The first month of the new year has ended. For the Muslims, we are in the nearing the end of the sacred month of Rajab. There are less than 50 days before the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Hijri calendar. It is not one of the four sacred months of the Islamic calendar. However, its blessings and significance in Islam are tremendous. Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was initially revealed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. It is the month upon which Allah the Exalted has prescribed and made obligatory upon all Muslims to refrain from food, drink, and spousal activities so that we can obtain something greater than all of that…taqwa. In the tafsir (exegesis) of Imam Abū al-Fiḍā’ ‘Imād ad-Dīn Ismā‘īl ibn ‘Umar ibn Kathīr al-Qurashī al-Dimashqi, he mentions in his commentary of the second verse of Suratul Baqarah[1], an analogy of Umar ibn Al Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him for taqwa,
[1] Suratul Baqarah verse two
2:2
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًۭى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ٢
This is the Book! There is no doubt about it—a guide for those mindful ˹of Allah˺,
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
وقد قيل إن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه سأل أبي بن كعب عن التقوى فقال له: أما سلكت طريقا ذا شوك؟ قال بلى، قال: فما عملت؟” قال: شمرت واجتهدت ، قال: فذلك التقوى”
It has been stated that ‘Umar ibnul Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) once asked Ubayy ibn Ka’b (radiyallahu ‘anhu) regarding Taqwa. Ubayy (radiyallahu ‘anhu) asked, “Have you not traversed on a thorny path?” When ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) replied in the affirmative, Ubayy (radiyallahu ‘anhu) asked, “What do you do?” He replied, “I fold up my garment, and I [tread cautiously]. Ubayy (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “That is Taqwa.”
(Tafsir ibn Kathir, Surah Al Baqarah, Verse: 2, vol. 1 pg. 255)
The obligatory act of fasting is an act that by the permission and will of Allah, taqwa is obtained. Fasting is a spiritual act that needs preparation. Indeed, it has been reported that the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would begin their preparations for Ramadan six months prior to the month. Indeed, we teach our children that we are to sow the seeds of Ramadan in the sacred month of Rajab, water those seeds in Sha’baan and then harvest the blessings within Ramadan. Abu Bakr al Warraq al Balkhi said, “ The month of Rajab is the month of sowing, the month of Sha’baan is the month watering for the sowing, and the month of Ramadan is the month of harvesting.”[1] Abu Bakr al Warraq al Balkhi also said the example of the month of Rajab is the example of wind. The example of the month of Sha’baan is the example of a mist. The example Ramadan is the example of rain.”[2] Begin your journey on the path to taqwa before Ramadan by taking advantage of these last days of the sacred month of Rajab in which deeds are magnified. There are no specific acts of worship dedicated to this month, however, one should use this time preparing the soul and the body for prolonged worship. If one’s issue is committing to the obligatory, make it a goal to be consistent with the obligatory acts. If this is not an issue, seek to add optional acts, sunnah acts to one’s worship. Take account of the virtues and vices possessed and begin to remove the vices, replacing them with something better. As we move into Sha’baan create establish spiritual goals. When Ramadan comes, inshaAllah we will see the benefit of the work in the months prior. Remember all of this is so that perhaps we may become of those with taqwa. As we take accountability for our actions and states and mold them so that they are pleasing to our Creator, we intend remain in the state where we recognize the presence of Allah perpetually. In gaining the attribute of taqwa, we strengthen our relationship and love with Allah, and we learn more about ourselves.
[1] Ibn Rajab al Hanbali quotes Abu Bakr al Warraq al Balkhi in his book لطائف المعرف فيما للمواسم العلم من الوظائف
In the chapter on Rajab, pg 234
[2] Ibid
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