Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The Reward of fast of the Month of Rajab

Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s) says, "Nuh (a.s) boarded his ark on the first of Rajab and ordered his companions to fast on that day. He said that hell goes away to a distance of one year from the one who fasts on this day. One who fasts for seven days all the seven doors of hell would be closed for him. One who fasts for eight days all eight doors of paradise would be opened for him. One who fasts for fifteen days would have his problems solved. One who fasts for more than this Allah, the mighty and sublime would grant him a greater reward."

Imam Musa Kazim (a.s) says, "Rajab is a river of Paradise whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. One who observes one fast in the month of Rajab, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime would satisfy him with this river."

Imam Musa Kazim (a.s) says, "Rajab is the glorious month. Allah doubles good deeds and wipes the sins in this month. One who observes one fast in Rajab, Hell would go away from Him to a distance of a year and Paradise would be made obligatory on one who fasts for three days."

The Holy Prophet (saw) says, "Know that Rajab is a great month of Allah. It is called Asam because there is no month so dear and excellent for Allah except this. It was respected even during the time of ignorance. When Islam arrived, it too increased the greatness and excellence of this month. Know that Rajab is the month of Allah, Shaban in my month and Mahe Ramazan is the month of my ummah. Know that if a faithful person fasts seeking reward from Allah he has gained lots of pleasure of Allah. The fast of that person would end the anger of Allah upon him; a door of Hell would be closed for him. The reward of this fast with pure intention is better than giving an earth filled with gold as charity. No object in this would can make his reward complete except good deeds. As soon as night falls, Allah would fulfill his ten wishes. If he prays for worldly life his prayers would be accepted. One who prays for his friends, lovers and chosen people, Allah would accept his prayers. One who observes two fasts in the month of Rajab nothing in the earth and heavens can imagine the greatness of that person . He would get the reward of a truthful person who has never lied in his whole life time. He would appear on the Day of Judgement in the similar state. That person would do intercession of others along with other truthful people till they all enter Paradise and settle down with those truthful persons. One who fasts for three days in Rajab, Allah would erect a barrier between him and Hell whose distance would be equal to travel of seventy years. Allah would say at the time of Iftar, 'You have right upon Me and My love for you has becomes obligatory, O Angels! I hold you witness that I have forgiven his sins from start till the end'. One who fasts for four days in the month of Rajab, he will remain safe from calamities like the evil of Jinns, Leprosy, Leucoderma, mischief of Dajjal and the punishment of grave. He would get the reward of wise person who repent. He would be handed over the scroll of deeds in his right hand and made to stand in the right row of worshippers. One who fasts for five days in the month of Rajab it is the duty of Allah to please him on the Day of Judgment. His face would be shining like the full moon when he is resurrected on the Day of Judgement.  Rewards equal to the number of grains of sand would be written for him and he would be made to enter Paradise without any accounting. He would be given choice to ask whatever he wants from Allah. One who fasts for six days in the month of Rajab, his face would be brighter than sun when he is resurrected on the Day of Judgement. Apart from this, he would be given extra light which would light up all those gathered on that day. He would be gathered along with protected people and would pass through the sirat bridge without any accounting. His sins will be forgiven. His sins as great as disobeying parents and breaking relations will be forgiven. One who fasts for seven days in the month of Rajab, Allah would close all the seven doors of Hell for him and prohibit the fire of Hell for his body. One who fasts for right days in the month of Rajab, Allah would open all the eight doors of Paradise for him one by one and he would be given choice to enter Paradise from whichever door he wishes. One who fasts for nine days in Rajab would come out of his grave saying La ilaaha illallaah and would not see anything except Paradise. The light of his face would brighten the people gathered on that day and people would think of him as a prophet.  The minimum reward given to him at that time is entrance to Paradise without any accounts. One who fasts for ten days in Rajab would be given two emerald wings decorated by illuminating pearls and rubies. He would enter Paradise flying over the Sirat Bridge with the help of these wings. He would be counted among the just and dear ones of Allah. He is like one who prayed for a hundred years with the pure intention of seeking the reward from Allah. One who fasts for eleven days in RajabRajabRajab, a table would be spread under the shade of the Divine Throne and a number of eatables would be laid on it for him. The span of this table would be seventy times the area of this earth. Trays made of brocade and rubies will be laid on it. Every tray would have seventy thousand types of eatables each having distinct aroma and color. That person would have food from this table while others would be involved in a great difficulty. One who fasts for fourteen days in Rajab, Allah would grant him