Inside this issue:
ICLI News: President’s Message by Dr. Faroque Khan Election 2003 Telecare TV Project
Islamic Heritage: Gloden Age of Islam Islam’s Influence on Medieval European Scholars
Educational Section: Message from Sunday School Chairperson Message from PTO Schedule for Sunday Adult Sessions
Youth Section: Message from the Youth Editor Hadith of the Month Crossword
Community Round-up: Month of Rajab
September Salaat Times
We’re on the web at http://islamicvalley.com/icli
Dear Fellow Muslims, Asalaamu Alaikum.
I am honored to have been asked to assume, once again the position of President of the Islamic Center of Long Island. I approach this heavy responsibility with a great deal of humility and look forward to your advice, critique and most importantly active participation. I was in this position from 1987 to 1989, a time when our energies, resources were focused in establishing ICLI. We thank Allah in guiding us in establishing a very dynamic ICLI, a community resource which is diverse, proactive and responsive to the needs of all.
While we can all take comfort in having ICLI as a community resource, the challenges post 9/11 facing ICLI and Muslims in general are well known to all. I am particularly concerned about the eroding civil rights- mass detentions without legal recourse, deportations, surveillance, profiling etc. This should be of great concern to one and all and I know there are a large number of our fellow Americans who are just as much concerned as we are about these eroding civil rights. You can be assured that the ICLI management is involved and engaged with the appropriate authorities in addressing this issue.
Let me briefly outline some of our plans and invite you to give your comments:
1)Communication - We plan to have this Newsletter published regularly to inform you about events at ICLI. I am particularly thankful to Br Mohammed Sohail Nabi for volunteering to oversee the preparation of this newsletter.
2) Annual ICLI Dinner - on Saturday Oct 11 2003 at Huntington Hilton - This
years theme is “Rising To The Extraordinary” and we plan to recognize the accomplishments of four outstanding Muslim Americans—a) Farooq Kathwari Chairman, President and CEO of Ethan Allan Inc b ) Ingrid Mattson PhD Professor of Islamic Studies and Vice President of ISNA.C) Maestro Milkail Sankofa 1984,1988,1992 Olympian Elias Zerhouni M.D, Director National Institute of Health.
We also plan to have special presentations by Attorney and Comedian Azhar Usman
This program will Inshallah be an upbeat and fun filled evening.
3) Good News—a) ICLI at ISNA—Our very successful Interfaith program was featured at the 40th annual ISNA convention in Chicago over the Labor day weekend. We were one of the three communities from across USA who were invited to showcase the program. The other two (Continued on page 2)
A Publication of Islamic Center of Long Island, Westbury. Dr. Faroque Khan—President ICLI(continued from page 1)
were from Freemont, CA and Tampa, FL.
b) New TV Program titled “Our Muslim Neighbors”. Watch for this special program on Ch 29 and 55 starting in October, Inshallah. More details to follow.
Future Plans - The Board of ICLI Trustees and the Executive Committee will be developing plans for the future expansion, additions etc. at ICLI. We need your input, suggestions and involvement. Is there any particular program or facility you would like to see at ICLI in the next five, ten , fifteen, twenty years. If so, drop us a note.
Personally I would like to see a pre K, Nursery at ICLI in the very near future.
With my very best wishes.
I.C.L.I. NEWS
Message from the Managing Editor: Asalaamu Alaikum. Alhamdu-Lillah, I have been given the opportunity to manage the production of the ICLI news which will include the following areas (ICLI News, Islamic Heritage, Educational and Youth Sections and Community Round-up). I hope that you will find the articles interesting and a joy to read, as they have been written by our very own community members.
The aim of the newsletter is to communicate the projects and community work that ICLI is involved with, in addition to news about our educational programs for children and adults.
I would also like to take this opportunity to request our community business leaders to advertise their businesses in the ICLI News. This will, Inshallah, bring the Muslim community together.
If you have any questions, recommendations or even would like to contribute to the newsletter please contact me by email. I would love to hear from you.
