī
ȹ ۡ has cited the following Ḥadīš of our Beloved
Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ , ‘Rajab is a month among the months
14. Return of the Shroud
9
of Ḥurmaĥ (holiness) and its days are inscribed on the portal
of the sixth Heaven. If a person fasts a day in Rajab and completes
it with observing piety, then this fast and this day (when he
fasted) will seek forgiveness for him from Allah and will
say, ‘Yā Allah , forgive this servant!’ If the person fasts
without observing piety, that fast and that day will not make
the plea for his forgiveness and they will say to him, ‘Your Nafs
has betrayed you.’ (Māšabata bis-Sunnaĥ, pp. 234; Faḍāil Shaĥr-e-Rajab
lil-Khallāl, pp. 3-4)
Dear Islamic brothers! We have now learnt that remaining hungry
and thirsty is not the sole purpose of observing fast, instead it
is imperative that we prevent every organ from committing sin.
If one continues to commit sins despite observing fast, this is an
extreme deprivation.
The reward of fasts of 60 months
Sayyidunā Abū Ĥurayraĥ ʝ has stated, ‘Whosoever fasts
on the 27th
of Rajab, Allah will inscribe reward of observing
fasts for 60 months.’ (Faḍāil Shaĥr-e-Rajab lil-Khallāl, pp. 10)
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
The reward of fasts of 100 years
Words cannot quantify the magnificence of the 27th
of Rajab. It
was the date when the Beloved Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ was
15. Return of the Shroud
10
granted the wonderful miracle of Mi’rāj (Physical Ascension in
the Exalted Court of Allah ). (Sharḥ-uz-Zarqānī ‘ala Mawāĥib-ul-
Ladunniyaĥ, vol. 8, pp. 18) Subsequently, there is a great virtue in
the fast of the 27th
of Rajab. Hence, Sayyidunā Salmān Fārsī
ʝ has narrated that the Noble Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ
said, ‘There is a day and a night in the month of Rajab; if a person
fasts during that day and stands (for worship) in that night, it
will be as if he observed fasts for one hundred years and
worshipped at nights for 100 years. This is the 27th
of Rajab.’
(Shu’ab-ul-Īmān, vol. 3, pp. 374, Ḥadīš 3811)
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
Excellence of lending a hand
Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāĥ Ibn Zubayr ʝȹ has reported,
‘Whoever alleviates distress of any Muslim in the month of Rajab,
Allah will grant him a palace in Paradise which will be as
spacious as the farthest limits of sight. Honour Rajab, Allah
will honour you with a thousand respects.’ (Ghunya-tuṭ-Ṭālibīn,
vol. 1, pp. 324; Mu’jam-us-Safar lis-Salafī, pp. 419, Ḥadīš 1421)
One virtue equals a hundred years’ virtues
There is a night in Rajab in which the one doing a good deed is
granted with Šawāb of good deeds of 100 years and that night is
the 27th
of Rajab. Whoever offers 12 Rak’āt in this night reciting
Sūraĥ Al-Fātiḥaĥ followed by any other Sūraĥ in each Rak’at; sits
16. Return of the Shroud
11
for Attaḥiyyāt after every two Rak’āt and having offered Salām
after 12 Rak’āt, invokes: ِ
ّٰ
ا َنٰحۡبُسَوُدۡمَ ۡ
الِ
ّٰ
َِ ٰ
ِلا
َ
لَو
َّ
ِاُ ّٰ
اَوُ ّٰ
اَب
ۡ
ك
َ
ا ,
Istighfār, and Ṣalāt-‘Alan-Nabī each a hundred times and then
asks Du’ā for whatever thing belonging to worldly life or afterlife
and fasts the next day, Allah will accept all his supplications
except those that were made for sin.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Īmān, vol. 3, pp. 374,
Ḥadīš 3812)
The fasts of Rajab-ul-Murajjab
Dear Islamic brothers! Four months bear distinguished Ḥurmaĥ
(holiness) in the court of Allah ; hence Allah has said
in Sūraĥ At-Taubaĥ:
ٰٰٰٰۡۡۡۡۡۡ ٰ
ۡ ۡۤ ٰۡۡۡۡۡ ۡۡ
ۡ ۡۡ ۡۡۡۡۡۤۡ
ٰۡ ۡ
Indeed the number of months before Allah ( ) is twelve in the
Book of Allah, since the day He ( ) created the Heavens and the
earth, of which four are sacred; this is the straight religion; so do not
wrong yourselves in those months and constantly fight against the
polytheists as they constantly fight against you and know well that
Allah ( ) is with the pious. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)]
(Part 10, Sūraĥ At-Taubaĥ, verse 36)
17. Return of the Shroud
12
Dear Islamic brothers! In the aforementioned blessed verse, the
months mentioned are those based on the lunar calendar. The
rulings under the Islamic law are based upon the lunar months.