huge palaces made of pearls and rubies of such kind that eyes have neither seen nor ears heard about nor can a human mind imagine them. One who fasts for fifteen days in Rajab would stand at the place of faithful people. Every angel, messenger and apostle passing by him would say, 'Congratulations for you are in peace near to Allah, honest, fortunate and happy and would rest in gardens.' One who fasts for sixteen days in Rajab would be among those who are first to ride upon the vehicles of bright light. He would fly from Paradise to the door of Mercy in these vehicles. One who observes seventeen fasts in Rajab, seventy thousand lamps would be illuminated for him at the Sirat Bridge so that he enters Paradise passing the bridge in the light of these lamps. Angels would welcome him saying, 'Well done' and 'Peace be upon you' . One who fasts for eighteen days in Rajab would be given a place on the thrones made of pearls and rubies in the Minaret of Ibrahim in Paradise. One who fasts for nineteen days in Rajab, Almighty Allah would construct a palace of pearls for him facing the palaces of Adam (a.s) and Ibrahim (a.s). He would salute them and they too would salute him and respect his position. He would be given the reward of a thousand fasts for each fast. One who observes fast for twenty days in Rajab it is as if he has worshipped Allah for thousand years.One who fasts for twenty one days in Rajab, on the day of Judgement he would get to intercede for people numbering the sinners of Rabi and Mudhir tribes. One who fasts for twenty two days in Rajab a caller would give call from Heaven, 'O friend of Allah! There are glad tiding for you. There is great honor for you in Allah's eyes. You are friend of Prophets, truthful ones, martyrs and the virtuous upon whom Allah has revealed His bounties and mercy. They are your best friends.' One who fasts for twenty three days in Rajab call would be given from Heaven, 'O slave of Allah! You are fortunate. You have taken less pain and you are getting much more benefit. The veil is taken off from you. You are rewarded greatly by your Lord. You will be a neighbour of Khaleel (Prophet Ibrahim) in Darus Salaam. One who observes fast for twenty four days in Rajab the angel of death would come to him in the form of a handsome youth wearing a green brocade dress mounted on a green horse of Paradise. He would be holding a golden cup decorated with a green silk more fragrant than musk filled with the pure wine of Paradise. He would make that person drink that wine while taking his soul away. The difficulties of death bed would be erased for him and his soul would be wrapped in green silk. Such a sweet fragrance would come out of it that all the inhabitants of seven heavens would be scented with it. He would remain satisfied in his grave as well when he would be resurrected until he reaches the cistern of the Holy Prophet (saw). One who fasts for twenty five days in Rajab would be surrounded by seventy thousand angels, each holding an umbrella made of pearls and rubies when he is resurrected from the grave. They would have ornaments and excellent dresses. They would say, 'O dear one of Allah! Let us go to Him soon.' Then he would go to Paradise first along with the dear ones of Allah. Indeed it is a great success. One who fasts for twenty six days in Rajab the Almighty Allah would build a hundred palaces of pearls and rubies under the shade of His Throne. There would be a tent made of red silk of Paradise in front of each palaces. While people would be busy in accounting of their deeds, this person would rest over here peacefully. One who observes fast for twenty seven days in Rajab the Almighty Allah will expand his grave to the distance covered in four hundred years and the whole area would be fragranced with amber and musk. One who fasts for twenty eight days in Rajab Allah would create a distance of nine barriers between him and the fire of Hell. The width of each barrier is equal to the distance covered in five hundred years between the earth and heaven. For a person who fasts for twenty nine days in Rajab Allah would forgive him even if he would have robbed every man on the order of an unjust or even if she is a woman who has been unchaste seventy times. One who fasts for thirty days in the month of Rajab a caller would call out, 'O slave of Allah! Your past sins are forgiven. Your deeds can have a new beginning.' Allah would grant him all the gardens and every garden would have forty thousand cities. Every city would have forty palaces and every palace would have forty thousand houses and every house will have forty dining tables and every dining table would have forty thousand dishes and every dish would have forty thousand cuisines each having a dis tint color and aroma. Every house will have forty thousand golden thrones and the span of those thrones would be equal to two thousand hands. A virgin Hoorul Ein would be seated on each throne having three hundred thousand dazzling hair on their head and each lock hair would be held by one thousand slave girls who will be scenting it with musk and amber so that the person who fasted during Rajab comes near her. All this is for the person who fasted for the whole month of Rajab."

Someone asked, "O Messenger of Allah! what should a person do who is not able to observe fast for the whole month due to weakness, menstruation or some other reason?'
The Holy Prophet (saw) said, "They should give food as per charity. I swear by Him in Whose control is my life that they would get much more than what i have said if they give charity daily. Allah the creatures if this earth and the heavens cannot even estimate one-tenth of the reward, which that person would get in Paradise."

