Rajab marks the beginning of the spiritual season of every believer ending with the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan with the Eid Al Fitr.

These three months are unmatched in their importance.

Praise be to the Almighty and thanks to Him for granting us yet another opportunity to cleanse ourselves of our sins and oversights.
 

The Holy Prophet(S) has said:

“ Rajab is a great month of Allah, unmatched by any other month in the respect and significance (accorded to it); war with the infidels during this month is prohibited; Verily, Rajab is Allah’s month, Sha’aban my month and Ramadhan the month of my Ummah; whosoever fasts a day in the month of Rajab will be granted the great reward of Ridhwan (an angel in heaven); the wrath of Allah shall be distanced and a door of the Hell shall be closed.”

Fasting is one of the most recommended acts during this spiritual season.

It becomes Wajib during the month of Ramadhan, but is highly recommended during the months of Rajab and Sha’baan.

As will be noted from the Hadith above and others to follow, fasting, be it for only one day during these months, is rewarded with untold bounties.
 
Hadhrat Salmaan Farsi narrates that the Final messenger of Allah(S) said that there is a day in the month of Rajab on which if a person fasts and does Qiyaamul Lail (night vigil ) on that night, he will receive rewards like a person who fasts for 100 years and does Qiyaamul Lail for nights of 100 years.
 
This night is the night of the 27th (Rajab) and the day of the 27th (Rajab).

This is the day on which Hadhrat Muhammad(S) was appointed to Messengerhood.
 
(Ghuniyatut Talibeen, Tarteeb Shareef page 781)

Rajab 28th - Start of Journey of Imam Hussain(A), his family members and companions towards Iraq. After hatching the conspiracy and achieving ultimate martyrdom of Imam Hasan(A), Moawiya started campaigning openly for the succession of his son Yazid to the office of Caliphate. Until that time he had always planned in secret about this intention. To materialize his plans, he started his campaign among his most trusted people in Syria where he had established his headquarters. Later on, his missionaries took the message to other parts of the Islamic world and with the help of lot of money and bribery he got support for the caliphate of Yazid from a number of important Islamic cities.
 
After his death in Rajab of the 60th Hijrah, Yazid sat on his throne and started the campaign of getting Baiyat of all Muslims so that they would accept him as the Caliph. The materialistic personalities of that time came forward and accepted his caliphate. Among them were mostly the people who were known for their enmity towards the Ahl-e-Bait(A) of our Prophet Mohammad(S). The other group was of the people who were either coerced by force or treachery or their loyalties were bought through material offers.
 
When the campaign crossed the borders of Syria, instructions were sent to the Governor of Madina - Walid ibn-e-Aqba ibn-e-Abu Sufyan - as well to get the baiyat of Imam Hussain(A). According to some historians, Yazid also mentioned that if Imam Hussain(A) declines his baiyat then Walid should kill him and send his head to Syria. Walid invited the Imam(A) to his court and gave him the orders of Yazid and demanded his baiyat.  Imam(A) replied “A person like me would never accept the baiyat of a person like Yazid”. In this statement, Imam(A) gave a clear guideline for all the future time to come.
 
One of the advisors of Walid named Marwan bin Hakm incited Walid on getting Imam(A) killed right there but Imam(A) was joined by a few of his followers from Bani Hashim under the leadership of Hazrat Abbas(A) and returned safely from the court. Within a few days time, the political developments made it very clear that Yazid is going all out to either obtain the baiyat of Imam Hussain(A) or to get him killed. Imam(A) had the sanctity of Madina as well as the salvation of the religion of Islam in his mind, therefore, he decided to leave Madina and go towards Iraq. He asked for the preparation of a Caravan of his selected family members and his trusted friends and set off for this long journey on the 28th of Rajab.
 
Since it is a day of grief and sorrow, I will relate some masaib of this event 
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When Imam(A) had made his decision to leave Madina, he went to the grave of his brother Imam Hasan(A) with a very heavy heart. There he stayed for some time talking to his brother saying “O brother now your killers are after my blood. It looks like time for my martyrdom is near and I am leaving you now.”.  I imagine that Imam Hasan(A) would have replied from his grave - O my brother I bid you farewell and give you my son Qasim to become your sadqa in Karbala.
 
After that Imam(A) went to the grave of his grandfather, the Holy Prophet Mohammad(S). He stayed there for a long time and wept a lot until he went to sleep. He saw the Prophet(S) in his dream and said to him “O my grandfather, my salutations to you. The land of Madina has become small for me. Tyrants among your ummah are after my blood and I am leaving Madina with a heavy heart”.
 
