As winter deepens and the days feel quieter, Allah grants us a beautiful opportunity: the arrival of Rajab, one of the four sacred months in Islam. Rajab is not just another month on the calendar – it is a divine invitation to prepare, to soften our hearts, and to realign our intentions before the blessed month of Ramaḍhān arrives.
Rajab is the month to sow the seeds.
(Abu Bakr Al-Warraq Al-Balkhi)
Sha’ban is the month to irrigate the crop, and Ramadhan is the month to reap the harvest.
The scholars often described the spiritual year as a journey:
- Rajab is the month of planting the seeds
- Sha‘bān is the month of nurturing them
- Ramaḍhān is the month of harvesting
As we navigate the cold of winter, Rajab reminds us that inner warmth comes from faith, reflection, and sincere action.
Why Rajab Matters
Rajab is known as Shahrullāh – the Month of Allah. It is a time traditionally associated with repentance (tawbah), renewal, and turning back to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ would increase his devotion during these sacred months, teaching us that preparation is key. Ramaḍhān is not entered suddenly; it is approached with intention and readiness. Rather, we know that the Sahaba’s practice was to spend the six months prior to Ramadhan preparing for it.
Rajab gives us space to pause and ask:
- How has my relationship with Allah been?
- What habits do I want to leave behind before Ramaḍhān?
- How can I become more generous, more mindful, and more grateful?
Practical Ways to Use Rajab to Prepare for Ramaḍhān
1. Begin with Sincere Repentance
Rajab is the perfect time to clear the spiritual clutter. A heart weighed down by sin may struggle to fully experience Ramaḍhān.
In these days, set aside time for:
- Connecting to Allah with your du‘ā’
- Seeking forgiveness (istighfār)
- Making a sincere intention to change, even if it’s step by step.
Allah’s mercy is vast, especially in sacred times.
2. Reconnect with the Qur’an
Many of us aim to read the Qur’an daily in Ramaḍhān – but Rajab is the time to rebuild the habit.
Start small:
- If you don’t currently have a daily practice of a portion (wird) of reciting the Qur’an start with a few verses a day
- If you already have a wird, take it up to the next level – a page a day; a rub’ (2.5 pages); a hizb (10 -pages); or a juz
- Listening and reciting along (if you can) during commutes
- Reflecting on meaning as you recite, not just quantity
“O people of the Qur’an, your night became long for your recitation; so, recite.” (‘Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr)
By the time Ramaḍhān arrives, the Qur’an will feel familiar again, not distant.
3. Train the Soul with Small Acts of Worship
Rather than overwhelming ourselves, Rajab teaches consistency.
Consider:
- Voluntary fasting once a week
- Starting to fast on Monday and Thursdays
- Extra prayers, even two rak‘ahs – of qiyam al-layl
- Sending salāh upon the Prophet ﷺ daily
Winter is the perfect time to increase our ibadah and start these habits – the days are shorter and thus easier to fast; the nights long for worship.
How good winter is for the believer! Its night is long, so he prays in it;
(al-Hasan al-Basri)
and its day is short, so he observes fasting in it.
These small actions warm the soul, especially during the long, cold winter nights.
Rajab, Winter, and Compassion
Winter is a season of hardship for many. As we prepare spiritually, Islam reminds us that true preparation includes caring for others.
The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people – and his generosity increased in blessed times.
This is where our winter campaign becomes an extension of our worship.
Taking care of the poor in the winter and protecting them from the cold is a great deed.
(Ibn Rajab)
As we reflect on our own comfort, Rajab calls us to notice:
- Families on our doorstep struggling to stay warm
- Parents choosing between heating and food living in our midst.
- Vulnerable neighbours facing winter alone
Giving during Rajab is not just charity – it is spiritual training for Ramaḍhān.
As the year comes to a close, support often slows – but for a believer, this is a time of renewed giving, deeper intention, and focus on the akhirah as we prepare for Ramadan.
Giving as Preparation for Ramaḍhān
When we give in Rajab:
- We soften our hearts before fasting softens our bodies
- We practice generosity before Ramaḍān multiplies its rewards
- We align worship with action
This Winter, Embrace has already provided £37,983 winter relief for 130 families. But 352 families are still waiting, and £113,000 is still needed to reach our winter target.
Supporting our winter campaign now allows us to enter Ramaḍhān already living its values – mercy, generosity, and care for others. It allows us to purify our hearts from the stain of sins as charity wipes away our misdeeds.
Plant the Seeds Now
Rajab is a quiet mercy. It doesn’t demand perfection, only sincerity. Whether through repentance, prayer, Qur’an, or giving warmth to those in need this winter, every effort counts.
Let this sacred month be the beginning of a transformation – one that leads us into Ramaḍhān with hearts that are ready, hands that are generous, and intentions that are pure.
May Allah allow us to reach Ramaḍhān, accept our preparations, and make us a source of warmth for others this winter. Āmeen.