Mohammed Sohail Nabi email: m.nabi@verizon.net
Bring the Muslim Community Together By Advertising your BUSINESS in ICLI Newsletter
Faroque Khan-President ICLI email: Faroquekhan@yahoo.com You
Contact: Mohammed Sohail Nabi (m.nabi@verizon.net) or Cell: 646 286 0060
Where:…… Huntington Hilton
598 Broad Hollow Road Melville, New York 11747
When:…… Saturday October 11, 2003 From 6 pm to 11 pm
Why:……. Theme “Rising To The Extraordinary”
Who: Farooq Kathwari—Chairman, President and CEO of Ethan Allan Inc
Ingrid Mattson – Professor of Islamic Studies
Maestro M. Sankofa – 1984, 1988, 1992 Olympian
Elias Zerhouni – Director National Institute of Health
Azhar Usman – Attorney and Comedian
How:…… Table of 10 (sponsor) $5,000-minimum donation $500
Children over 8 years of age and seniors $125 (Please NO children under 8 years)
For Further Information, please call: (516) 333-3495, (516) 364-9161, (516) 932-7170, (516) 367-4154, (516) 496-7070 R.S.V.P. by September 20, 2003
A report by Nasir Farooqi
– Chairman ICLI board of trusteesWith the blessing of Allah, we concluded the selection/election of the new Executive Committee and term board members for 2003-2005.
As per the bylaws of ICLI, the Executive Committee is in charge of running the affairs of the center. This committee reports to the board of ICLI. The board consists of certain permanent members and term members who are chosen for various criteria. The objective of the board is to set the direction of the center and to ensure that the needs of the community are being addressed. The committee and the term members are selected every two years.
For the first time in the history of ICLI, elections were held to elect certain candidates. In all the previous terms, the board appointed a search committee to identify both men and women who have been active in the affairs of the center. This committee presented its findings to the board and then to the general membership for an approval.
In the previous years, disapproval of one or more candidates by the general membership was resolved by mutual discussions and compromises were worked out. Though the option existed to hold an election.
This year, the process was followed and the challenge was presented for certain positions in the executive committee and to the board members. The board decided that elections were warranted and they were held and we are pleased to say that our membership responded with enthusiasm.
For our readers it is important to state that a voting member must have applied for a membership and paid the dues. The membership must be in force for a full year in order to vote. This membership is also the first criteria for any position on the executive committee or the board.
A five-member committee, appointed by the chairman of the board, conducted the elections. Each contestant was asked to submit an essay and a photograph. These were mailed to the voters, along with a numbered ballot. Each package contained a stamped, addressed envelope. The returned ballots were received at a P.O box to maintain total integrity of the
system. A total of 349 ballots were mailed and 297 were received.
The ballots were tabulated and verified by the election committee and emails and letters to all members announced the results. The list is included for your reference.
We wish best of luck to the new committee and the board members. We wish to thank all candidates who participated in this election.
The Executive committee for year 2003-2005: President Br. Faroque Khan President Elect Br. Irfan Amin Vice President Sr. Cathy Khalifa Vice President Br. Habib Ahmed Treasurer Br. Hansen Lee Secretary Br. Sajid Shah (Elected) Joint Secretary Br. Hamza Byas (Elected)
Term board members for 2003-2005 (Elected by general members)
Br. Khalid Farooq Br. Omar Amanat Br. Nasir Gondal Br. Zafar Saeed (Selected by the nominating committee)
Sr. Peggy Iamunno Sr. Isma Chaudhary Sr. Humaira Mamoor Br. Shamin Qureshi Br. Hisham Elzinaty Sr. Arfa Khan
Contact: Mohammed Sohail Nabi m.nabi@verizon.net or Cell: 646 286 0060
A report by Homaira Mamoor, Shaida Khan and Reema Siddiqui.
The Telecare TV project is coming along at a steady pace. For the Ramadhan project a group of us has set up a committee, lead by Dr. Faroque Khan and Sr. Reema Siddiqi -our staff person working with Telecare T.V. the objective of this project is to bring two messages about Ramadhan at Fajr and Maghrib lasting up to a minute or so for the duration of the month of Ramadhan. The committee have been meeting and planning for the past few months. We have developed an outline of the objectives which will include visual, audible, messages delivered by the diverse members of our community, Inshallah.
We're extremely excited on the progress of the planning stages, and are ready to move to the next step with your help to make this project a reality.
