Ahlan Wasahlan Rejab...

Baitul Maqdis, our first Qiblat

Bismillahirrahmanirrahhim..

wow...how time flies eh? before you know it, it's already in the month of rejab..another two months then it would be ramadhan and Eid! Hurm...can't wait to celebrate my first Eid overseas. =) Heheh...

Rejab is the seventh month in the Muslim lunar calendar. Rejab is also a sacred month whereby wars were prohibited in the days of Rasulullah SAW. A historic event, Isra' Mikraj took place on 27 rejab whereby Rasulullah SAW travelled from Mecca to Baitul Maqdis in one night and subsequently ascended to the heavens above by Allah's will. It is indeed a significant event that should be remembered by Muslims. Upon sighting the moon of Rejab, Rasulullah SAW used to pray in the following words:

"O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings)."

Therefore, we should be fortunate that we are still living to meet another Rejab, because the ibadah performed in this month will be granted many rewards (pahala) by Allah. So, grab this chance, guys! This is the time for us to do as much ibadah to repent our past mistakes and get closer to our Creator..InsyaAllah..=D However this does not mean that we should only do as much ibadah in specific months. Every month is just as good and let's not be 'seasonal Muslims', ok? (quoted from Baba Ali video..haha..)



So, one of the recognised and significant ibadah mentioned by Allah in Quran is the Qiamullail. Qiamullail is performing ibadah in the night, sleeping beforehand. Allah acknowledged this ibadah a number of times in the Quran.

Surah ad-Dhariyat:

15. As to the Righteous, they will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs,

16. Taking joy in the things which their Lord gives them, because, before then, they lived a good life.

17. They were in the habit of sleeping but little by night
Surah al-Isra':

79. And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a Station of Praise and Glory!
Surah as-Sajadah:

16. Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep, the while they call on their Lord, in Fear and Hope: and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them.
Surah al-Muzammil:

1. O thou folded in garments!

2. Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,-

3. Half of it,- or a little less,

4. Or a little more; and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.

In addition, there are a few hadiths that supported the goodness of Qiamullail. One of them is narrated by Abu Ya'ala: There are 3 groups of people which Allah prefers, they are the ones who performs Qiamullail, those who pray in jemaah, and those who goes for jihad in the name of Allah. Besides that, Qiamullail was said to be the secret of success of every battles fought in the glorious days of Islamic Empire. Hm...our battlegrounds would be the examinations i guess. insyaAllah, if we are doing the exam because of Allah. =D

During Qiamullail, you can recite the Quran, perform Sunat Prayers, zikir, and doa. In fact, it is more afdhal if we doa at night when most people are deep in slumber. It is just you and Allah, just Allah and you...Subhanallah..=D

So, don't shy away from rewards, guys! Allah is Most Giving, grab this chance in the following 3 months to reap as many rewards (pahala) as you can in order to get closer to HIm and to enrich our Iman! Assalamualaikum! =)