Someone asked, "O messenger of Allah! What should a person do who is not able to pay charity also?"
The Holy Prophet (saw) said, "He should recite the following tasbeeh of Allah a hundred times daily for thirty days in the month of Rajab: 'Sub-h'annal ilaahil jaleeli sub-h'aana malla yambaghit tasbeeh'u illaa lahu sub-h'aanal a-a'zil akrami sub'h'aana mallabisal i'zza wahuwa lahu ahl.'

Imam Reza (a.s) says, The Almighty Allah appointed Muhammad (saw) as His Apostle after three nights of the month of Rajab had passed. Hence observing fast on this day has reward equal to fasting seventy years." Saad bin Abdullah says that according to our elders, there is a mistake and the real saying is that Allah appointed him as apostle when three nights were left in the month of Rajab."

- Sawaabul Aa'maal

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Those A'mal which eases the trouble of Qayamat.


I state hereunder ten such A'amals which eases the troubles and difficulties of Qayamat:
(1) It is related that a person who recites Surah-al-Yusuf daily during the day or night, will arise on the day of Qayamat with the likeness of the beauty of Prophet Yusuf
(A.S.), and will be saved from the fear of Qayamat. Imam Mohammad al-Baqir (A.S.) says that a person who recites Surah-ad-Dukhan in Nafela Prayers or obligatory (Wajib) Namaz, will remain safe from the fear of Qayamat. Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) says that a person who recites Surah al-Ahqaf on the day or night on friday, will be safe from all fears of this world as well as the hereafter. In another tradition Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) says that a person who recites Surah-al-Asr in Supererogatory (Nafela) Prayers, will arise in delight on the day of Qayamat. His face will be glowing., and his eyes shining, and he will enter Paradise in this cheerful state.
(2) Shaikh Kulaini narrates from Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) who says that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.S.) said, that whoever respects a man with a white beard, Allah will grant him refuge from the fear of the day of Qayamat.
(3) The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) says, that whoever dies while going to Mecca or returning from there, will be saved by Allah from the fear of the day of Qayamat. Shaikh Sadooq quotes the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) as saying that whoever dies in the courtyard of the Ka'abah or Masjide Nabawi (in Medina), will arise in a manner that he will be free from all terror and fear.
(4) Shaikh Sadooq quotes Imam Sadiq (A.S.) as saying
that whoever is buried in the courtyard of the Ka'bah, will be saved from the fright of Qayamat.
(5) Shaikh Sadooq narrates from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) that He said, if a person guards himself from sins or the lustful passions (of his self), only for the sake and fear of Allah, Allah will make the fire of hell forbidden upon him and keep him away from the fear of Qayamat.
(6) The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) says that Allah will grant refuge from the fear of Qayamat to the man who keeps away from the passions of his self.
(7) Shaikh Ali bin Ibraheem Qummi narrates from Imam Mohammad al-Baqir (A.S.) who said that whoever suppresses his anger even after having power (to retaliate), Allah will fill his heart with faith (Eeman), and save him from the terror of Qayamat.
(8) One of the reasons for a person to be free from the fear of Qayamat is the Love (Walayah) of Ali (A.S.). The verdict of the Qur'an regarding it is that it is the best deed. As said in the Holy Qur'an: `Surely as for those for whom the good (Husna) has already gone forth from Us, they shall be kept far off from it. They will not hear it's faintest sound, and they shall abide in that which their souls long for. The great fearful event shall not grieve them, and the Angels shall meet them". (Surah-al-Ambiyah: 101-3) The Holy Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.S.) said, "O Ali You
and Your Shiahs will remain under the protection on the day of Qayamat, and the (above mentioned) verse (Ayah) bears witness to it". The word `Husna' used in the above verse (Ayah) means Love (Walayah) of Ali (A.S.) and his Progeny (Ahlulbait). As the Holy Qur'an promises, "whoever brings good, he shall have better than it, and they shall be secure from terror on that day". (Surah-an-Naml : 89) It is quoted in many books of exegesis (Tafseer) of Qur'an viz. Kashaf, Sa'labi, Kabeer etc. that whoever shall arise with the `Goodness (Husna) will be secured on the day of Qayamat, and 'Husna' here means Ali (A.S.). Whoever dies bearing love of Ahlulbait (A.S.) will become pure after repentance, and when he shall arise on the day of Qayamat, a cloud will give shelter on his head, and he will remain safe from the terror of Qayamat and enter Paradise in this manner.
(9) Shaikh Sadooq quotes Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) as saying that if a person helps a believer brother (mo'min), and free him from anxiety, and fulfills his desires, Allah will offer him seventy two types of favours (ne'mat). One of them is that He will increase his sustenance (Rizq) in this world, and seventy one are that He will guard him against the terrors and hardships of Qayamat.
Many traditions (Ahadees) have been narrated in praise of fulfilling a believer brother's wishes. Imam Mohammad
al-Baqir (A.S.) says that, "If a mo'min goes to fulfill the desires of his brother believer, Allah orders the angels to give shade of seventy thousand veils over his head, and before he steps out (to go for help) Allah writes down many virtues in his deed-sheet". Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (A.S.) says Fulfilling a brother believer's wishes is greater than the performance of Haj, Haj, Haj (and repeated it ten times. It means that it is greater than the performance of ten Haj).
It is also narrated that in the Bani Israil there was a pious worshipper who had taken upon himself the obligation to fulfill the wishes of others. Shaikh Shazan bin Jabrail quotes from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) that on the door of the second heaven he saw the following written:
There is no God but Allah, Mohammad (S.A.W.S.) is His Apostle, Ali (A.S.) is His friend. Verily everything has got a dress, and the dress of the Holy Prophet on the day of Qayamat will be the following four qualities: (1) To fondle with affection the head of an orphan (yateem), (2) To Show kindness towards widows, (3) To go to fulfill the wishes of a believer brother, and (4) to take care of the poor and the needy
Many Ulamas and great men strived to help the believer brothers, and many incidents have been narrated which need not be quoted here for brevity's sake.
(10) Shaikh Kulaini narrates from Imam Ali-ar-Reza
(A.S.) that whoever goes to the grave of a believer brother, places his hand on it and recites Surah-al-Qadr seven times, Allah will keep him away from the troubles of Qayamat. In another tradition it is narrated that while reciting Surah-al- Qadr on the grave, one should turn towards the Qibla and dig one's fingers in the mud (of the grave).
I have seen in the "Majmu'ah" of Shaheede Saani that when he went to the grave of his teacher Fakhrul Muhaqqeqeen, he said that the buried person (Fakhrul Muhaqqeqeen) related from his father (Allamah Hilli) who related from Imam Ali-ar-Reza (A.S.) who said that whoever goes to the grave of his brother believer and after reciting Surah-al-Qadr recites the following du'a, both the dead person as well as the person reciting it will be safe from the fear of Qayamat.