The Taping stages will involve individuals ( children and adults) and group discussion. Sr. Reema has set up a date for the taping, It is Thursday September 18 from 9:30am to 2:00pm at the Telecare studios. With this in mind, we requested individuals (adults and children) from within the Islamic community of ICLI who are able to articulately and passionately express themselves on camera about "what Ramadhan means to them as a Muslim"
There will also be a group discussion (Adults) --the format of suggested questions or topics for the group discussion are as follows:
1. Ramadhan as one of the pillars of Islam.
2. Fasting ordained for Muslims as it was for the people of the book before us. Here we can discuss the similarities and differences of the three Abrahamic faiths and how they evolved and incorporate the practice of fasting in all three faiths. Example
- Story of the Prophet fasting along with the Jews in Unity (day of Exodus)
3. What Ramadhan means to you? sharing unique personal experience during Ramadhan.
4. Who are exempt from fasting? The importance of charity during the month of Ramadhan. We can speak on the significance of Lailat ul Qadr ( the special night of fasting).
5. What is Eid Ul Fitr? the preparation and excitement of Eid , we can also incorporate how some of us celebrate this holiday in our children's school, with their nonMuslim friends, class mates ex. giving a party, giving goody bags, a presentation to a child's class about Ramadan etc..
6. The Gift giving, the new clothes, giving money to the young, etc..
Managing Editor: Mohammed Sohail Nabi email: m.nabi@verizon.net
Islamic Section: Kaleem Ahmed email: kkamboj@nyc.rr.com
In 750AD, Abu al Abbas became the first caliph of the Abbasid dynasty. The Abbacies, whose line was known as "the blessed dynasty", would initiate a new era of justice and prosperity. Their political policies were, however, remarkably similar to those of the Umayyads. And in 762AD, the capital city of Baghdad was founded. In the eighth century, the Abbasid caliphate established its capital at Baghdad, which became an important commercial, cultural, and a famous center of learning in the Middle Ages, and was regarded in the tenth century, the intellectual center of the world. As capital of the caliphate, Baghdad was also to become the cultural capital of the Islamic world. Baghdad became a center of power in the world, where Arab and Persian cultures mingled to produce a blaze of philosophical, scientific, and literary glory. This era is remembered throughout the Arab world, and by the Iraqis in particular, as the pinnacle of the Islamic past.
It was the second Abbasid caliph, Abu Jafar Al-Mansur (754-75 AD), who was known to be an excellent orator, knowledgeable in language and an excellent administrator, who decided to build a new capital, surrounded by round walls, near the site of the Sassanid village of Baghdad. Within fifty years the population outgrew
the city walls as people thronged to the capital to become part of the Abbacies' enormous bureaucracy or to engage in trade. Baghdad became a vast emporium of trade linking Asia and the Mediterranean. By the reign of Mansur's grandson, Harun ar Rashid (786-806 AD), Baghdad was second in size only to Constantinople. Baghdad was able to feed its enor-
founded in Baghdad
mous population and to export large quantities of grain because the political administration had realized the importance of controlling the flows of the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. The Abbacies reconstructed the city's canals, dikes, and reservoirs, and drained the swamps around Baghdad, freeing the city of malaria. Harun ar Rashid, the caliph of the Arabian nights, actively supported intellectual pursuits, but the great flowering of Arabic culture that is credited to the Abbacies reached its apogee during the reign of his son, al-Ma`mun (813833 AD).
By the 9th century, al-Ma`mun was the caliph who was largely responsible for cultural expansion. The caliph al-Ma`mun was responsible for the translation of Greek works into Arabic. He
"bait al-hikma" the Academy of Wisdom, which took over from the Persian University of Jundaisapur and soon became an active scientific center. The Academy's large library was enriched by the translations that had been undertaken. Scholars of all races and religions were invited to work there. They were concerned with preserving a universal heritage, which was not specifically Moslem and was Arabic only in language. Its first director Hunayn ibn Ishaq translated the complete medical and philosophical works of Galen, the physics of Aristotle, and the Greek Old Testament, before his death in 873. Hunayn's many students completed the translation of Plato, Hippocrates, Ptolemy, Euclid, and Pythagoras into Arabic, and made great original discoveries in mathematics, particularly in integral calculus and spherical astronomy.
