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What follows are extracts selected from a talk given by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (Allah
preserve him and benefit us by him) on the topic of seeking forgiveness from Allah in the month
of Rajab and some of the secrets therein. There are some addiJons for extra clarity. The talk was
delivered during the Mawlid in Dar al‐Mustafa on Thursday 3 rd Rajab 1433/ 24th May 2012.
Rajab is a Jme of forgiveness. It has been narrated in the PropheJc hadith: “Seek much
forgiveness from Allah in Rajab because in every hour (of the month) Allah frees people
from the Fire.”1 Those who have been freed from the fire hate the deeds of the people
of the Fire and the aKributes of the people of the Fire, and only find tranquillity
performing the deeds of the people of Paradise. If they slip up they immediately return
to Allah: Those that when they commit an act of indecency or wrong themselves,
remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins – and who can forgive sins except
Allah? – and they do not knowingly persist in (the wrong) they have done.2
Look in yourself for the signs that you have been freed from the Fire. People who allow
themselves to look at things which are forbidden, on their screens or elsewhere, will not
find these signs. If you have not refrained from falling into the deeds of the people of
the Fire, then you have not yet been freed from the Fire. The people of Paradise, those
who are preparing their eyes to look at those who have been drawn near to Allah, obey
Allah’s order: Say to the believing men that they must lower their gaze and guard their
modesty. That will be purer for them. Allah is well aware of what they do. And say to
the believing women that they must lower their gaze and guard their modesty.3 There
should be nothing in your house in Rajab which displeases Allah. Rajab is one of the
sacred months, about which Allah says: Do not wrong yourselves therein.4 You should
not be in the same state in Rajab as you were before it.
One of the signs that you have been freed from the fire is your hatred of sins and acts of
disobedience. Look how Allah describes the first generaJon, and these are the aKributes
of every truthful person that comes a;er them: Allah has made faith beloved to you
1
Narrated by al‐Daylami
2
Al `Imran, 3:135
3
Al‐Nur, 24:30‐31
4
Al‐Tawbah, 9:36
1
and has made it beau@ful in your hearts and He has made hateful to you disbelief,
corrup@on and disobedience. These are those who are rightly‐guided. These people are
safe from the Devil, from their lower selves, from their caprice, from aKachment to the
material world. How did they achieve this? It was a bounty and blessing from Allah.5
One of the greatest signs that you have been freed from the Fire is that you take
pleasure in seeking forgiveness from Allah in the last porJon of the night, and at other
Jmes of the day. You raise your hands to him saying: “My Lord, forgive me and turn to
me, truly You are the O;‐Returning, the Most Merciful!”
Follow the example of the Beloved (may Allah bless him and grant him peace); follow
him in seeking forgiveness. Make sure you do so with a heart that is present, then
perhaps Allah will open you a door to connect you with the Beloved. If you received
even a porJon of one of his prayers for forgiveness you would bathe in the light of that
prayer for eternity. He sought forgiveness and he knew the One from Whom he was
seeking forgiveness. How great is your knowledge of Allah in relaJon to his? Keep
seeking forgiveness a;er `Isha’ and a;er Fajr and throughout the days and nights, then
perhaps before the end of Rajab Allah will have opened the door to you and your heart
will be filled with light.
You must take from Rajab the secret of connecJon to Allah. You must realise the secret
of seeking forgiveness. Follow the example of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace) for he is the greatest of those that seek forgiveness. Allah ennobled
you by extending the light of his prayers for forgiveness to you: So know that there is
no god but Allah and seek forgiveness for your sins6 and for the believers male and
female.7 Allah is saying to him: “Allow them to enter through your door. When they
come via you the door is open to them.” If only when they wronged themselves they
came to you and sought Allah’s forgiveness and the Messenger sought forgiveness for
them.. Is it not enough that they sought Allah’s forgiveness? This is good but far greater
than that is that the Messenger himself sought forgiveness for them. Then they will find
Allah, and whoever has found Allah has not missed out on anything. They will not just
find Allah, but furthermore He will manifest His beauty and bounty to them: they would
have found Allah O3‐Returning, Most Merciful.8 Whoever finds Allah O;‐Returning and
5
Al‐Hujurat, 49:7‐8
6
This is a literal translaJon but should not be understood literally, as the Messenger of Allah is free of any
sins
7
Muhammad, 47:19
8
Al‐Nisa’, 4:64
2
Most Merciful will live in a state of bliss, constantly experiencing Allah’s mercy unJl the
days of everlasJng bliss in the next life.
O Allah, You are the One that said to Your Beloved: When you complete (your
immediate task) stand up (to perform another) and to your Lord turn all your
aAen@on.9 We ask You by the secret of his worship and his seeking You and asking You
to make us amongst the elite of this Ummah and amongst those who receive the
greatest porJon of his intercession and amongst those who are closest to him.
9
Al‐Inshirah, 94:7‐8
3