Finally Imam Hussain(A) came to the grave of his mother Hazrat Fatima Zahra(A.).  Historians write that Imam(A) ran towards her grave just like a child runs toward his mother and he fell on her grave just like a child falls in the lap of the mother. Imam(A) said “O my mother accept my last salam. I am leaving the land of Madina and would not come back. The prophecy of my grandfather is about to come true”. I imagine that Bibi Zahra(A) would have said from her grave “O my beloved son, O the one whom I have raised by keeping awake in the night, I would not let you go alone. From this day I would not rest in my grave but I would accompany you throughout your journey.”
 
Historians write that throughout the journey various people reported to Imam(A) that when everyone goes asleep during the night, we hear feminine voices of weeping and a bibi’s voice crying “Ya Hussain, Ya Hussain”. Imam(A) told them “O my trusted companions this is my mother Zahra(A) who is with me ever since I have left Madina”.
 
Ala Laanatullahe ala qaum-iz-zalimeen
(May Allah’s curse be on the group that committed atrocities on Imam Hussain((A) and his companions and family members.

Hazrat Ali Asghar  was the youngest child of imam Hussain(A). He was born only a few weeks before imam left Madina. His mother’s name was Rubab(A), daughter of Imra’u'l Qais who was the chief of the tribe of Kinda. Rubaab had two children, Sakina(A) and Ali Asghar(A) She and her two children accompanied imam to karbala. The fact that imam took with him a newly born baby further demonstrates the prestige of H. Ali Asghar(A).

At karbala, Asghar was only six months old. From the seventh Muharram there was no water in imam’s camp. Asghar was in great pain because of thirst. On Ashura day, after Ali Akber had been martyred, imam Hussain was standing outside the camp. He was left all alone and he was preparing to go into the battlefield. Just then he heard a child cry. It was Ali Asghar, tormented by the pangs of hunger and thirst.

Imam walked into Bibi Rubab’s tent. He lifted the child from the cradle. “Rubab,” he said, “I will take him to Yazeed’s army. Surely they can not possibly deny this little infant a few drops of water?” Rubab changed Ali Asghar’s clothes. She even tied a small turban on his head. Like any other mother she wanted her son to look at his best in front of strangers.

Imam Hussain carried the child to the battle field. Walking up to Yazeed’s soldiers imam Hussain said, “This child has done you no harm. He is dying of thirst. I am asking for a few drops of water for him.”There was no response. imam said, “If you are afraid that when you bring Asghar any water I will drink it, look, I will put him on the ground and you can come yourself and give him water.” He put the child on the sands of karbala and moved a couple of steps back.You can imagine how hot the desert sand was. Asghar lay there not even wincing. He turned towards the enemy and stared at them. A murmur arose among the soldiers but no one came forward to give water to the baby. imam took Asghar in his arms and in a clear voice said, “Asghar, my son, show them how thirsty you are!” Asghar turned his head towards the soldiers. He smiled sweetly. Opened his mouth. Brought out his dry tongue and moved it over his lips. The ultimate sword had been unsheathed !

The soldiers were so moved by this that they could be heard sobbing. Still, they were very afraid of Yazeed and none dared come forward to give water to Ali Asghar. Umar Sa’ad was worried. It seemed that Asghar was emerging victorious in this confrontation against the might of yazid. He looked at Hurmala, a famous archer, and said, “Silence Hussain!” Then a terrible thing happened. Hurmala lifted his bow. Aimed an arrow at the child. The arrow flew across the hot desert. There was a hissing sound. Asghar smiled. He lifted his head and arched his neck!! No civilized mind can even imagine what happened next. The hissing sound stopped and Asghar lay still on his father’s arms.

Imam Hussain looked down at Asghar’s neck, he saw the arrow, he saw the neck, he saw the smile and then he could see no more!!! Our imam began to feel faint. For a moment everything went dark. He could not see! There was a total silence over karbala, broken only by the sound of the gentle waves of Furaat. Even the enemy appeared stunned. Slowly Hussain turned round and now looked at the baby in his arms. The arrow had passed through the tender neck and lodged in imam Hussain’s shoulder.  He looked at the sky, and prayed “Ya Allah, give me the courage in this most difficult moment of my life. No Prophet ever was subjected to a test as severe as this.”
 
THUS THE YOUNGEST CHILD OF HUSSAIN(A) BECAME THE GREATEST MARTYR OF KARBALA