The most notable mathematician of the period, Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khawarizmi (680-750 AD), discovered algebraic equations, and some credit him with the invention of zero. AlKhawarizmi wrote ten math textbooks, which have survived. His "Kitab hisab al'adad al-hindi" was an arithmetic textbook, which introduced Hindu numbers to the Arab world. Now generally known as Arabic numbers. Mediaeval Christian Europeans were not keen on the Hindu-Arabic numbers and declared them the work of Satan! His major work is entitled "Kitab al-jabr w'almuqabalah" (restoration and balancing) whose title gives us the word Algebra. Courtesy of an
Arabic book collector in Muslim Spain and the adventurer El Cid, the books were translated into Latin, and hit renaissance Italy like tactical nuclear culture shock. They couldn't speak Arabic, of course, so his name came out as "Algorismus". His name (misspelled again!) has gone into mathematics and computerspeak as Algorithm; for a step by step process for performing computations. The study of medicine also progressed rapidly, and a number of hospitals were soon established in Baghdad, including a teaching hospital. Baghdad had grown to be almost one million people and part of the predominately Muslim Empire of Abu Jafar al-Mansur born 95H (716 AD). His empire stretched from western China to northern Africa. In the 13th century, during the reign of the 37th Abbasid caliph, Mustansir Billah, al-Madrasa alMustansiriyah (Mustansiriyah School) was built, this was once a highly esteemed university. A new Abbasid Palace was also built in the same era and in the same architectural style as the Mustansiriyah School, the palace overlooks the Tigris.
The first truly Arab philosopher, al-Kindi, worked to reconcile the ideas of neo-Platonism with Islamic revelation. He was one of the thinkers called the Mu`tazilites, who sought to employ reason in preference to tradition in interpreting scripture and formulating theology. Al-Ma`mun favoured this group, removing from office any judge or religious scholar who did not profess the new doctrines. One traditionalist who refused to recant was Ahmed ibn Hanbal, the fourth of the chief Sunni jurists. The polarization which occurred between these two factions was extremely unfortunate for Islam, because both points of view were - and are - necessary for the Muslim community to be whole. The Mu`tazilites ultimately lost the power struggle after the death of al-Ma`mun, and consequently their sym-
pathizers down to the present day have lacked a voice and legitimacy within the Islamic discourse. The Hanbalites went on to become the ideological forerunners of the present regime of Saudi Arabia. After the reign of al-Ma`mun the Abbasid caliphate was increasingly weakened by internal strife, and eventually fell under the control of the Persians and then the Turks. During the reign of the last independent caliph alMuqtadir (r. 908-932), a number of very notable men died in Baghdad. There was the outstanding scientist and physician al-Razi, who compiled a thorough medical encyclopedia from Sanskrit, Greek, and Aramaic sources synthesized with his own clinical insights. That is, Husayn b. Mansur al-Hallaj, the arch-martyr of mystical Islam, who was cruelly executed in Baghdad in 922. He, like his namesake Husayn b. 'Ali, becomes a model for the Sufi; he is the suffering lover, and in quite a number of Sufi poems his name appears alongside that of Husayn: both were enamoured by God, both sacrificed themselves on the Path of divine love, both are therefore the ideal lovers of God whom the pious should strive to emulate. Ghalib skillfully alludes to this combination in his tawhid qasida: One cannot leave the subject of Baghdad and its learning without speaking of Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali, a professor at the Madrasa al-Nizamiya, Baghdad's first great school of religious law founded in 1067. Al-Ghazzali abandoned his post to become a wandering mystic, then wrote many deeply original religious books synthesizing the mystical and orthodox points of view. Muslims still regard him as their greatest reformer. The centre of intellectual life was by then shifting from Baghdad to the new city of Cairo (where the Fatimid dynasty had won all of North Africa away from the Abbasids in 969), and to Cordoba and Toledo in Spain, where all of the amazing achievements of Muslim scientists and thinkers would pass into the heritage of Europe.
By, Kaleem AhmedAdelard of Bath, Peter Abelard, Robert Grossetteste, Alexander of Hales, Albertus Magnus, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventura, Duns Scotus, Roger Bacon, Marsilius of Padua, Richard of Middleton, Nicholas Oresme, Joannes Buridanus, Siger of Brabant, John Peckham, Henry of Gant, Williams of Occham, Walter Burley, William of Auvergne, Dante Algheri, Blaise Pascal, and numerous others. The well-known early 12th century Englishman, Adelard of Bath, often proudly acknowledged his debt to the Arabs - "trained (as he says) by Arab scientists....I was taught by my Arab masters to be led only by reason, whereas you were taught to follow the halter of the captured image of ancient authority [i.e., authority of the Church]" (Tina Stiefel, The Intellectual Revolution in Twelfth Century Europe; St. Martin's Press, N.Y., 1989; pp.71, 80). By Kaleem Ahmed
Asalaamu Alaikum Sunday School Family,
I hope you have enjoyed a peaceful summer in good health.
