Hazrat Abu Qatada (RZ) has narrated the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) saying:

“I hope that (before Allah) the fast of the day of Ashurah will be a source of forgiveness of the previous (i.e. the previous year)”

(Tarimzi Shareef vol.1 pg.149 no.270)

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RZ) has narrated the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) saying:

“Whoever fasts during the month of Muharram on the day of Ashurah, shall receive the reward of 10, 000 Angels and whoever fasts during the month of Muharram on the day of Ashurah, he shall receive the reward of 10, 000 martyrs and he shall receive the reward of 10, 000 people performing Hajj and Ummarah. And whoever on the day of Ashurah, places his hand over the head of an orphan, in response Allah Tallah will raise his status in paradise for each hair on the orphan’s head. And whoever on the night of Ashurah opens the fast of a Momin (a true Muslim believer) would be as if he opened the fast of the whole Ummah of the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him - ) and filled their stomachs.”

The companions of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) asked;

“O! The Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him - ) has Allah (Glory be to Him) exalted the day of Ashurah over all other days.”

He (Peace Be Upon Him - ) replied;

“Yes, Allah (Glory be to Him) created the skies on the day of Ashurah and also the earths, and created the mountains on the day of Ashurah and created the Pen on the day of Ashurah and created the Tablet on the day of Ashurah and Hazrat Adam (may Allah be pleased with him) came into being on the day of Ashurah and entered him into paradise on the day of Ashurah and Hazrat Ibrahim (may Allah be pleased with him) was born on the day of Ashurah and pharaoh drowned on the day of Ashurah and Allah Tallah removed tribulation from Hazrat Ayub (may Allah be pleased with him) on the day of Ashurah and Allah Tallah accepted the repentance of Hazrat Adam (may Allah be pleased with him) on the day of Ashurah and Allah (Glory be to Him) forgave the slip-up of Hazrat Dawood (may Allah be pleased with him) on the day of Ashurah and Hazrat Isa (Jesus) (may Allah be pleased with him) was born on the day of Ashurah and Day of Judgement will be on the day of Ashurah.”

(Ganeeta Al-Talabeen pg.26 / 425, Tarteeb Shareef 57 / 756)


Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) has narrated the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) saying:

“Any person who fasts during the month of Muharram on the day of Ashurah, Allah Tallah shall write for him sixty years of worship. During which the day spent in fast and night standing in worship.

And whoever takes a bath on the day of Ashurah shall not become ill from any illness except the illness of death and whoever on the day of Ashurah applies collyrium on the eyelids, then his eye shall not hurt during that whole year.

And whoever on the day of Ashurah visits an ill person would be as if he visited all the siblings of Hazrat Adam (may Allah be pleased with him). And whoever on the day of Ashurah gives water to drink once, thus it would be as if he has not disobeyed Allah Tallah even to the blinking of an eye.

And whoever on the day of Ashurah prays four rakahs, in each rakah prays Surah Fatiha once and Surah Ikhlas fifty times, for him Allah Tallah will forgive the sins of the previous fifty years and sins of the coming fifty years. And Allah Tallah for him will create 1000 palaces with Nur (light) in the upper class.”

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) has narrated the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) saying:

“Read the four rakahs with two salaams and in each rakah read Surah Fatiha once and Surah Zalzaal once and Surah Kafiroon once and Surah Ikhlas once and once finished send 70 times darood (blessings) upon the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ).”

(Ganeeta Al-Talabeen pg.27 / 426, Tarteeb Shareef 60 / 758)

Hazrat Shibly (may Allah send rahmat upon him) every day from the first of Muharram up to the tenth of Muharram, used to read 4 rakahs nafl. In every rakah Surah Fatiha once, Surah Ikhlas 15 times and after completing the prayer used to bless the reward before the sacred soul of Hazrat Imam Hussain (may Allah send His peace upon him). Thus one day Hazrat Shibly (may Allah send rahmat upon him) saw in his dream that Hazrat Imam Hussain (may Allah send His peace upon him) turned his face away from Hazrat Shibly (may Allah send rahmat upon him).