The fasts of Ramadan, rulings of Zakāĥ, and the rites of Hajj;
Islamic high days such as Mawlūd-un-Nabī ٖ ʋ ʄ ,
Eid-ul-Fiṭr, Eid-ul-Aḍḥā, Night of Mi’rāj, Shab-e-Barā-at, the
Auspicious Giyārĥwīn1
, ‘Urs of saints of Islam, etc. are all
solemnized according to the lunar calendar.
Alas! Nowadays, when Muslims are going afar from the Sunnaĥ,
they are also disconnecting themselves from the Islamic calendar.
If a question is posed to a gathering of one lac Muslims, ‘What
is the Islamic date, month and year today?’ Probably a hundred
Muslims would be able to give a correct reply. Remember that
it is obligatory to pay consideration on lunar months in various
relevant matters such as obligation of Zakāĥ, etc.
Commenting on the aforementioned verse, Shaykh Sayyidunā
Na’īmuddīn Murādābādī ۡ ȹ ۡ has stated in Khazāin-ul-
‘Irfān, ‘[Among the four months of Ḥurmaĥ are] three are
consecutive months i.e. Żul-Qa’daĥ, Żul-Ḥijjaĥ, Muḥarram, and
the fourth one is that of Rajab. Even in the times of ignorance,
the Arabs considered killing (war) to be Ḥarām in these months.
In Islam, the Ḥurmaĥ and sanctity of these months has been
further emphasized.’ (Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, pp. 309)
1
The 11th
of Rabī’-ul-Ākhir; widely known as Giyārĥwīn is attributed to the ‘Urs of His
Excellence, Shaykh ‘Abdul Qādir Jīlānī ʋ .
18. Return of the Shroud
13
A faith enlightening parable of respecting Rajab
This parable relates to the sacred times of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā
ʄ ʎ . A person fell in love with a woman. One day
he managed to take hold of her. From the commotion of the
people around, he concluded that they were sighting the moon.
He asked the woman, ‘Which month’s crescent are the people
looking at?’ She replied, ‘The month of Rajab.’ Although that
person was a Kāfir [unbeliever], upon hearing the sacred name
of Rajab, he immediately moved away from the woman out of
respect and refrained from committing the wrongful act.
Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ʄ was commanded by Allah
to visit that person. Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ʄ went to
visit that person. He told the commandment of Allah and
the purpose of his visit. Upon hearing this, that person’s heart
became enlightened with the Nūr (light) of Islam and eventually
he embraced Islam. (Anīs-ul-Wā’iẓīn, pp. 177)
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
Dear Islamic brothers! Did you notice the virtues of the Holy
month of Rajab? An unbeliever was blessed with the treasure
of Īmān because of the respect he paid to Rajab. So if a Muslim
paid respect to Rajab, he would indeed deserve immeasurably
great rewards. Muslims ought to respect the month of Rajab
very much. The Holy Quran also prohibits the people from
oppressing their own souls in the months of Ḥurmaĥ.
