IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
FIRST KHUTBAH FOR THE MONTH OF RAJAB – DATED 3/7/1446 AH (3/1/2025 CE)
TOPIC: THE SACRED MONTHS: VIRTUES AND RULINGS
THE FIRST SERMON:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, who has granted additional virtue to certain months over others, including the sacred months, which Allah, the Exalted, mentioned in His Book. Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says:
﴿إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ﴾
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the polytheists collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with those who fear Him.” (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:36).
We praise Him, glorify Him, seek His assistance, guidance, and forgiveness. We turn to Him in repentance. Whoever Allah guides is truly guided, and whoever He leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
O Allah, send blessings, peace, and grace upon him, his family, his companions, and all those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
To Proceed: O servants of Allah, I enjoin you and myself to have Taqwa (fear and consciousness of Allah), both in private and in public. It is the ultimate objective of all acts of worship and commands and prohibitions. Allah, the Exalted, says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾
“O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:21)
Brothers in Faith: This is our first gathering in the month of Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar and one of the four sacred months. The topic of today’s khutbah revolves around: The Sacred Months: Virtues and Rulings.
Brothers in Faith: Indeed, Allah, the All-Knowing Creator and All-Wise Planner, chooses and elevates some matters and creations over others. He has favored the Quran over all other revealed scriptures, some Surahs over others (like Surah Al-Fatihah above others), and some verses over others (such as Ayat Al-Kursi above other verses). Similarly, He has favored certain remembrances, supplications, and acts of seeking forgiveness. As mentioned in several Hadiths:
“The best form of remembrance is La ilaha illa Allah (None has the right to be worshipped except Allah), and the best supplication is Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah).”
Another Hadith states: “The master of seeking forgiveness is to say: O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no deity but You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I uphold Your covenant and promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favor upon me and acknowledge my sins. So forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.” (Reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 6306).
And thus, Allah has favored some people over others, even among the Prophets, as He said:
﴿تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ وَآتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ﴾
“Those messengers—some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:253)
And He says: ﴿وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ النَّبِيِّينَ عَلَى بَعْضٍ﴾ “And We have certainly favored some of the Prophets over others.” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:55)
He also favored certain nights, such as the Night of Decree: ﴿لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ﴾ “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” (Surah Al-Qadr, 97:3)
From among the days of the week, He favored Friday. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The best day on which the sun rises is Friday; on it, Adam was created, on it he was admitted into Paradise, and on it, he was expelled from it.” (Reported by Muslim, Hadith No. 854)
Among the days of the year, He favored the Day of Greater Pilgrimage (Yawm Al-Hajj Al-Akbar). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The most virtuous of days with Allah is the Day of Sacrifice, followed by the Day of Rest.” (Reported by Al-Albani, Sahih Al-Jami’, Hadith No. 1064)
And He has favored some lands over others, with the most virtuous being the sacred land of Makkah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “By Allah, you are the best and most beloved land of Allah to Him. Were it not that I was expelled from you, I would not have left.” (Reported by Ahmad, Hadith No. 18715)
Among the months, Allah has granted special virtue to the Sacred Months, which He mentioned in His Book:
(﴿إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ﴾) “Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the polytheists collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with those who fear Him.” (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:36)
The Sacred Months are Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab, as stated in the Hadith reported by Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
“Time has returned to its original state as it was on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year consists of twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months—Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram—and Rajab, the month of Mudar, which is between Jumada and Sha’ban.” (Reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet’s specification of “Rajab, the month of Mudar, which is between Jumada and Sha’ban,” was to clarify the correct designation, as the tribe of Rabi’ah used to sanctify Ramadan and call it Rajab, while Mudar adhered to the actual Rajab.
Regarding the multiplication of rewards and punishments during these Sacred Months, some scholars have stated that this is supported by Allah’s words:
﴿فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ﴾ “So do not wrong yourselves during them.” (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:36)
Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) commented:
“So do not wrong yourselves during them” means in these sacred months because sin in them is graver, just as sins in the Sacred Land (Makkah) are more severe. Allah said: ‘And whoever intends therein to deviate [by doing wrong]—We will make him taste a painful punishment.’ (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:25).
Similarly, in the Sacred Months, sins are magnified, and blood money is increased according to the Shafi’i school and many other scholars. This is also applicable to those who kill within the Sacred Land or violate its sanctity. Qatadah said: “Indeed, sin during the Sacred Months is graver and more severe in burden than at other times, though sin is grave at all times. Allah chooses to elevate certain matters as He wills.” (End quote).