Hazrat Shibly (may Allah send rahmat upon him) requested

“Highness! what error have I done?”

Reply came:

“Not an error! Our eyes show humility due to your favour. Until We on the Day of Judgement do not return the favour until then I will not be able to look you in the eye.”

Hazrat Imam Hussain (may Allah send His peace upon him) shall intercede for the performers of this prayer on the Day of Judgement.

(Jwahray Gaybee)

Safar is the month of "the descent of tribulations". In the whole year 1,080,000 tribulations are sent down out of which 920,000 are sent down in the month of Safar alone. Thus it comes in the blessed Hadith that whoever gives the good news of the ending of the month of Safar the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) will give him the glad tiding of entrance into Paradise. Hazrat Adam (may Allah send peace upon him) made error in the month of Safar. When Hazrat Ibrahim (may Allah send peace upon him) was put into the fire it was the first day of Safar. When Hazrat Ayub (may Allah send peace upon him) experienced tribulation it was the month of Safar. Hazrat Zikrya, Hazrat Yahya, Hazrat Jarees, Hazrat Younis (may Allah send peace upon them) and Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him - ) were put in tribulation in the month of Safar. Also in the month of Safar, Hazrat Habeel (may Allah send peace upon him) was martyred.

Thus on the first night of the month of Saffar, after Isha Namaz, every Muslim should read 4 rakahs (nafl prayer) in the following manner. In the first rakah after Surah Fatiha read Surah Kafiroon 15 times and in the second Surah Ikhlas 15 times and in the third Surah Falaq 15 times and in the fourth Surah Naas 15 times. After completing the prayer say the following once:

Then read 70 times Darood (Blessings upon the Holy Prophet ). Then Allah Taala shall protect him from every tribulation and difficulty and would give him great reward.

(Rahat Al Kaloob)

It is in the book titled Jawahir Gaybee that in the month of Rabi' Al-Awwal for 12 days keep sending gift of the reward of the salah (prayer mentioned below) to the Blessed soul of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) . Because the Companions of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ), Tabaeen and Taba Tabaeen (may Allah be pleased with them all) also used to send the reward of these rakats as a gift to the soul of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) and they are twenty rakats.

In every rakat surah Ikhlas is read 21 times. If one is not able to do this prayer continuously for 12 days then one must read the perscribed 20 Rakats on the 2nd and the 12th days and send the reward of this prayer upon the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ). As the readers of this prayer have been given glad tiding of Paradise in their dreams by our Beloved Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) may my soul be sacrificied upon him (Peace Be Upon Him - ). And seeing the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) and him (Peace Be Upon Him - ) giving the glad tiding even though him (Peace Be Upon Him - ) being behind the curtain is like him (Peace Be Upon Him - ) truly giving the glad tiding as if living.

It is written in the Book titled Al-Awrad that when the moon of Rabi' Al-Awwal is seen that night one should read 16 rakat Nafl(voluntary prayer) by making the intention of two rakats. In every rakat, after Surah Fatiha, read Surah Ikhlas 3 times. After reading the 16 Rakats read the following darood (salutation) upon the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) a 1000 times.

and continue reading this darood (salutation) upto 12 days. Thus he shall see the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) in his dream but one must read it after Isha and sleep while in the state of wudu (ablution).

It is written in the Book titled Al-Mashaikh that when the moon of Rabi' Al-Awwal is seen. From that night upto the end of the month, if one reads the darood (salutation) written below, upon the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ), one thousand and twentyfive times after Isha prayer. Then that person shall see the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) in his dream and that darood is:

and in the same book it is written that who ever reads the following darood in the month of Rabi' Al-Awwal 125,000 times, that person shall certainly see the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) in his dream and that darood is:

or read the darood as follows:

It is in the book titled Jamokhee Wa Gayra that when the moon of Rabi` Al-Thani is sited then in that (i.e. that night) after Maghrib Salah read 8 rakat Nafl (vouluntary prayer) in two, two rakats and after Surah Fatiha in the first rakat read Surah Koser 3 times and in the second rakat read Surah Kafiroon 3 times or instead only read Surah Ikhlas 3 times in each rakat. There is great reward for it.