19. Return of the Shroud
14
Commenting on the verse ۡ ۡ ۡ ۡ ۡ
(so do not wrong
yourselves in those months) it is stated in Nūr-ul-‘Irfān, ‘Abstain
from sins especially in these four months.’ (Nūr-ul-‘Irfān, pp. 306)
Reward of two years
Sayyidunā Anas ʝ has reported that the Most Dignified
Prophet ʄٖ ʋ said, ‘The one who observes fasts for
three days i.e. Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the months of
Ḥurmaĥ, reward of two years of worship will be registered for
him.’ (Al-Mu’jam-ul-Awsaṭ liṭ-Ṭabarānī, vol. 1, pp. 485, Ḥadīš 1789)
Dear Islamic brothers! The months of Ḥurmaĥ meant in the
aforementioned Ḥadīš are the same four i.e. Żul-Qa’daĥ, Żul-
Ḥijjaĥ, Muḥarram, and Rajab. If you observe fasts in specified
three days in any of these four months, ˠ ȹ you will
gain the reward of worship of two years.
Tayray karam say ay Karīm
Mujĥay kaun sī shay milī naĥīn
Jĥaulī ĥī mayrī tang ĥay
Taray yaĥān kamī naĥīn
O the Most Merciful, from the things You’ve endowed,
What have I not got!
My capacity is limited,
But Your endowments are unlimited
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
20. Return of the Shroud
15
Refulgent mountain
Once, Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ʄ passed by a refulgent
mountain. He requested in the court of Allah ,
‘Yā Allah ! Grant this mountain the faculty of speech.’ The
mountain then spoke, ‘O Rūḥullāĥ ( ʄ )! What
do you want?’ The Prophet replied, ‘Reveal to me your
account.’ The mountain said, ‘A person lives inside me.’ Sayyidunā
‘Īsā ʄ requested in the court of Allah ,
‘Yā Allah ! Reveal him before me.’
All of a sudden, the mountain split up and a saint with a face
refulgent like the moon emerged from it. The man said, ‘I am
follower of Sayyidunā Mūsā ( ʄ ). I made Du’ā
to Allah to keep me alive until the advent of the Last
Prophet Muhammad ٖ ʋ ʄ , so that I may behold
him and I may get the honour of getting inducted into his
Ummaĥ. ȹ , I have been worshipping Allah in
this mountain for 600 years.’
Sayyidunā ‘Īsā ʄ requested in the court of
Allah , ‘Yā Allah ! Is there anyone more honourable
to You on this earth than this servant of Yours?’ Allah
replied, ‘O ‘Īsā ( ʄ )! Whoever amongst the
Ummaĥ of Muhammad ( ٖ ʋ ʄ ) fasts a single day in
the month of Rajab is more honourable to me than this person.’
(Nuzĥa-tul-Majālis, vol. 1, pp. 208)
21. Return of the Shroud
16
May Allah have mercy on them and may He forgive us
without holding accountable for their sake!
ٓ
اِم
ۡ
يِ
ّ
ِبَّال ِهاَ
ِب
َ ۡ
اِم
ۡ
ي
ُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َص
َ
ل
َ
ع
ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
تِهۡيِل
ٰ
اَوٖم
َّ
لَسَو
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
Platter (Kūnḋay) in the month of Rajab
On 22nd
of Rajab-ul-Murajjab, Muslims cook Kĥīr and Pūrī
(which is called ‘Kūnḋay’) for conveying Šawāb to Sayyidunā
Imām Ja’far Ṣādiq ʝ . There is no reason for declaring
this ritual sinful or impermissible. However on this occasion,
some women read ‘Story of 10 Ladies’ or ‘Story of a Wood-
cutter’, that is impermissible as these stories and ‘Story of
Janāb-e-Sayyidaĥ’ are unfounded. So avoid reading these stories.
Instead, recite Suraĥ Yāsīn as it will bring the Šawāb of reciting
the Holy Quran ten times.
Remember that it is not a binding to serve Kĥīr in some platter
only; it may be served in any type of crockery and it may be
distributed outside the home as well. In fact, the basis of Niyāz
and Fātiḥaĥ is Īṣāl-e-Šawāb1
, and serving Kūnḋay in the month
of Rajab is a sort of Īṣāl-e-Šawāb. Īṣāl-e-Šawāb is proven from
the Holy Quran and Ḥadīš. Īṣāl-e-Šawāb may be performed by
means of supplications and also by Fātiḥaĥ on cooked food.
