Special days of special month
As Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,
Dear brothers and sisters in Islam, insha Allah, very soon we will be into the holy month of Dhul-Hijjah, and holy days of first ten days in this month. Here's an article that shall be a reminder for us.
WRITTEN BY ABDULFATTAH OLAJIDE
Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth and last month of the Islamic lunar calendar begins next Wednesday or Thursday Isha Allah. The month of Dhul-Hijjah is loaded with abundant blessings, especially during its first ten days.
Any Muslim desirous of the good of this world and that of the hereafter cannot afford to neglect or ignore the golden opportunities for worldly and spiritual elevation inherent in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
In Qur’an 89:1-2, Allah (SWT) swears by the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, indicating their importance and benefits to believers in Him. In the same vein, the prophet (p.b.u.h) was reported by Ibn Abbaas (may Allah be please with him) as saying: “there are no days during which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. People inquired: not even Jihad in the cause of Allah? He said: not even Jihad in the cause of Allah, unless one goes out for Jihad sacrificing both his life and property and returning with neither.” The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are highly meritorious and beneficial in that they coincide with the performance of Hajj rites. The most important days of Hajj include the day of Tarwiyah (the day the pilgrims resume ihram and proceed to Mina) which falls on Dhul-Hijja 8, the day of ‘Arafah (when the pilgrims stand on the plain of mount Arafah) which is on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, and the day of Nahr (the day of sacrifice and stoning the Jamarat) which falls on Dhul-Hijjah 10.
Although a Muslim is required to perform good deeds every single day of his life, it is imperative that we earmark the first ten days and nights of Dhul-Hijjah for intensive worship and increased preoccupation with righteous deeds in view of the above stated narration from the prophet (p.b.u.h).
Some of the good deeds that could be performed or intensified during these blessed days are listed below.
Performing Hajj and Umrah
Performing Hajj and Umrah are the best deeds that could be done in the first ten days of dhul-Hijjah. In many authentic ahadith, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) said performing Umrah and following it with another expiates the sins committed in between both. He also said the reward for a Hajj mabrur is paradise.
Fasting
Generally, fasting (whether obligatory or voluntary) is a highly meritorious act. Abu Saeed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) said: “any slave of Allah who observes fast of a day in the cause of Allah, Allah would separate between him and the Fire a distance of seventy years on account of observing that day.”
Those who are not performing Hajj should fast throughout the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah. Fasting is forbidden on the tenth of Dhul-Hijja which is eid-el-Kabir day. Whoever finds it inconvenient to fast all the nine days should strive to fast at least on the ninth day which is the day of Arafah. Abu Qataadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (p.h.u.h) said: fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates the sins that were committed during that year, and those that will be committed in the following year.
Takbeer
Abdullah Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam), said: There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved to Allah that these ten days. So recite more often in them the Tahleel (Laa Ilaaha Illallah), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), and Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah). Other forms of adhkar (the remembrance of Allah through different words of praise and glorification) can also be done during these ten days.
At- Tawabah (repentance)
Sincere repentance is obligatory on Muslims every time. It is more likely to be accepted by Allah during these virtuous days. So we must hasten to repent our sins and mend our ways for good in the blessed period.
Sacrifice
Slaughtering a sacrificial animal on eid day is one of the good deeds that attract Allah’s pleasure during this blessed period. So any adult Muslim who can afford to do so should not neglect the act.
According to Sunnah, the slaughtering of a sacrificial animal can be done up till the days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah). Slaughtering of a sacrificial animal is done in commemoration of Allah’s redemption of prophet Ibraaheem (peace be upon him)’s son with a ram.
Anyone who intends to slaughter a sacrificial animal must not cut his hair and nails or remove anything from his skin from the first day of Dhul-Hijja until after he has offered his sacrifice. Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the prophet (p.h.u.h) said: If you see the moon of Dhul-Hajjah, and any one of you wants to make a sacrifice, then he should not cut anything from his hair, nor from his nails, until he performs the sacrifice.” This prohibition applies only to the person making the sacrifice and not his wives or children. However, if there is an individual sacrifice for any other member of the family, the prohibition also applies to such a person.
Attend eid prayer
It is incumbent on those who are not on Hajj to perform the eid prayer and witness the presentation of the Khutbah by the Imam. The eid prayer is so significant that menstruating women are also required to be on the eid ground even though they wouldn’t pray.
Doing more good deeds generally
Doing more good deeds during this period will attract greater reward from Allah. We should therefore seize the opportunity to perfect our obligatory prayers and offer more superogatory ones, read the Qur’an the more, engage in more adhkar, make more supplications (du’aa’), give in charity, honour our parents, uphold the ties of kinship, and enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, among other good deeds and acts of worship.
May Allah make it easy for us to reap all the benefits of the blessed days. Amin!