The first day of Sunday school for students and parents is September 14. Our Education Committee has been hard at work since the beginning of August to ensure we deliver to our children the highest level Islamic education possible. Teacher scheduling/class assignments, book selection, curriculum writing, furniture and equipment ordering, school calendar of events, a new/improved library and school store were the focus.
All-new curriculums have been prepared for classes B, C, D and A-1. In addition, “Introduction to Arabic” will be incorporated in all Classes A-F. As part of our Surah recitation classes, students will learn to recognize, read, and write the Arabic alphabet, recognize and read letters/words/verses in the Surahs they are reciting, and read and write Qur’anic words/phrases.
This year promises to be a very productive and exciting year for our parents and students alike. Iftars, Eid celebrations, fundraisers, and Spring Day are just some of the special events we have planned for this year. Please consider being part of our Education Committee or PTO. Parental involvement is essential to our success!
Registration and parent/volunteer recruitment will be on Friday, September 12 after Jumah prayer and Sunday, September 14 from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. I look forward to seeing you on September 14.
We trust this summer was whatever you needed it to be, restful, fun, productive or all of the above!! Subhana Allah, September is yet another opportunity that Allah (swt) provides us with to renew our dedication to learning and community. Over the years ICLI, has established itself as the place to be in our community where we can gather, adults and children, to enhance our knowledge of Islam and find strength in our Ummah.
Education and support of our Ummah is a very tall order indeed. Reflecting, specifically on this past school year, Allah (swt) blessed us with educators and Committee and Board members who volunteered their time and effort to make our Sunday School experience a meaningful one. Another impor-
tant element of the good that came out of last year was the formation of the Sunday School Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO).
The PTO is a group of parent volunteers, under the directive of the Education Committee, whose goal is to support the Sunday School’s Islamic curriculum. The PTO does so by coordinating social, cultural, charitable and educational events for our students and families. Last year the PTO coordinated the Sunday School Iftar, Eid Celebrations, Islamic Fair, Graduation Ceremony, Charitable Projects, formation of Girl Scout Troops, and made ourselves available to the Education Office for needed support.
(continued from page 7)
InshaAllah, this year we can provide more of the same and then some. Here is a peek at what is on the slate for this year:
All of the events the PTO coordinated last year.
dents and families at low or no cost. This is our goal again this year, and in that vain this year families will be asked at school registration time to provide $5 per student to support the costs of the upcoming programs. PTO Envelopes to support these programs will be available during registration, and on an ongoing basis.
Growing of services of and accessability to our Islamic Library.
Coordinating volunteers to help with the responsibilities of running the Sunday School. Responsibilities that ensure a safe and pleasurable experience for all in attendance on Sunday (i.e. parking, recess, lunch, Education Office, classroom representatives, etc..).
Please join the Sunday School PTO which provides a wonderful opportunity to serve Allah (swt) through the betterment of our Masjid and by supporting the Ummah. We hope to see many of you at the meetings throughout the year. May Allah (swt) bless our efforts and unify us in purpose.
Peggy Iamunno
Formation and support of youth groups fo our students.
Who are PTO members, any and every parent and educator who can spare some time to support ICLI’s goals of providing a meaningful and pleasurable Islamic experience for our students and families. Alhamdu Lillah, “we” make it easy to support these initiatives (by now you’ve discovered the ”we” includes you) by meeting every other week during Sunday School from 10-11 in the Education Office. Meeting dates and Agenda will be listed on the Sunday School Bulletin Board in the Masjiid. Our first meeting during the school year will be 9/28, the Agenda will be forming committees for the programs listed above.
Subhana Allah, last year, the PTO was able to bring the social, cultural, and educational events to the stu-
Sept 14 Sunday School Registration& Parent/Student Orientation
Nov 16 Sunday School Iftar
Nov 30 Student Exams Followed by Eid al Fitr Celebration
Dec 28 ICLI Sunday School Closed
Jan 4 ICLI Sunday School Closed Jan 25 Eid Ul Adha Celebration
Feb 1 ICLI Sunday School Closed Mar 7 Student Exams
May 2 ICLI Spring Fair May 16 Student Exams May 23 Graduation and Annual Day
Asalaamu Alaikum and welcome to the first edition of what will, Insha-Allah, be a monthly newsletter brought to you by the youth of the Islamic Center of Long Island (ICLI).