It is in the book titled Jwahray Gaybee that on the 1st, 15th and 21st dates of the month of Rabi` Al-Thani read 4 rakahs Nafl (voluntary prayer) and in each rakat after Surah Fatiha read Surah Ikhlas 5 times. For that person 1000 good deeds are written and 1000 bad deeds are removed and 4 Hurray are born.

It is written in the book titled Jwahray Gaybee that whoever on the first night of the month of Jumada Al-Awwal reads 4 rakats and in each rakat reads Surah Ikhlas 11 times, Allah Subhanahoo Wa Tallah adds 90,000 years of good deeds into his account and removes 90,000 years of bad deeds from his account.

It is also written in this book that on the night of the 1st of Jumada Al-Awwal after Magrib Salah one reads 8 rakats nafl (voluntary prayer) and in each rakat after Surah Fatiha reads Surah Ikhlas 11 times gets reward. Who ever starts an action in this month accomplishes it.

In the book Fazail Shoor it is narrated by Hazrat Ikhtab bin Hassan (may Allah be pleased with him) that Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him) would read 12 rakats nafl on the first night of this month. There is no surah specified for these rakats. Most Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) agree upon this.

In the same book it is narrated that in the last 10 days of Jumada Akhir (same as Jumada Al-Thani) the companions used to fast in celebration of the coming month Rajab and in the night of these 10 days they would read 20 rakats.

If on the first day of this month one reads 4 rakats and in each rakat he reads Surah Ikhlas 13 times, then 100, 000 deeds are written for him and 100, 000 deeds are erased.

It is narrated by Hazrat Ali Murtaza (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him - ) said when the 15th of Sha`ban arrives you should do qayyam (stay awake) i.e. read voluntary prayer and keep fast in the day because Allah (glory be to Him) descends to the worldly sky on this night after the setting of the sun, and says thus:

"Is there anyone who seeks forgiveness that I may forgive him?"
"Is there anyone who wants provision that I may give him provision?"
"Is there anyone in tribulation that I may free him of his tribulation?"

and Allah keeps saying like this till the sunrise.

It is narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurrairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) said that Hazrat Arch Angel Gabriel (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Me (Peace Be Upon Him - ) at night on the 15th of Sha`ban and said to Me (Peace Be Upon Him - ).

"Oh the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him - ) raise your beloved head towards the sky."

The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) said that I (Peace Be Upon Him - ) inquired from him as to what night was this? Hazrat Arch Angel Gabriel said

"This is one night in which Allah opens 300 doors from the doors of mercy. So He forgives everyone who does not associate Allah with anything and except the one who is a wizard or deals in witchcraft or is a forever alcohol drinker or is persistant in taking interest or is persistant in adultery. Thus such people will not be forgiven until they repent."

When the forth part of the night passed Hazrat Arch Angel Gabriel (may Allah be pleased with him) descended again and said

"Oh the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him - ) please raise your beloved head."

Thus I (Peace Be Upon Him - ) raised my head and found the doors of the heaven open and the angel at the first door calls out

"Glad tidings to the one who bows down during this night."

and the angel at the second door calls out

"glad tidings to the one who prostrates during this night"

and the angel at the third door says

"glad tidings to the one who supplicates (makes a dua) during this night"

and the angel at the fourth door calls out

"glad tidings to the ones doing zikr (remembrance of Allah) during this night"

and the angel at the fifth door calls out

"glad tidings to the one who cries from the fear of Allah during this night"

and the angel at the sixth door calls out

"glad tidings to the believers on this night"

and the angel at the seventh door calls out

"Is there anyone who has a need that his need may be fulfilled"

and the angel at the eighth door calls out

"Is there anyone who seeks forgiveness that he may be forgiven."