1
Conveying the reward of good deeds
22. Return of the Shroud
17
Prophet’s companions would convey Šawāb
Shaykh ‘Allāmaĥ Jalāluddīn Suyūṭī Shāfi’ī ȹ ۡ has
reported that the companions ʝȹ would feed others
on behalf of the deceased Muslims up to seven days. (Al-Ḥāwī lil-
Fatāwā lis-Suyūṭī, vol. 2, pp. 223)
A companion donated the garden on behalf of
his mother
When Sayyidunā Sa’d Bin ‘Ubādaĥ’s mother passed away; he
ʝȹ presented himself in the court of the Beloved
Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ and inquired, ‘My mother has died in
my absence; if I donate something in charity on her behalf, will
it benefit her?’ The Noble Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ replied,
‘Yes.’ The companion ʝ said, ‘So, I testify making you
a witness that I donate my garden in charity on her behalf.’
(Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, vol. 2, pp. 241, Ḥadīš 2762) Hence it became evident
that conveying Šawāb by feeding meals and by donating garden,
that is money, is permissible. ‘Kūnḋay’ is in fact spending money
for conveying Šawāb.
My master A’lā Ḥaḍrat Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān
has stated: Having cooked the meals and donating as charity
on behalf of deceased Muslims is undoubtedly permissible and
commendable, and doing Fātiḥaĥ on such meals for the purpose
of conveying Šawāb is second commendable act; combining
the two (good) things is nothing but an increase in the goodness.
(Fatāwā Razawiyyaĥ, vol. 9, pp. 595)
23. Return of the Shroud
18
For every Muslim, it is commendable that whatsoever good
deeds he performs, he should convey their Šawāb to all the
preceding and succeeding Muslims, whether dead or alive (i.e.
starting from Sayyidunā Ādam to all the Muslims that
will come till the onset of Doomsday). The Šawāb will reach
every Muslim and the one conveying the Šawāb will be rewarded
with the Šawāb equivalent to that of all those. (Fatāwā Razawiyyaĥ,
vol. 9, pp. 617)
The act of conveying the Šawāb should be done with good
intentions rather than out of ostentation or for the sake of earning
remunerations; otherwise it will not bear Šawāb and obviously
conveying of Šawāb will be meaningless in such cases i.e. when
Šawāb has not become due then how can it be conveyed to the
deceased? (Baĥār-e Sharī’at, vol. 1, pp. 201)
If 22nd
Rajab-ul-Murajjab is not the day of demise…
Evil whisper: It is said that 22nd
Rajab-ul-Murajjab is not the
death anniversary of Sayyidunā Imām Ja’far Ṣādiq ȹ ۡ ,
in fact he passed away on 15th
Rajab-ul-Murajjab (Shawāĥid-un-
Nubūwwaĥ, pp. 245); therefore Kūnḋay should not be arranged on
22nd
Rajab-ul-Murajjab.
Answer to the evil whisper: Ok. Let’s assume that there is
some contradiction in date of demise of Sayyidunā Imām Ja’far
Ṣādiq ȹ ۡ , but since it is a long lasting tradition
among the Muslims to arrange Kūnḋay for his Īṣāl-e-Šawāb on
24. Return of the Shroud
19
the 22nd
Rajab-ul-Murajjab and since Īṣāl-e-Šawāb is permissible
whenever it is done throughout the year, therefore, declaring
Kūnḋay as impermissible is a false blame on Sharī’aĥ. Such false
accusers should read verse 87 in part 7 of Suraĥ Al-Māidaĥ and
take heed to the commandment of Allah where it is stated:
ٰٓۡۡ ٰٰۡ
ٰۤۡۡ ٰۡۡ ۡ ۡ
O People who believe! Do not forbid the pure things, which Allah
( ) has made lawful for you, and do not cross the limits; indeed
Allah ( ) dislikes the transgressors.
[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 7, Sūraĥ Al-Māidaĥ, verse 87)
Fixing the day
Evil whisper: Why has the 3rd
and 40th
day after death, 12th
of
Rabī’-un-Nūr, 11th
of Rabī’-ul-Ghauš, etc. have been fixed for
Īṣāl-e-Šawāb?