Dear brothers and sisters in Islam, insha Allah, very soon we will be into the holy month of Dhul-Hijjah, and holy days of first ten days in this month. Here's an article that shall be a reminder for us.
WRITTEN BY ABDULFATTAH OLAJIDE
Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth and last month of the Islamic lunar calendar begins next Wednesday or Thursday Isha Allah. The month of Dhul-Hijjah is loaded with abundant blessings, especially during its first ten days.
Any Muslim desirous of the good of this world and that of the hereafter cannot afford to neglect or ignore the golden opportunities for worldly and spiritual elevation inherent in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
In Qur’an 89:1-2, Allah (SWT) swears by the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, indicating their importance and benefits to believers in Him. In the same vein, the prophet (p.b.u.h) was reported by Ibn Abbaas (may Allah be please with him) as saying: “there are no days during which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. People inquired: not even Jihad in the cause of Allah? He said: not even Jihad in the cause of Allah, unless one goes out for Jihad sacrificing both his life and property and returning with neither.” The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are highly meritorious and beneficial in that they coincide with the performance of Hajj rites. The most important days of Hajj include the day of Tarwiyah (the day the pilgrims resume ihram and proceed to Mina) which falls on Dhul-Hijja 8, the day of ‘Arafah (when the pilgrims stand on the plain of mount Arafah) which is on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, and the day of Nahr (the day of sacrifice and stoning the Jamarat) which falls on Dhul-Hijjah 10.
Although a Muslim is required to perform good deeds every single day of his life, it is imperative that we earmark the first ten days and nights of Dhul-Hijjah for intensive worship and increased preoccupation with righteous deeds in view of the above stated narration from the prophet (p.b.u.h).
Some of the good deeds that could be performed or intensified during these blessed days are listed below.
Performing Hajj and Umrah
Performing Hajj and Umrah are the best deeds that could be done in the first ten days of dhul-Hijjah. In many authentic ahadith, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) said performing Umrah and following it with another expiates the sins committed in between both. He also said the reward for a Hajj mabrur is paradise.
Fasting
Generally, fasting (whether obligatory or voluntary) is a highly meritorious act. Abu Saeed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) said: “any slave of Allah who observes fast of a day in the cause of Allah, Allah would separate between him and the Fire a distance of seventy years on account of observing that day.”
Those who are not performing Hajj should fast throughout the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah. Fasting is forbidden on the tenth of Dhul-Hijja which is eid-el-Kabir day. Whoever finds it inconvenient to fast all the nine days should strive to fast at least on the ninth day which is the day of Arafah. Abu Qataadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (p.h.u.h) said: fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates the sins that were committed during that year, and those that will be committed in the following year.
Takbeer
Abdullah Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam), said: There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved to Allah that these ten days. So recite more often in them the Tahleel (Laa Ilaaha Illallah), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), and Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah). Other forms of adhkar (the remembrance of Allah through different words of praise and glorification) can also be done during these ten days.
At- Tawabah (repentance)
Sincere repentance is obligatory on Muslims every time. It is more likely to be accepted by Allah during these virtuous days. So we must hasten to repent our sins and mend our ways for good in the blessed period.
Sacrifice
Slaughtering a sacrificial animal on eid day is one of the good deeds that attract Allah’s pleasure during this blessed period. So any adult Muslim who can afford to do so should not neglect the act.
According to Sunnah, the slaughtering of a sacrificial animal can be done up till the days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah). Slaughtering of a sacrificial animal is done in commemoration of Allah’s redemption of prophet Ibraaheem (peace be upon him)’s son with a ram.
Anyone who intends to slaughter a sacrificial animal must not cut his hair and nails or remove anything from his skin from the first day of Dhul-Hijja until after he has offered his sacrifice. Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the prophet (p.h.u.h) said: If you see the moon of Dhul-Hajjah, and any one of you wants to make a sacrifice, then he should not cut anything from his hair, nor from his nails, until he performs the sacrifice.” This prohibition applies only to the person making the sacrifice and not his wives or children. However, if there is an individual sacrifice for any other member of the family, the prohibition also applies to such a person.
Attend eid prayer
It is incumbent on those who are not on Hajj to perform the eid prayer and witness the presentation of the Khutbah by the Imam. The eid prayer is so significant that menstruating women are also required to be on the eid ground even though they wouldn’t pray.
Doing more good deeds generally
Doing more good deeds during this period will attract greater reward from Allah. We should therefore seize the opportunity to perfect our obligatory prayers and offer more superogatory ones, read the Qur’an the more, engage in more adhkar, make more supplications (du’aa’), give in charity, honour our parents, uphold the ties of kinship, and enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, among other good deeds and acts of worship.
May Allah make it easy for us to reap all the benefits of the blessed days. Amin!
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