Thus I (Peace Be Upon Him - ) inquired oh Gabriel when will these doors be open till? Arch Angel Gabriel (may Allah be pleased with him) replied till the sunrise and started from the begining of night and he continued oh the messenger of Allah Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him - ),

"Allah (glory be to Him) during this night has freed (people) from fire according to the number of hair on the goats of (Bani) Kalb."

On the 15th of Sha`ban Read 100 Rakats of Salat ul Khair and read 1000 Surah Ikhlas in these rakats i.e. read 10 Surah Ikhlas in each rakat.

Salf Salaheen (may Allah be pleased with them all) used to get together to pray Salat ul Khair in congregation.

Hazrat Hassan Basry (may Allah be pleased with him) has said that

"Thirty(30) Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him - ) gave me the news that the person who reads prayer (Salah) on this night Allah looks towards him seventy(70) times and every time He looks, Allah fulfils one of his wishes and the smallest wish granted is forgiveness."

Whoever in the month of Sha`ban reads 11 times Surah Ikhlas and blesses the reward of this on the soul of Hazrat Sayyaditun Nisa Hazrat Fatimah Zuhrah (may Allah be pleased with her). Hazrat Sayyaditun Nisa Hazrat Fatimah Zuhrah (may Allah be pleased with her) says that she will not enter paradise until she doesn't get intercession for that person.

Hazrat Abdullah Bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) has reported that the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) said that whoever in the month of Ramadan keeps fast from the first of Ramadan to the last, gets rid of his sins as if he was just born from his mother's womb.

The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) said that if anyone fasts the month of Ramadan. Then Allah on the day of judgement will grant him a house of emerald. The house will have 1000 doors and in front of every door there will be a tree. If for 100 years while being mounted one travels under its shade. He still will not be able to come out of it.

For fasting intention is necessary. It is better if one intends like this:

However intention of the heart is enough. To eat Sahree¹ is Sunnah, even if one takes one or two mouthful of food. To open fast with a date or water is best. At the time of Iftary (opening fast) read the following dua:

Actions that make the fast invalid and for which Kafara² and Kazaa³ become necessary:

• To smoke a cigarette or using a smoking pipe (huqa) or otherwise
• To eat or drink purposely.
• To have sexual intercourse.

The kafara2 is to fast continuously for 60 Days or to feed a full day’s meal (morning and evening) to 60 people who are poor and needy.

Things that make the fast Makhruh:

• To chew something without necessity.
• Or to just taste salt and then spit it out.
• To collect saliva (spit) and then to swallow it intentionally.
• To bleed or open a vein.
• To backbite, to lie, to slander or to fight and argue

Things by which fast remains valid:

• To eat or drink unintentionally.
• Without ones control if dust, fly or mosquito goes in ones mouth
• If water goes in the ears
• If one vomits involuntarily
• If the need of gusal becomes necessary due to ones dream (seminal discharge during sleep)
• If vomit comes and return by it self
• To put medicine in the eyes
• To put surma (collyrium; antimony reduced to fine powder for applying to the eyes)
• To clean teeth using muswak (a wooden stick used for cleaning teeth).

Things for which you can leave fast but kazaa³ becomes necessary:

• Patient who does not have the strength to keep a fast or it is absolutely necessary for the patient to take medicine during the day (during fasting).
• A pregnant woman if there is a danger to her or the unborn baby.
• A traveller according to shria at least 48 miles of travelling and if there is no provision for food on the journey.
• A woman in labour (child-birth)
• Very old person who feels extreme difficult in keeping a fast. For every fast missed he should give 1¾ seer⁴ of wheat to the need and the poor.

Cases where fast can be broken:

• If one gets ill while fasting and there is danger of death.
• or if there is strong probability that the illness would increase
• or if one is extremely thirsty and would die

One can break fast in such cases but should make kazaa³.

meanings of words used

1. Sahry means waking up and eating as close to fajr time to keep the fast.
2. Kafara means atonement, compensate.
3. Kazaa means making up for it later.
4. Seer equal 0.9331 kg, in Pakistan, the seer is now considered equal to the kilogram.