This newsletter is an exiting new project undertaken by many people in the Islamic Center of Long Island, including many of us students. A lot of hard work has gone into it and I’m sure it will not be for nothing. We created this newsletter with the intention to hopefully not only educate, inform and enlighten the people of our community, but communicate with them as well. Through this newsletter we can talk to (even if it is only one way), with members of both the Muslim and non-Muslim faiths in a way never possible before.
But even though our hopes for this newsletter are great, I truly believe the possibilities are greater. What Muslims in America need today is a voice. Not necessarily an angry or condemning voice, but a voice that seems to say, “We are here, we are Americans.” A voice that can reach out to members of all faiths and help find a common ground among us. I truly believe that the more we know about ourselves, as well as others, the more chance we have for a better future.
One may call this overly optimistic, naïve, or even unrealistic, but no one should call it impossible. Because it is only through the creation of such simple institutions as this newsletter, where minds are spoken, voices are heard and stereotypes are shattered, that we can even begin to dream of a better future for the next generation of Christians, Jews, Hindus or Muslims.
As a very wise man once said, “The plight of modern day Muslims is like a thunderstorm; eventually it will pass, but in the meantime you better make sure you find shelter.” This is my shelter.
Emraan S. Khan MANAGING EDITOROF YOUTH SECTION A Poem by Kaleem AhmadThe Temporal world offers us a chance to understand
The joys of, the Qur’an as a guide, the Blessed Prophet (PBUH) as an example
The glory of the past, striving in the present and hope for a great future
~
The pain of so many holocausts; the genocide and rape of Bosnia
The starvation of Iraq, the tug of war in Kashmir
The anti-Semitism so alive with the death of every Palestinian ~
We strive to understand our pains; we strive to celebrate our joys
We strive to express these reflections through the tears in these eyes
We offer these tears of joy and pain ~
So that… this dunya we live in may see… who we are
A people of peace… a people of Islam
Questions or Comments?
Please contact Emraan Khan
E-mail: eKhan17@hotmail.com
Working hard to gain knowledge is required of every Muslim. The first word revealed to Rasulullah (PBUH) was ‘IQRA’ which means “Read”. Therefore, the first Qur'anic verses recited to Rasulullah (saw) by angel Jibril commanded him to “Read”. In other words, the very first teaching of Allah was to read and spread knowledge. The
Qur’an enjoins upon every believer to observe, study, and contemplate the wonders of creation, which the Qur’an calls (‘Ayat Allah, the Signs of Allah). The Qur’an asks the believers to think, to know, and to ponder by asking: “Do you not observe?”, “Do you not think?” and “Do you not contemplate?”.
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent
Knowing fellow human being is important and a joyful experience. And knowing the neighbor is even more important, for it brings friendship, cooperation and peace. In a diverse society like ours, knowing people of other backgrounds is akin to building bridges and opening the doors of mutualism and happiness for all.
With this realization, Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) has arranged a community get-together in our neighborhood.
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2003
Venue: Islamic Center of Long Island 835 Brush Hollow Road Westbury, NY 11590
Tel: (516) 333 3495 Time: 11:00AM to 4:00PM
Please attend this exceptional gathering with your family and friends. Refreshments will be served. For further information please contact: ICNA Tel: (718) 739-7300 (718) 658-1199
Rajab is the seventh month in the Islamic lunar calendar. This month was regarded as one of the sacred months (Al-Ash-hur-Al-hurum) in which battles were prohibited in the days of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). It is also deemed to be a prelude to the month of Ramadhan, because the month of Ramadhan follows it after the intervening month of Sha'ban. Therefore, when the Prophet (saw) sighted the moon of Rajab, he used to supplicate to Allah in the following words:
"O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadhan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadhan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings) ."
Lailatul Me'raj: It is generally believed that the great event of Me'raj (ascension of the Holy Prophet (saw) to the heavens) took place on the night of 27th Rajab. Therefore, some people acknowledge the night as "Lailatul Me'raj". Indeed, the event of Me'raj was one of the most remarkable episodes in the life of our beloved Prophet (saw). He was called by the Almighty Allah. He traveled from Makkah to Baitul Maqdis and from there he ascended the heavens through the miraculous power of Allah. He was honored with a direct contact with his Creator at a place where even the angels had no access. This was the unique honor conferred by Allah to the Holy Prophet (saw) alone. It was the climax of the spiritual progress, which is not attained by anybody except him. No doubt the night in which he was blessed with this unparalleled honor was one of the great nights of universal consequence.