The 30 Raka’at for Rajab

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

This is taken from al-Ghunya li Thalibi Thariq al-Haqq by Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Abu Muhammad ibn Abu Swalih ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (q.s.). 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said to his companion, who is also the 3^rd Grand Shaykh of the Naqshbandi order, Sayyidina Abu ‘Abdullah Salman al-Farisi (q.s.), “O Salman, Allah (s.w.t.) will surely Erase all the sins from the record of any believing man, or any believing woman, who performs 30 raka’at of sunnah swalah, in the course of this month, reciting in each raka’at, Surah al-Fatihah, followed by Surah al-Ikhlasw three times, followed by Surah al-Kafirun three times.  That man or woman will be Granted the same Reward as a person who has fasted throughout the entire month.  He or she will be Treated as one of those who continue to perform the ritual prayer right through to the following year, and will be Credited every day with a deed as noble as that of one of the matryrs of the battle of Badr. 

For every day of fasting in Rajab, the worship of an entire year will be Recorded in favour of the believer concerned, whose Credit will be enhanced by a thousand degrees.  If the believer keeps the fast during the whole month, as well as performing this particular 30 raka’at swalah, Allah will Deliver him from the Fire of Hell and Declare that he or she is entitled to enter the garden of Paradise, therein to dwell in the Vicinity of Allah (s.w.t.).” 

Jibril (a.s.) then added, “Oh Muhammad, this is a clear sign to mark the distinction between true mu’minun, the mushrikin and munafiqin, because the munafiqin do not perform this prayer.” 

This special swalah is done in this manner.  10 raka’at in 5 sets of 2 raka’at, are done on the first day of Rajab.  Another narration states the first part of Rajab.  10 raka’at in 5 sets of 2 raka’at, are done in the middle of Rajab.  And 10 raka’at in 5 sets of 2 raka’at, are done at the end of the month.  Once the first 10 raka’at are done, one, raise his hands, and recite the following: 

لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ،لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ،يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ،وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لا يَمُوتُ،بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ،وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 

Laa ilaha illaa Allahu Wahdahu laa shariikalahu, Lahu al-Mulku, wa Lahu al-Hamdu, Yuhyii wa Yumiitu, wa Huwa Hayyun laa yamuutu, bi Yadihi al-Khayru, wa Huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in Qadiir. 

There is no God except Allah Alone.  No partner has He.  To Him Belongs the Kingdom and to Him belongs the Praise.  He Brings to life and Causes death, while He is Ever-Living and never dies.  All goodness is in His Hand, and He has Power over all things. 

اللهم لا مانع لما أعطيت, و لا معطي لما منعت, و لا ينفع ذا الجدّ منك الجدّ 

Allahumma laa maani’a limaa a’athayta, wa laa mu’thiyya limaa mana’ta, wa laa, yanfa’u dza al-jaddi, minka al-jadd. 

O Allah, no one can withhold what You have Given, and no one can give what You have Withheld, nor will the worldly fortune of the possessor of such fortune benefit him, if he does not attain the Fortune that comes from You. 

Then one must rub his face with his hands, and at this point, he has completed the first 10 raka’at. 

On the 15^th day of Rajab, once the 10 raka’at are done, one raises his hands and recites the following: 

لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ،لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ،يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ،وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لا يَمُوتُ،بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ،وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 

Laa ilaha illaa Allahu Wahdahu laa shariika lahu, Lahu al-Mulku, wa Lahu al-Hamdu, Yuhyii wa Yumiitu, wa Huwa Hayyun laa yamuut, bi Yadihi al-Khayru, wa Huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in Qadiir. 

There is no God except Allah Alone.  No partner has He.  To Him Belongs the Kingdom and to Him belongs the Praise.  He Brings to life and Causes death, while He is Ever-Living and never dies.  All goodness is in His Hand, and He has Power over all things. 

إلاهاً واحداً أحداً صمداً فرداً وتراً. لا يتّخذ صاحبةً و لا ولداَ 

Ilaahan, Waahidan, Ahadan, Swamadan, Fardan, Witraa.  Laa yattakhidzu swaahibatan wa laa waladaa. 

(I worship Him) as God, the Only, the One, the Eternal, the Unique, the Original.  He takes unto Himself, neither a female consort nor a son. 

Then one must rub his face with his hands, and at this point, he has completed the second set of 10 raka’at. 

Once the last 10 raka’at are done, one raises his hands and recites the following: 

لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ،لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ،يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ،وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لا يَمُوتُ،بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ،وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 

Laa ilaha illaa Allahu Wahdahu laa shariika lahu, Lahu al-Mulku, wa Lahu al-Hamdu, Yuhyii wa Yumiitu, wa Huwa Hayyun laa yamuut, bi Yadihi al-Khayru, wa Huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in Qadiir. 

There is no God except Allah Alone.  No partner has He.  To Him Belongs the Kingdom and to Him belongs the Praise.  He Brings to life and Causes death, while He is Ever-Living and never dies.  All goodness is in His Hand, and He has Power over all things. 

وَصَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ،وَلا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إلاّ بِاللّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ 

Wa Swallaa Allahu ‘alaa Muhammadin wa alihi ath-thaahiriin, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa Billahi al-‘Aliyyi al-‘Azhiim. 

And Salutations upon Muhammad and the people of purity.  And there is no power or strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Almighty. 

Then one must rub his face with his hands, and at this point, he has completed the last 10 raka’at. 

At the end of this, one then asks for one’s need, whereupon Allah (s.w.t.) will surely Grant, insha’Allah.  According to Shaykh Nazhim (q.s.), Allah (s.w.t.) will Place 70 trenches between the supplicant and Hell, and each of these trenches will be as wide as the distance between the earth and heavens above.  For every raka’at of swalah performed, He will Reward as if one has performed thousands of raka’at.  Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (q.s.) wrote Allah (s.w.t.) will also inscribe an exemption from the Fire of Hell and a permit the supplicant to cross the Swirath.