Imam Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Do not wrong yourselves in them by committing sins, because when Allah glorifies something from one aspect, it attains a single sanctity. However, when He glorifies it from multiple aspects, its sanctity becomes multiplied. Consequently, the punishment for evil deeds committed in such times is intensified, just as the reward for righteous deeds is multiplied. For instance, the one who obeys Allah in a sacred month in a sacred place will not receive the same reward as the one who obeys Him in a non-sacred month in the same sacred place. Likewise, the one who obeys Allah in a non-sacred month in a sacred place will not attain the reward of someone obeying Him in a non-sacred month and place.
Allah referred to this concept in His saying: (﴿يَا نِسَاءَ النَّبِيِّ مَنْ يَأْتِ مِنْكُنَّ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُبَيِّنَةٍ يُضَاعَفْ لَهَا الْعَذَابُ ضِعْفَيْنِ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيراً﴾) “O wives of the Prophet, whoever of you should commit a clear immorality — for her the punishment would be doubled twofold. And that is easy for Allah.” [Surah Al-Ahzab: 30] (End of the words of Al-Qurtubi [969]).
How Do You Glorify the Sacred Months?
The more a servant increases in piety toward his Lord, the more he reveres Allah’s sacred symbols, as Allah says: ﴿ذَلِكَ وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ﴾ “That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah — indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.” [Surah Al-Hajj: 32]
Among the ways to glorify the sacred months is to avoid all forms of oppression:
- Not to wrong Allah by associating partners with Him in worship, intention, hope, fear, or reliance, for He is free from all needs.
- Not oppressing others, human or animal, as oppression will be darkness on the Day of Judgment. Allah said in a Qudsi Hadith:
“O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and made it forbidden among you, so do not oppress one another.”
[Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2577]
Another way to glorify the sacred months is to strive in doing acts of goodness and choosing the most virtuous among them, for time is limited, and one cannot do everything. Prioritize what carries the greatest reward to enhance the sacredness of these months.
Make these months a training ground to restrain yourself from displeasing Allah, whether in words, actions, or even thoughts. Exercise patience in performing righteous deeds and keep company with the righteous who call upon their Lord. Allah says:
﴿وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَنْ ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا﴾
“And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.” [Surah Al-Kahf: 28]
Rulings Regarding the Sacred Months
Scholars have mentioned that oppression during the sacred months is graver than at other times. Allah said:
﴿فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ﴾ “So do not wrong yourselves during them.” [Surah At-Tawbah: 36]
They also highlighted the recommendation of fasting during these months, as mentioned in the Hadith:
“The best fasting after Ramadan is in the month of Allah, Al-Muharram.” [Sahih Muslim]
There is a scholarly disagreement regarding the prohibition of fighting during the sacred months and whether it has been abrogated. The majority of scholars hold that it has been abrogated, citing as evidence the Prophet’s (ﷺ) campaign to Ta’if during the month of Dhul-Qa’dah.
THE SECOND SERMON:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, who said in His Noble Book:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ إِلَّا تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُنْ فِتْنَةٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ﴾
“And those who disbelieve are allies of one another. If you do not do so, there will be fitnah (chaos) on earth and great corruption.”
﴿وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آوَوْا وَنَصَرُوا أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ﴾
“But those who have believed and emigrated and fought in the cause of Allah and those who gave shelter and aided — it is they who are the believers, truly. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.” [Surah Al-Anfal: 73-74] May peace and blessings be upon our master and beloved Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
To Proceed: O noble servants of Allah, the Israeli occupation army continues its massacres in the Gaza Strip, targeting civilians, including women and children. This has resulted in dozens of martyrs and wounded. Yet, praise be to Allah, despite these atrocities, Allah continues to aid our brothers from the Al-Qassam Brigades and other Islamic resistance movements in Gaza on the battlefields. This affirms the obligation of individual jihad upon the Muslim Ummah worldwide to save Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa and the sacred sites of the Ummah in the land that Allah has blessed for all humanity, as described in the Holy Quran.
The Supplication (Du’a):
O Allah, thwart the schemes of the enemies of Islam and nullify their plots. O Allah, we place You before them and seek refuge in You from their evil. O Allah, unite the hearts of Muslims upon truth. O Allah, grant victory to the Palestinian people and relieve the siege upon them. O Allah, lift the calamity, remove the hardship, heal their sick, and the sick among the Muslims. O Allah, free the captives of the people of Palestine and the captives among the Muslims. O Allah, grant us security in our lands and rectify our leaders, guiding them to what You love and are pleased with. O Allah, forgive our deceased and the deceased among the Muslims. O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds.
And may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad, his family, and his companions abundantly.