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Rajab: the Month of Istighfār

The Prophet ﷺ used to say when the crescent of Rajab appeared: “O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha’ban, and allow us to reach Ramadan.”

Indeed, Allah has allowed us to witness this blessed night, the first night of this month. It was a night in which our master Ali ibn Abi Talib, would devote himself entirely to worship. The devout individuals who followed the example of the Master of Worshippers ﷺ, recognized the significance of these times, these months, and these nights and what they contain.

Among his supplications during this time was: “O Allah, Your forgiveness is for the wrongdoers, and I am one of the wrongdoers, so forgive me.” Such were his words in his humility. These are the manifestations of those whose lives were blessed, whose nights were blessed, whose spiritual tastes were blessed, and whose dealings with their Creator were blessed. Blessed also were they in their awareness of what Allah revealed and what His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ conveyed.

Via: https://omr.to/rajab5

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

RAJAB 1, 1446 - Thursday 1/2/25

﷽

Please join us for Qiyam on the 1st night of Rajab.

We will be giving life to this blessed night by meeting at Al-Maqasid at 5:00 AM for Qiyam and the Pre-Fajr invocations.

We ask Allah the Exalted to bless us in Rajab and Sha’ban, and that He allow us to reach Ramadan. Amin!

Listen Live: https://almaqasid.mixlr.com/

WHEN: Thursday 1/2/25
TIME: 5:00 AM
WHERE: Al-Maqasid (Musallā)

Sisters’ Gathering to Welcome
the Sacred Month of Rajab

Rajab is a sacred month when good deeds are multiplied, and hearts are invited to reconnect with Allah. It is a time to seek His mercy and prepare for Ramadan. Let us come together for a Sisters’ only Mawlid insha-Allah. 

May Allah bless us all and make this Rajab a source of goodness and barakah for everyone.

When: Thursday, January 2nd
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Green Barn

SISTERS ONLY 
No boys over 8 years old

Wayfarers to God - A Sisters Series on Suluk

Please join us on Saturday, January 4th, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM for our Wayfarers to God - A Sisters Series on Suluk with Sayyida Nejma Davis at Al-Maqasid in the Green Barn.

'Wayfarers to God: A Sister’s Series on Suluk' by Habib Ali Al-Jifri, facilitated by Sayyida Nejma Davis, serves as a comprehensive guide for all those on a journey of Spiritual Wayfaring or Suluk. Rooted in principles of self-reflection and sincere effort, this lecture series gently navigates the intricacies of understanding the nafs (ego) and the detrimental impact it can have. Habib Ali Al-Jifri sheds light on the path to liberating oneself from the nafs, delving into the exploration of base desires, evil inclinations, and diseases of the heart. His approach resonates deeply, permeating the soul and igniting a call to action. 

This is a ladies (16+) only class.

Childcare is available (in the Ribat Basement) for women who would like to attend the class.

Reminder this is a ladies (16+) only class.

WHEN
Saturday, January 4th, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

WHERE
Al-Maqasid (Green Barn)
7386 Alburtis Road, Macungie, PA, 18062

Heart to Heart

The next Heart to Heart will be on Sunday, January 12th in The Green Barn at 10:30 AM.

Heart to Heart is a monthly discussion over coffee and brunch. We seek to come together as a community and discuss topics related to Islamic spirituality.  

Our discussions are centered around the book ‘The Path of the Worshipful Servants' by Imam al-Ghazali, which is a unique book that discusses the ways to overcome the obstacles on the spiritual path.  

For parents with young children, we kindly urge you to include your blessed children only if they can sit quietly next to you.

If you would like to contribute to the potluck please sign up by clicking the button below: 

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Secrets of Seeking Forgiveness

What follows are extracts selected from a talk given by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (Allah preserve him and benefit us by him) on the topic of seeking forgiveness from Allah in the month of Rajab and some of the secrets therein. There are some additions for extra clarity. The talk was delivered during the Mawlid in Dar al-Mustafa on Thursday, 3rd Rajab 1433/24th May 2012.

Rajab is a time of forgiveness. It has been narrated in the Prophetic hadith: “Seek much forgiveness from Allah in Rajab because in every hour (of the month) Allah frees people from the Fire.” Those who have been freed from the Fire hate the deeds of the people of the Fire and the attributes of the people of the Fire and only find tranquillity performing the deeds of the people of Paradise. If they slip up, they immediately return to Allah: Those that when they commit an act of indecency or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins – and who can forgive sins except Allah? – and they do not knowingly persist in (the wrong) they have done.

Look in yourself for the signs that you have been freed from the Fire. People who allow themselves to look at things that are forbidden, on their screens or elsewhere, will not find these signs. If you have not refrained from falling into the deeds of the people of the Fire, then you have not yet been freed from the Fire. The people of Paradise, those who are preparing their eyes to look at those who have been drawn near to Allah, obey Allah’s order: Say to the believing men that they must lower their gaze and guard their modesty. That will be purer for them. Allah is well aware of what they do. And say to the believing women that they must lower their gaze and guard their modesty. There should be nothing in your house in Rajab that displeases Allah. Rajab is one of the sacred months, about which Allah says: “Do not wrong yourselves therein.” You should not be in the same state in Rajab as you were before it.

One of the signs that you have been freed from the Fire is your hatred of sins and acts of disobedience. Look how Allah describes the first generation, and these are the attributes of every truthful person that comes after them: Allah has made faith beloved to you and has made it beautiful in your hearts and He has made hateful to you disbelief, corruption and disobedience. These are those who are rightly guided. These people are safe from the Devil, from their lower selves, from their caprice, from attachment to the material world. How did they achieve this? It was a bounty and blessing from Allah.

