Welcoming Rabi al-Awwal

Welcoming Rabi al-Awwal

We thank Allah that the blessed month of Rabi` al-Awwal is almost upon us, which some of the scholars regarded as being is superior to Ramadan. Had it not been for the birth of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) in this month there would be no Ramadan, and no Eid, so his birth is the greatest Eid. Allah give us the ability to receive this month in the best of ways with an increase in closeness to His Beloved.

Sayyidi al-Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah preserve him) said:

Say to all the teachings of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and all the affairs connected to his da’wa: “Welcome!”

Then he will say to you: “Welcome!”

Then if he greets you and welcomes you your Lord Allah will in turn greet and welcome you.

If we look at the full moon we realise that the reason for its fullness is because it is fully facing the sun. The degree of the moon’s completion is according to its facing the source of light. Likewise if a believer fully faces the source of perfection (the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) then he will achieve perfection. For this reason the first group of believers to enter Paradise are described by the Prophet as being like the full moon in their illumination.

This is a formula of prayer on the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him, his folk and companions and grant them peace) by Habib Umar bin Hafiz. He advised saying it a lot in the month of his birth:

Allahumma salli wa sallim wa barik ‘ala anNur ilMubin ‘abdika wa habibika Sayyidina Muhammad alAmin wa ‘ala alihi wa sahbihi wa haqqiqna bihubbihi wa akrimna biqurbihi waj’alna min rufaqa’ihi ya Rabbal‘alamin.

O Allah send prayers, peace and blessings upon the Manifest Light, Your Slave and Your Beloved, our Liegelord Muhammad the Trustworthy, as well as his folk and companions, and make us true in his love, honor us with nearness to him, and include us among his entourage, O Lord of the Worlds.

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