The Valley of punishment (Wadi-e-Barhoot)

The Valley of punishment (Wadi-e-Barhoot) is situated in the barren lands of a deserted valley in Yemen, which is devoid of food or water. This is the dwelling place of the evil spirits (rooh) who are made to stay there during Barzakh and taste severe chastisement.
One day a man came to the presence of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) in a manner that fear had overtaken him and his face had turned pale. He said that he had witnessed an astonishing event which was the cause of his restlessness. On the Prophet's inquiry he said: "My wife has a disease, for the cure of which she requested me to fetch some water from the well at Wadi-e-Barhoot (Mineral water has got the power to cure skin diseases). I took a leather bag and a bowl and left when I reached there the eerie surrounding made me fearful and I hastily started searching for the well. I found one well and was about to fill water in the bag, when I heard the noise of chains from above me. I heard a voice requesting me for water for he was dying of intense thirst. When I looked above I saw a man hanging by a chain which was bound in his neck. I was confused but agreed to his request for water, When I extended my hand to offer him water, the chain was suddenly pulled on top, and the man reached just near the blazing sun. I was dumb- founded and scared, and started filling the water bag when I
saw the man being sent down again.
He again requested me for water, and like before when I extended my hand to give him, the chain was pulled up. This happened thrice. On the third time I was totally frightened and ran away from there. O Prophet! I now request you to explain to me the incident". The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) replied, "The man whom you saw in the Wadi-e-Barhoot was none other than the accursed Cain (Qabeel, the son of Prophet Adam), who had mercilessly murdered his brother Abel (Habeel). He will be punished in the same manner in the valley, and on the day of Qayamat he will be fed to the blazing fire of hell".
Sayyed Mo'min Shablanji Shafe'i in his book `Noorul Absar' relates from Abul Qasim bin Mohammad, who says: One day I saw some people gathered near the `Maqame Ibraheem' in the Masjid-ul-Haraam (Ka'bah), and asked them the reason for it.
They said that a christian hermit had converted to Islam and had an astonishing incident to narrate. I went and saw an old man wearing woolen clothes sitting there and inquired of him.
He said, "One day I was seated outside my hut gazing at the river and adoring it. Suddenly I saw a huge bird having the head of a donkey descending from the sky. It came down and sat on a bowlder. It spitted something from it's
mouth and flew away. I observed properly and saw that it was a quarter part of a human body. The bird returned again and spitted another quarter part of the human body. This happened four times. When all the four parts collected together, a man arose from it. I was astonished, when I saw the bird coming again. The bird started biting the man and severed a quarter part of his body and swallowed it without chewing and flew away. It returned four times until it had swallowed the whole body in parts. I wondered as to what was happening and who the person might be. I regretted not having asked the person when the bird was away. On the second day I saw the same thing happening and gathered courage and went up to the person and asked him as to who he was, and why was he being troubled in such a manner.
He replied that his name was Abdul Rahman ibn Muljim, the murder of Ali ibn Abi Talib, and the bird was sent by Allah to punish him regularly for the grievous crime (murder of Hazrat Ali) which he had committed. Having got the reply, I left my hut and came about to inquire as to who this Ali (A.S.) was. People told me that he was the cousin, son-in-law, and the Vicegerent (Wasi) of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) of Islam. I have thus accepted Islam because of this event and have come to mecca to perform the Pilgrimage (Haj), Lesser Pilgrimage (Umrah), and the Ziarat of the grave of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S).

