O Ramadhaan! Be gentle...

Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali - rahimahullaah - said:

O Servants of Allaah! Ramadhaan is set to move on, and only a little of it remains. If anyone has done well during the month thus far, it is incumbent on him to complete the month in a good fashion. While anyone who has fallen short let him finish in good shape. Only a few days and nights remain, so bid it farewell with righteous actions that will testify for you before the All-Knowing King.
The hearts of the righteous people are filled with longing, lamenting from the pain of departure. How can a believer not shed tears upon its [Ramadhaan] departure when he does not know if he will live to see it again? O Ramadhaan! Be gentle, the tears of your lovers are pouring out. Their hearts are torn from the pain of your departure. Perhaps standing to bid you farewell will extinguish the burning fire of longing. Perhaps taking a moment to repent will mend everything that has been torn in fast. Perhaps one cut off from the procession of those whose fast has been accepted will be joined with them. Perhaps the one imprisoned by his sins will be freed. Perhaps one deserving to be punished in Hell will be liberated. Perhaps the mercy of the Lord will be granted to the sinner.

Lata'if al-Ma'arif

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (Rahimahullah)

Imam Ibn Rajab al Hanbali 

He was the noble Imaam, the Haafidh, the Critic, Zayn-ud-Deen ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Ahmad bin ‘Abdir-Rahmaan bin al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin Abil-Barakaat Mas’ood As-Salaamee Al-Baghdaadee (due to his place of birth), Al-Hanbalee (due to his madh-hab), Ad-Dimashqee (due to his place of residence and death). His kunyah was Abul-Faraj, and his nickname was Ibn Rajab, which was the nickname of his grandfather who was born in that month (of Rajab).He was born in Baghdad in 736H and was raised by a knowledgeable family, firmly rooted in knowledge, nobility and righteousness. His father played the greatest role in directing him towards the beneficial knowledge.




He learned and took knowledge from the greatest scholars of the ummah during his time. In Damascus, he studied under Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, Zayn-ud-Deen al-‘Iraaqee, Ibn an-Naqeeb, Muhammad bin Isma’eel al-Khabaaz, Dawood bin Ibraaheem at-‘Ataar, Ibn Qaadee al-Jabal and Ahmad bin ‘Abdil-Haadee al-Hanbalee. In Makkah, he heard from al-Fakhr ‘Uthmaan bin Yoosuf an-Nuwairee. While in Jerusalem, he heard from al-Haafidh al-‘Alaa’ee. In Egypt, he heard from Sadr-ud-Deen Abul-Fath al-Maydoomee and Naasir-ud-Deen bin al-Mulook.


His Madh-hab
In Fiqh, he (rahimahullaah) followed the madh-hab of the venerable Imaam, Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allaah have mercy on him. He is counted as being one of the major scholars of the (Hanbalee) madh-hab, and of those who were highly proficient in it. What provides evidence for this is his book: “Al-Qawaa’id al-Kubraa fil-Furoo'” for this is one of his most prominent works on the subject of Fiqh, which shows his vast knowledge on the intricate details of Fiqh issues. This is such that Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr said in his book Ad-Durar: “He did excellent work in it.” And Ibn Qaadee Shuhba and Ibn Muflih said: “It indicates his complete knowledge of the (Hanbalee) madh-hab.”




Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab, may Allaah have mercy on him, was deeply attached to the works of Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah, for he would issue legal rulings according to them and would constantly reference his books. This is since he served as a student under Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, the most outstanding student of Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah, may Allah have mercy on all of them. But in spite of this, he (rahimahullaah) wasn’t a blind follower or a fanatical adherent (to his teacher). Rather, he would review, authenticate, verify and follow the evidences.


Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab, may Allaah have mercy on him passed to the  realm of the Akhira in  Ramadaan, 795H. He died while in Damascus.


Source: http://www.al-manhaj.com/details.cfm?DetailID=121