🌙 #GoHijri: The year is not over yet

2nd Rajab 1447H

Assalamu'alaikum,

Your inbox is probably overflowing with "2025 in review" emails.

From companies showcasing their accomplishments to AI-generated insights about your favorite songs, memories, and fitness milestones. Everyone seems to be wrapping up and calling it a year.

However, while the world celebrates the end of another year, a quiet event took place over the weekend that most of us missed.

A new crescent moon was born. And not just any crescent, it was the crescent of Rajab, one of the four sacred months of Allah.

Allah says in the Quran:

"Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them." (Quran 9:36)

And the Prophet ﷺ explained: "The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months—Dhul Qa'dah, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram—and Rajab, which stands between Jumada and Sha'ban." (Bukhari)

When this month enters, a common dua that is often said:

"اللهم بارك لنا في رجب وشعبان وبلغنا رمضان"

"O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha'ban, and allow us to reach Ramadan."

It’s a beautiful dua, because it reminds us that it takes two months of preparation to really get the most out of Ramadan. It's actually one of the reasons we're launching the next cohort of the Productive Muslim Program in Rajab so we can help you design your optimal routine before, during, and after Ramadan (learn more here).

In my article on The Weight of Time, I shared how one way to increase the "weight" of our month is by being aware of the sacred months and aim to increase our good deeds in them and reduce our bad deeds.

Rajab is a heavy month. How are we planning to make the most of it? Here are some practical tips:

• Start fasting for a few days during Rajab, perhaps once a week, so you prepare your body, mind and soul for fasting (if you have makeup fasts, try your best to complete them during this month)

• Re-build your relationship with the Quran, if you haven’t touched the Quran in a long time, start reciting a few pages each day, and work your way up to a full Juz’ of Quran.

• Set your intentions for how you want to make the most of Ramadan and start making plans to fulfill those intentions (i.e. if you plan to do i’tikaaf in Ramadan, start planning your vacation around it).

• Practice refraining from sins that you regularly commit during this month, since they weigh heavier during this sacred month.

Do you have other ideas of how we can make the most of Rajab in preparation for Ramadan? Join our Barakah Culture community and share them there!

So, next time you see a "2025 in review" email, check your Hijri calendar and remind yourself that 1447H isn't over yet, it's just warming up.

Sincerely,

P.S. If you want to experience Barakah in your time and enter Ramadan with real spiritual momentum, join our upcoming Productive Muslim course starting 22nd Rajab 1447H (January 11th 2026). Learn more here