Ref:MANAZELUL AKHERAH

The effect of the Spirit (Rooh) on the body and it's relation with the grave.

The spirit receives reward or punishment (as the case may be) in the grave. But due to it's long relation with the body, the body also feels pain and is effected. Those people who say that it is of no use to visit the graves, for the spirit (Rooh) of the believer is not present there but is in 'wadi-us Salaam', this is not true. The answer to this ignorant talk is the tradition (Hadees) of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (A.S.) who
says that Verily the Spirit (Rooh) of the believer is in 'Wadi-us-salaam, but it surely keeps an eye on what is happening in the grave. It also looks at the people who have come to visit his grave. Imam (A.S.) compares the spirit to the sun.. Even though the sun is not on the earth but is on the sky, the entire earth is illuminated by it's light, in the same manner the spirit is in `Wadi-us-Salaam' but it keeps contact with the body.
The great Traditionist (Muhaddis) Sayyed Ne'matullah Jazaeri narrates an incident in his book "Anware No'maniyah" that once Shah Isma'il Safawi came to Karbala. He heard the people denying and doubting the faithfulness of Hurr bin Yazid-ar-Riyahi (one of the companions of Imam Husain, who was martyred in Karbala). He gave the order to dig the grave of Hurr.
When the grave of Hurr was opened people saw the corpse of Hurr lying afresh. A kerchief was tied on his forehead, regarding which it is related, that on the day of 'Ashoora' (the tenth of Moharram), Imam Husain (A.S.) himself had tied a kerchief on the bleeding forehead of Hurr. Shah Isma'il ordered that the kerchief should be removed and given to him so as to be kept in his shroud. As soon as the kerchief was removed, blood started oozing from the forehead of Hurr, hence it was tied back. Shah Isma'il ordered another kerchief to be tied instead of it,
when this was done the blood ceased to stop flowing. The Shah was helpless and ordered the kerchief to remain at it's original place. He then acknowledged the faithfulness and high honour of Hurr. Then he ordered a Shrine to be erected on the grave.
In the same manner Shaikh Kulaini and Shaikh Sadooq (two great Shi'ah Ulamas)'s graves were opened, and their bodies were found fresh there in as if sleeping in peace. The Henna applied on the hands of Shaikh Sadooq also remained intact even after so much time. The signs of life were visible from his body.
On the other hand, when the spirits of the non-believers are being punished, their bodies are also effected. When Bani Abbas gained victory over Bani Ummayah and entered Damascus, they started exhuming their graves. When the grave of Yazid ibne Mu'awiyah was opened, only a lump of mud was found instead of his body. When a person was being buried in a graveyard in the city of Qum, a flame of fire erupted from his grave which destroyed all it's surroundings. In Pakistan too many incidents have taken place which are written in newspapers. (Ma'ad).

Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.)

Holy Prophet Muhammad al Muṣṭafā (S.A.W.W) :

(gave the Tasbeeh to his daughter Janabe Zahra (s.a.) and declared)


"O Fatima ! I have granted you something that is superior to a maidservant and to the world and everything in it."

[Reference: Aasaar o Asraare, Tasbeehe Zahra (s.a.), Pg. 7]