THE month of Rajab has come for us to reflect so that we may be saved from extinction. As a people that relishes injustice, partiality, immoral acts, associating partners with God and acting against the propagation of Islam (da’wah), Rajab is here for us to reflect and change for the better. As a people that is being punished for failing to command what is good and restrain people from forbidden acts (Haram) by God, we have a golden opportunity in this month of Rajab which serves as a spiritual moment to prohibit all prohibited things. The Holy Qur’an, Baqarah 2:194-195 says, “The prohibited month for the prohibited month and so for all things prohibited there is the law of equality. If then anyone transgresses the prohibition against you transgress ye likewise against him. But fear God and know that God is with those who restrain themselves. And spend of your substance in the cause of God and make not your own hands contribute to your destruction but do good; for God loveth those who do good.”
The Holy Qur’an, Ra’d 13:9-13 declares, “God (He) knoweth the Unseen And that which is open: He is the Great, the most High. It is the same (to Him) Whether any of you Conceal his speech or Declare it openly; Whether he lie hid by night Or walk freely by day. For each (such person) There are (angels) in succession, Before and behind him: They guard him by command Of God. Verily never Will God change the condition Of a people until they Change it themselves (With their own souls). But when (once) God willeth A people’s punishment, There can be no Turning it back, nor Will they find, besides Him, Any to protect.It is He Who doth show you The lightning, by way Both of fear and of hope : It is He Who doth raise up The clouds, heavy With (fertilising) rain !Nay, thunder repeateth His praises, And so do the angels, with awe : He flingeth the loud-voiced Thunder-bolts, and therewith He striketh whomsoever He will…Yet these (are the men) Who (dare to) dispute About God, with the strength Of His power (supreme)!”
The global community is being tried with hunger, reduction in wealth and death of gems and friends of Allah in the land. Our political landscape is totally in disarray. The Holy Qur’an, Baqarah 2:153-156, attests, “O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer: for God is with those who patiently persevere.And say not of those who are slain in the way of God: “They are dead.” Nay they are living though ye perceive (it) not.Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.Who say when afflicted with calamity: ” To God we belong and to Him is our return.”
The political class is in constant disagreement and rivalry, and wallow in ignorance and wanton adventurism as they differ on even the principles of democracy that is based on truth, justice, equality, and fair play. Surely, deceit pervades the globe, from among opinion leaders.
The economic front is nothing to write home about as captains of industry and policymakers are at sea as the global economy defies all known economic theories and blue print. The socio-cultural milieu is as endemic as the septic tank with the total crumbling of the moral fabric of the society. What’s more! We isolate one another in the world community as gentiles due to the diplomatic flaws of our leaders. The lack of diplomatic etiquette and diplomatic engineering has created schism in the comity of nations. The effect of the imposing sanctions on the depressed economy and the already depressed people in abject poverty is better imagined. We only have solace and respite in the enthronement of democracy globally to entrench political liberty, freedom, and franchise to change leadership.
Our predicament had been predicated on our neglect of Allah’s commandment. The punishment is being inflicted for the world’s disregard for the warnings by Allah’s Messengers. The Holy Qur’an, Al-An’am 6:130-134 says, “O ye assembly of Jinns and men! came there not unto you apostles from amongst you setting forth unto you of the meeting of this day of yours?” They will say: “We bear witness against ourselves.” It was the life of this world that deceived them. So against themselves will they bear witness that they rejected faith. (The apostles were sent) thus for thy Lord would not destroy for their wrong-doing men’s habitations whilst their occupants were unwarned.To all are degrees (or ranks) according to their deeds: for thy Lord is not unmindful of anything that they do.Thy Lord is Self-sufficient full of Mercy: if it were His Will He could destroy you and in your place appoint whom He will as your successors even as he raised you up from the posterity of other people.All that hath been promised unto you will come to pass: nor can ye frustrate it (in the least bit).”
After all, Allah does not inflict punishment unjustly (Qur’an 11:117: 29:21). In fact, Allah is slow in sending punishment (Qur’an 22:47-51). He delays it (Qur’an 6:18). But when Warner is sent with clear signs for people to abstain from evil and they persist, punishment follows upon transgression and persistence of injustice. The Holy Qur’an, Nisaa 4:31-32 says, “If ye (but) eschew the most heinous of the things which ye are forbidden to do We shall expel out of you all the evil in you and admit you to a Gate of great honor. And in no wise covet those things in which God hath bestowed his gifts more freely on some of you than on others: to men is allotted what they earn and to women what they earn: but ask God of His bounty: for God hath full knowledge of all things.”
Even what could be more calamitous than the relegation of Da’wah to personal feud among our leaders thereby politicising our Islamic bodies. The emerging facts on the promotion of schism among, and between Islamic groups should sadden the mind of those truly contributing their little quota to the propagation of Islam.
But the purpose of these punishments is to reform us, (Qur’an 23:76), with the sacred month of Rajab providing the golden opportunity for us to reform ourselves through fasting, prayers, and good deeds, as punishment serves as warning, trial, and lesson to change. The Holy Qur’an, Baqarah, 2:63-66 says, “And remember We took your covenant and We raised above you (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai) (saying): “Hold firmly to what We have given you and bring (ever) to remembrance what is therein perchance ye may fear God.” But ye turned back thereafter had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of God to you ye had surely been among the lost.And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath; We said to them: “Be ye apes despised and rejected.”So We made it an example to their own time and to their posterity and a lesson to those who fear God.”
This lunar month of retreat for spiritual rebirth provides the chance to reflect as punishment is warded off by seeking forgiveness from Allah and change for better. The Holy Qur’an, Anfal 8:32-35 “Remember how they said: “O God! If this is indeed The Truth from Thee, Rain down on us a shower Of stones from the sky, Or send us a grievous Penalty.” But God was not going To send them a Penalty Whilst thou wast amongst them; Nor was He going to send it Whilst they could ask for pardon. But what plea have they That God should not punish Them, when they keep out (Men) from the Sacred Mosque— And they are not its guardians? No men can be its guardians Except the righteous; but most Of them do not understand. Their prayer at the House (Of God) is nothing but Whistling and clapping of hands: (Its only answer can be) “Taste ye the Penalty Because ye blasphemed.”
The spiritual month of Rajab provides the opportunity to submit to the Forgiving Allah as repentance and amendment avert punishment (Qur’an 5:39). we should move closer to Allah in this auspicious moment and submit our well-being, resources, and total submission in worship to the Acceptor of Repentance (Qabil-e-Tauba). The Holy Qur’an, Mu’min 40:3 says, “Who forgiveth Sin, Accepteth Repentance, Is Strict in Punishment, And hath a Long Reach (In all things). There is no god But He : to Him Is the Final Goal.”
