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.
Open First Night of Rajab in Shia Companion
Merits
A number of rites have been reported to be advisably said or done at the first night in Rajab, which is a holy night.
Ghusl: 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.”
20-unit prayer: 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.
2-unit prayer and tasbih: 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.
Night worship: 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).
Dua of Imam al-Jawad (a.s.): Imam Abu-Ja’far II (a.s.) is reported to have recommended saying this supplicatory prayer at the first night of Rajab after the Isha’ Prayer.
Dua in prostration: Ali ibn Hadeed has narrated that Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) used to say this supplicatory prayer while prostrating after the accomplishment of the Night Prayer (Salat al-Layl). 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.
Text and Translation
Dua at the New Moon of Rajab
At the sight of the new moon of Rajab, recite:
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.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to recite this when his eyes fell on the new moon of Rajab:
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.
Ghusl & Ziyarat
Bathe at the first night of Rajab.
Visit the shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.).
Prayers of the First Night
After the obligatory Maghrib prayer, offer a twenty unit prayer, reciting in each unit [Surah al-Faatehah](A5) once and [Surah al-Tawheed](A116) once, and separating each couple of units with Taslim.
After the Isha’ prayer, 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, repeat 30 times:
لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ
LAA ELAAHA ILLAL LAAH.
There is no god save Allah.
Also repeat salawat on the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his Progeny (a.s.) thirty times.
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.
Devote yourself to acts of worship this night.
Dua of Imam al-Jawad (a.s.) after Isha
After the Isha’ prayer on the first night of Rajab, recite:
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.
Then mention your requests.
Dua in Prostration (Imam al-Kazim)
After the eight-unit Night Prayer (Salat al-Layl) and before the three-unit Witr, recite in prostration:
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.
Dua after Salat al-Layl (sitting)
Immediately after that, recite 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.