The favors of Allah Most High on this Ummah

The favors of Allah Most High on this Ummah

For the sake of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Allah Most High has graced this Ummah with His immeasurable Mercy and Benevolence.  The Ummah of the past Prophets had very strict rules to get their sins forgiven, to the extent that when the Nation of Israil took the calf to be their god, they were ordered:

 

And when Musa (Moses) said to his people: ‘O my people, no doubt you have (seriously) wronged your own souls in taking the calf (as your god). Now turn in repentance to your Creator (the True Sustainer). So, kill one another (among yourselves so that those who have not taken the calf for worship and stuck to their religion should kill those who worshipped the calf as punishment for turning away from their religion. This (act) would be the best (repentance) for you in the sight of your Creator.’ Then He accepted your repentance. Surely, He is Most Relenting, Ever-Merciful.  (Surah Al Baqarah (2:54))

 

On the other hand, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told us:

 

Say: ‘O servants of Mine who have wronged their souls, do not lose hope of Allah’s Mercy. Assuredly, Allah forgives all sins (and excesses). He is certainly Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful. (Surah Zumar (39:53))

 

Almighty Allah's Mercy is forever raining on us, but especially for the sake of the sinful worshippers, Allah Most High has fixed some special days and nights for forgiveness of sins and pardon.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is forever worried about His Ummah.  Day and night, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) keeps praying to Allah Most High to forgive and pardon His Ummah.  Allah Most High too wants to see His Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) pleased and happy, so for the sake of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), in the last portion of every night, He graces the worldly skies with His presence and grants the treasures of forgiveness, deliverance and success to His worshippers.  Only His favorite worshippers benefit from these blessings.  As Allah Most High says:

 

They used to sleep at night only for a short while, (17) And used to (get up and) seek forgiveness in the later part of the night; (18) And in their wealth and possessions (was remembered) the right of the (needy), him who asked and him who (for some reason) was prevented (from asking).Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51:17, 18)

 

The lay people, they are neither used to worshipping in the nights nor used to getting up in the early hours of the morning to get up and pray.  Allah Most High willed that all the slaves of His Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) should benefit from His mercy.  Thus, He fixed one night in the 12 months of the year in which the Lord Almighty, Allah Most High graces the sky of this world from sunset itself and grants His forgiveness and pardon to all those who ask for it.  As the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has said that Sha’abaan is His month, so Allah Most High has kept this blessed night in the month of Sha’abaan. 

 

 

Five letters of the word Sha’abaan and what they mean

 

The leader of all saints, Hadhrat Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (May Allah sanctify his soul) says about the secret meanings hidden in the word “Sha’abaan”:

 

There are five letters in the word “Sha’abaan” (i.e. in the Arabic word):

 

The Arabic “Sheen,” which stands “Sharaf” i.e. honor. 

 

“’Ain,” which stands for “’Ulu” i.e. elevation. 

 

“Ba” which stands for “Birr” i.e. virtuousness. 

 

“Alif” which stands for “Ulfat” i.e. love

 

“Noon” which stands for “Noor” i.e. radiance, light.

 

 

 

These letters indicate that in the month of Sha’abaan, the worshippers of Allah Most High are granted these bounties by Allah Most High. 

 

Hadhrat Ghawth ul A’adham (May Allah be well pleased with him) points out the temporary nature of this world, the changing of times and says about the importance of the month of Sha’abaan in these words:

 

Life has 3 states: The past state, the present state and the future state.  In the same way, there are 3 months: Rajab, which has passed and will not return and Ramadhan, which we are waiting for.  We do not know whether we will be alive to get to it or not and Sha’abaan is the link between these 2 months.  We should consider obedience to Allah Most High as a respite.  (Ghunya Li Talibee Tariqil Haqqi, Vol. 1, Pg No: 188)