Answer to the evil whisper: As per Sharī’aĥ, it is neither essential
to fix a time or duration for Īṣāl-e-Šawāb nor there is any harm
in fixing the time for conveying Šawāb. The fixing of days is of
two kinds:
1. Shar’ī: Where Sharī’aĥ has specified the time for doing
something such as animal sacrifice, Hajj, etc.
25. Return of the Shroud
20
2. ‘Urfī (customary): Where Sharī’aĥ has not specified the
time but people fix a time at their own for the sake of
mutual convenience or for remembrance or for some other
benefit. For example, in these times, the fixing of time for
congregational Ṣalāĥ in the Masājid is customary whereas
in the past era, there was no such time fixing; congregational
Ṣalāĥ was offered whenever people would congregate. In
fact, the Blessed Prophet ʄ ٖ ʋ himself fixed
time for several things and similar practice of fixing the time
can be seen in the lives of the companions ʝ and
the saints of Islam ȹ , for example:
i. The Holy Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ scheduled the annual
visit to the holy shrines of martyrs of Uḥud in the last part
of the year. (Durr-e-Manšūr, vol. 4, pp. 640)
ii. The Beloved Prophet ʋ ʄٖ used to visit Masjid-e-
Qubā on Saturdays. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 724, Ḥadīš 1399)
iii. The morning and evening time was set for religious
counselling with Sayyidunā Ṣiddīq-e-Akbar ʝ .
(Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, vol. 1, pp. 180, Ḥadīš 476)
iv. Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāĥ Bin Mas’ūd ʝ fixed Thursday
for delivering the sermons. (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, vol. 1, pp. 42, Ḥadīš 70)
v. The scholars of Islam fixed Wednesday for commencement
of new lessons. (Ta’līm-ul-Muta’allim, pp. 72)
(Fatāwā Razawiyyaĥ, vol. 9, pp. 585-586)
26. Return of the Shroud
21
A letter from ‘Attar
Having whirled around the Holy Ka’baĥ, having kissed the
Grand Green Dome, laden with the blessings of those who
observe fasts in Rajab, Sha’bān and Ramadan, this is Salām from
Sag-e-Madīnaĥ Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadiri Razavi towards
all Islamic brothers, Islamic sisters, teachers and students of
Madrasa-tul-Madīnaĥ and Jāmi’a-tul-Madīnaĥ:
َ
ل
َ
ع ُم
َ
َّلس
َ
اۡم
ُ
كۡيَوَ ۡ
حَر
ُ
ةِ
ّٰ
اَرَبَو
َ
ك
ُ
تهٗ◌
َ ۡ
ل
َ
اۡمُدِ
ّٰ
ِ
ۡ
ال ِ
ّبَرِم
َ
لٰعَ ۡ
ي
ٰ َّ
ِ
ُ
كٍالَح
ȹ ! The delightful days are once again at onset. The
holy month of Rajab-ul-Murajjab is about to start. The seed of
worship is sowed in this month, watered with the tears of
repentance in Sha’bān-ul-Mu’aẓẓam and the crop of blessings
is harvested in the month of Ramadan-ul-Mubārak.
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
Excellence of fasts in first three days of Rajab
O those who value Rajab-ul-Murajjab! Be ready to observe
fasts in all days of three continuous months or of as many days
﷽
27. Return of the Shroud
22
as you can, provided it does not affect efficiency of teaching/
learning or job performance. Also Nafl fasts should be avoided
if parents refuse to do so. Apply Qufl-e-Madīnaĥ by eating less
at the time of Saḥarī and Ifṭār. May the blossoming of fasts
prevail in every home and in all my Jāmi’a-tul-Madīnaĥs and
Madrasa-tul-Madīnaĥs! So let’s start observing the fasts from
the very 1st
day of Rajab-ul-Murajjab.