Lailatul Qadr (the night of Power)

Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) has reported that the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) said the person who on Lailatul Qadr, bieng a believer, stays awake during the night (qayyam ul lail) with the intention of recieving reward only, his future sins will be forgiven and the person who fasts the month of Ramadan in the state of Imaan (belief) with the intention of reward, his future sins will be forgiven.
(Bukharee Shareef Volume 1 page 425 no. 1755, Tarteeb Shareef page 820)

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) has narrated that the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) said that when its Lailatul Qadr, Hazrat Gabriel (may Allah be pleased with him) descends with a group (jamah) of angels and for every slave, they send blessing upon him or do dua for his forgiveness, who while standing or sitting down, remembers or worships Allah (Glory be to Him). When it is their (i.e. muslims) day of celebration (Eid ul Fitr), then Allah (Glory be to Him) due to these slaves shows His pride among the angels and says

"Oh My angels! whats is the reward for the slave who completes his work?"

The angels reply

"Oh Our Creator his reward is that he be returned in full."

Allah (Glory be to Him) says

"Oh My angels! My slave men and My slave women have fulfilled their duty and for praying to Me have left their homes for the mosques. I swear upon My Honour, My Majesty, My Forgiveness, My Generosity, My High Exalteded State and My High Station that I will accept there supplications (Duas)."

and then Allah (Glory be to Him) says

"Oh My slaves! Return to your homes, I have forgiven you and have turned you bad deeds into good deeds."

The Beloved Messenger of Allah (Peace be Upon Him - ) said thus the muslims return from the mosques in a state that their sins are forgiven.
(Baihaqee, Mashkat Shareef Volume 1 page 355 no 1983, Tarteeb Shareef page 821-822)

When you find Lailatul Qadr (the night of Power)

The Beloved Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him - ) said, and when you see the night of Qadr then say

(Aisha Saddiqua - Tarimzi - Nasaee - Ibn Maaja - Hakim (may Allah be pleased with them all) - book: Hassan Hussain page 345 and Tarteeb Shareef page 496)

Hazrat Sobaan (RZ) has narrated the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him - ) as saying "Fasting of one month is equal to the fasting of ten months. Then this is equivalent to a year i.e. the month of Ramadan and after that (in Shawwal) fast of six days.
(Darmey Shareef page 274 No. 737 Tarteeb Shareef page 845)

It has been narrated by Hazrat Anas (RZ) that the Holy Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him - ) said:

It is written in the blessed Hadith that whoever fasts a day of Dhul-Qa`dah Al Najeeb. Allah (Glory be to Him) writes for him every moment the reward of an accepted Haj and with every moment that passes the reward of a freed slave.

(Rasala Fazail-e-Shahoor)

It has come in a narration of the blessed Hadith that in this month a moment of worship is better than a thousand years of worship. And said that the fast of monday during this month is better than a thousand years of worship.

(Rasala Fazail-e-Shahoor)

It is written in the blessed Hadith that whoever performs four Rakats on the first night of Dhul-Qa`dah Al Najeeb and in every rakat recites Surah Ikhlas 23 times after the recitation of Surah Fatihah. Then Allah (Glory be to Him) will make for him four thousand houses made of red ruby. Inside every house there will be a pulpit made of jewels and there will be Hoor sat on each of the pulpits whose forehead will be shining brighter than the sun.

(Rasala Fazail-e-Shahoor)

It has come in one narration to perform 2 Rakats every night during the month of Dhul-Qa`dah Al Najeeb. In every Rakat after the recitation of Surah Fatihah read Surah Ikhlas 3 times. Then that person recieved every night, the reward of one martyr and one Haj. Also during this month whoever performs every Friday 4 Rakats and after reciting Surah Fatihah reads reading Surah Ikhlas 21 times. Then Allah Talaa (Glory be to Him) writes for him the reward of Haj and Umarah.

(Rasala Fazail-e-Shahoor)