One of the greatest signs that you have been freed from the Fire is that you take pleasure in seeking forgiveness from Allah in the last portion of the night and at other times of the day. You raise your hands to Him saying: “My Lord, forgive me and turn to me; truly You are the Oft-Returning, the Most Merciful!”

Follow the example of the Beloved (may Allah bless him and grant him peace); follow him in seeking forgiveness. Make sure you do so with a heart that is present, then perhaps Allah will open you a door to connect you with the Beloved. If you received even a portion of one of his prayers for forgiveness, you would bathe in the light of that prayer for eternity. He sought forgiveness and he knew the One from Whom he was seeking forgiveness. How great is your knowledge of Allah in relation to his? Keep seeking forgiveness after `Isha’ and after Fajr and throughout the days and nights, then perhaps before the end of Rajab Allah will have opened the door to you, and your heart will be filled with light.

You must take from Rajab the secret of connection to Allah. You must realize the secret of seeking forgiveness. Follow the example of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), for he is the greatest of those that seek forgiveness. Allah ennobled you by extending the light of his prayers for forgiveness to you: So know that there is no god but Allah and seek forgiveness for your sins and for the believers, male and female. Allah is saying to him: “Allow them to enter through your door. When they come via you, the door is open to them.” If only when they wronged themselves they came to you and sought Allah’s forgiveness and the Messenger sought forgiveness for them... Is it not enough that they sought Allah’s forgiveness? This is good, but far greater than that is that the Messenger himself sought forgiveness for them. Then they will find Allah, and whoever has found Allah has not missed out on anything. They will not just find Allah, but furthermore, He will manifest His beauty and bounty to them: they would have found Allah Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. Whoever finds Allah Oft-Returning and Most Merciful will live in a state of bliss, constantly experiencing Allah’s mercy until the days of everlasting bliss in the next life.

O Allah, You are the One that said to Your Beloved: When you complete (your immediate task), stand up (to perform another), and to your Lord turn all your attention. We ask You by the secret of his worship and his seeking You and asking You to make us amongst the elite of this Ummah, amongst those who receive the greatest portion of his intercession, and amongst those who are closest to him.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Winter is the springtime of the believer. Its days are short for fasting, and its nights are long for prayer”
(Musnad Ahmad)

LOVING THE BELOVED ﷺ

This weekly Majlis includes a recitation of the prophetic biography in poetry form followed by a counsel intended to connect the listener to the Prophet ﷺ and his teachings. The more we know about his life, character, and way, the more we will come to love and follow the one beloved to Allah.

The Divine Message of Mercy - Auzair Khilwati

Allah begins the Quran with His Names, Ar-Rahman (the Most Compassionate) and Ar-Raheem (the Most Merciful) (Quran, 1:1), emphasizing the foundation of His relationship with humanity. These attributes are not mere descriptions but a call for us to understand, embody, and trust in His mercy.

Allah’s command to Musa (AS) to address Pharaoh with gentleness despite his tyranny reminds us of His mercy even towards the most rebellious:
"And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]." (Quran, 20:44)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, a mercy to all creation, said:
"Allah has mercy on those who are merciful to others. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you." (Tirmidhi)

Elevating Our Hearts Through Salawat - Hasan Petrus

"Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace." (Quran, 33:56)

The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him tenfold." (Muslim)

Through salawat, we purify our hearts, refine our character, and draw closer to the Prophet ﷺ. Every utterance of salawat is a gift to us, not the Prophet ﷺ, who is already honored by Allah and His angels. It is a means of personal spiritual elevation and connection to the luminous Prophetic example.

May Allah increase our love for His Beloved and grant us proximity to him in this life and the next.

Embracing Decree - Amir Felton

"It may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you do not know." (Quran, 2:216)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ exemplified this principle through his constant state of gratitude and submission, regardless of circumstances. He taught:
"Amazing is the affair of the believer, for there is good for him in every matter, and this is not the case with anyone except the believer. If he is happy, he thanks Allah, and there is good for him. If he is harmed, he shows patience, and there is good for him." (Muslim)

In times of difficulty, we are called to show patience and trust in Allah’s wisdom. In times of ease, we express gratitude, recognizing Allah’s infinite mercy and blessings. These states of submission and contentment purify the heart and bring us closer to Allah.

The Vessel of Light - Abdul Malik Klockemann

Allah reminds us in the Quran:
"The Day when neither wealth nor children will benefit, except one who comes to Allah with a sound heart." (Quran, 26:88-89)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ further taught:
"Verily, there is a piece of flesh in the body which, if it is sound, the whole body is sound; and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Indeed, it is the heart." (Bukhari & Muslim)

A heart burdened with impurities cannot hold the clarity and sincerity necessary for a life aligned with divine guidance. May Allah grant us sound hearts, sincere intentions, and the ability to reflect His light in our lives.

JUMU’A KHUTBA

The weekly Jumu'a, or Friday, Congregational prayer is live streamed from Al-Maqasid from 12:15pm-1:10pm.

Jumu'a Khutba  - Yusuf Weltch

The weekly Jumu'a, or Friday, Congregational prayer is live streamed from Al-Maqasid from 12:15pm-1:10pm.

RAWHA

The Rawha takes place every Tuesday. During this Rawha, Shaykh Auzair Khilwati will be covering the book Religious Advice and Counsels on Faith by Imam Al-Haddad.

The Rawha with Auzair Khilwati

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