What a great excellence fasts of first three days of Rajab-ul-
Murajjab bear! Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāĥ Ibn ‘Abbās ʝȹ
has narrated that the Noble Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ has said,
‘The fast of the first day of Rajab is atonement for three years,
the fast of the second day is atonement for two years, the fast of
the third day is atonement for one year and then the fast of each
remaining day is atonement for one month.’ (Al-Jāmi’-uṣ-Ṣaghīr
lis-Suyūṭī, pp. 311, Ḥadīš 5051; Faḍāil Shaĥr-e-Rajab lil-Khallāl, pp. 7)
Naflī (supererogatory) fasts bring wonderful blessings. In this
context, two Aḥādīš are being presented:
1. Angels make Du’ā for forgiveness
Sayyidatunā Umm-e-‘Ummāraĥ ʝ has reported, ‘The
Beloved and Blessed Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ visited my home
and I served some food in the blessed court of the Holy Prophet
ٖ ʋ ʄ . He ʄٖ ʋ said to me, ‘You eat too.’
I replied that I am observing fast. The Prophet of Raḥmaĥ
ٖ ʋ ʄ said, ‘As long as the food is eaten in front of
28. Return of the Shroud
23
one observing fast, the angels keep on asking forgiveness for
him.’ (Sunan-ut-Tirmiżī, vol. 2, pp. 205, Ḥadīš 785)
2. When do the bones of a fasting person
glorify Allah
Once Sayyidunā Bilāl ʝ came into the blessed court of
the Beloved Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ when the Holy Prophet
ٖ ʋ ʄ was having breakfast. The Noble Prophet
ٖ ʋ ʄ said, ‘O Bilāl! Have breakfast.’ Sayyidunā Bilāl
ʝ said, ‘Yā Rasūlallāĥ ( ʄȹ ٖ )! I am
observing fast.’ The Great Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ replied, ‘We
are eating our sustenance while Bilāl’s sustenance is increasing
in the Paradise. O Bilāl! Are you aware of the fact that as long
as the food is eaten in front of a person observing fast, his bones
continue to glorify Allah and the angels supplicate for him.’
(Shu’abul Īmān, vol. 3, pp. 297, Ḥadīš 3586)
The renowned exegete of the Holy Quran Muftī Aḥmad Yār
Khān has stated: It is evident from this that if a
guest arrives whilst you are taking food, asking him to eat is a
Sunnaĥ. But this offer should be from the core of the heart and
not superficial.
The guest should not tell a lie saying that he has no desire to
eat. Instead, if the guest observes that there is less food or if he
does not feel desire to eat then he should say َكَـارَب
ّٰ
ا (May
Allah grant you blessings). It was also revealed that one
29. Return of the Shroud
24
need not to conceal his good deeds from the Beloved Prophet
ٖ ʋ ʄ , instead these should be revealed so that the
Noble Prophet ʄٖ ʋ may bear witness for these
deeds. This revealing does not fall in the category of ostentation.
Whatever was said having heard about Bilāl’s fast has been
explained as:
We are eating our today’s sustenance here, whereas Sayyidunā
Bilāl ʝȹ will avail his sustenance in lieu of this in
Paradise and that recompense will be better in quality and more
in quantity. However, this Ḥadīš conveys clear message. Certainly
every bone and joint and even every fibre of the body of the
person observing fast glorify Allah at that time, of which
that person is unaware, but the Beloved and Blessed Prophet
ٖ ʋ ʄ listens to it. (Mirāt-ul-Manājīḥ, vol. 3, pp. 202)
Even if you have studied earlier, re-read both booklets i.e. Return
of the Shroud detailing the Blessings of Rajab-ul-Murajjab and
the Month of My Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ . Also, go through the
chapter Blessings of Ramadan from Faizān-e-Sunnat every year
in the month of Sha’bān-ul-Mu’aẓẓam. If possible, distribute
127 or 27 booklets in relation to 27th
of Rajab i.e. the festival of
Mi’rāj-un-Nabī ʄȹ ٖ , or distribute Blessings of
Ramadan according to your capacity to earn immense Šawāb.
It is further requested to all Islamic brothers and earnestly
requested to the teachers/administrators/students of Jāmi’a-tul-
Madīnaĥ and Madāris-ul-Madīnaĥ, that (whilst I am alive and
30. Return of the Shroud
25
even after my demise) please take effective part in collecting
Zakāĥ, Fiṭraĥ, skins of the sacrificed animals and collecting
other donations. (Islamic sisters should convince other Islamic
sisters and their near kin for donations), I swear by Allah
I feel so happy when I hear of those teachers and students who
forgo departure to their villages and spend the holy month of
Ramadan-ul-Mubārak in the Jāmi’aĥ complying their Majlis
by bearing the responsibility of collecting donations. However,
those teachers and students who show lack of interest but out
of negligence or laziness make my heart weep.
Special Madanī pearl: Those Islamic brothers or sisters who
want to collect donation, it is Farḍ for them to learn required
rulings. It is emphasised to everyone to again read the
book ‘Chanday kay bāray mayn Suwāl Jawāb (Questions and
Answers about Donations)’ consisting of 96 pages, published
by Maktaba-tul-Madīnaĥ, the publishing department of
Dawat-e-Islami.
Yā Allah ! Those devotees of Rasūl who collect donations
in Ramadan-ul-Mubārak and the skins of sacrificed animals on
Eid-ul-Aḍḥā make my heart happy, You ( ) stay happy with
them forever and for their sake, be pleased with me (the leader
of the sinners) forever!
Those Islamic brothers and sisters (when there is no valid
exemption) who observe fasts for three months every year and
read or listen to the books ‘Return of the Shroud’ in Jumādal
31. Return of the Shroud
26
Ukhrā, ‘the Month of My Prophet’ in Rajab-ul-Murajjab and
‘Blessings of Ramadan’ (completely) in Sha’bān-ul-Mu’aẓẓam,
Yā Allah ! Bestow me and them with Your blessings in
this worldly life as well as in the afterlife, forgive us without
any accountability and congregate us in the neighbourhood of
Your Beloved Prophet ٖ ʋ ʄ in Paradise.
ٓ
اِم
ۡ
يِ
ّ
ِبَّال ِهاَ
ِب
َ ۡ
اِم
ۡ
ي
ُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َص
َ
ل
َ
ع
ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
تِهۡيِل
ٰ
اَوٖم
َّ
لَسَو
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
Occasion of Mi’rāj-un-Nabī
Partake in the Ijtimā’ of Żikr-o-Na’at organized by Dawat-e-
Islami on the 27th
Rajab-ul-Murajjab in relation to the occasion
of Mi’rāj-un-Nabī ٖ ʋ ʄ . In addition, observe the
fast of the 27th
Rajab-ul-Murajjab and become deserving to the
Šawāb for fasts of sixty months.
Rajab kī baĥāraun kā ṣadaqaĥ banā day
Ĥamayn ‘āshiq-e-Mustafa Yā Ilāĥī
For the sake of blessings of Rajab
Make us the true devotee of Rasūl, Yā Rab
A Madanī pearl for safeguarding the eyes
After five times Ṣalāĥ, put right hand on forehead and invoke
ـاَي
ُ
نـۡوُر eleven times in single breath, blow on all fingers of both
32. Return of the Shroud
27
hands and wipe the fingers over the eyes. ˠ ȹ , it will
safeguard from blindness, weakness of the eyesight and all eye
related diseases. Relief from blindness may also take place by
virtue of the blessings of Allah .
Madanī request
Please read out this epistle every year on the last Thursday of
every month of Jumādal Ukhrā in the weekly Sunnaĥ-Inspiring
Ijtimā/Jāmi’a-tul-Madīnaĥ/Madrasa-tul-Madīnaĥ.
َ ۡ
ال
َ َ
اۡو
ُّ
ل َصِبۡيبُ ّٰ
ا
َّ
ل َصدَّم
َ ُ
م
ٰ َ ٰ
Ǔاَع
َ
ت
Give this booklet to someone else after
reading it yourself
Distribute booklets published by Maktaba-tul-Madīnaĥ during
weddings, times of grief, ‘Urs and procession of Mīlād, Ijtimā’āt
and other such occasions and earn reward. Make a habit of
keeping booklets in your shop to give to customers for free. Give
booklets to the newspaper delivery person or to children and
have them distributed in your neighbourhood. Give a new booklet
each time and earn reward for calling towards righteousness.