بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

How often do we think that when something is at the end, it is placed in the end because it does not hold much importance as the others placed before it ? Like in the case of a checklist for example. The month of Dhul Hijjah, that hosts the pilgrims alongside having the “Day of Arafah” and bearing the “more important” of our 2 Eids (Eid Al Adha) is the last month on the Islamic calendar.

Despite being the last of the months, its first ten days are regarded superior to the last ten days of Ramadan. Its position (in the Islamic calendar) signifies that it is not enough if we begin (something) in a way that pleases Allah سبحانه وتعالى (like how we begin the year with fasting in the month of Muharram), rather we should strive to continue and also end it in a way (which is more excellent to what we had started with) that pleases Allah.

Dhul Hijjah reminds us to not lose hope in the mercy of Allah, the time where he سبحانه وتعالى forgives and accepts our dua (like in laylatul Qadr) is once again brought to us in the form of Yaum ul Arafah so we can take advantage of it and make up for the (missed) blessed times. From the mercy of Allah is such that, the dua made on Yaum ul Arafah was not restricted to the hujjaj to be accepted rather it was for the entire ummah. So when we can toil for 10 days for attaining the benefit the unknown (Laylatul Qadr) then what is stopping us from toiling for a day for the known (Yaum ul Arafah) ? This day shows us our sincerity, by the actions that we busy ourselves in.

It reminds us of our duty as a Muslim, i.e. Hajj. Every year only around 0.65% of the entire muslim population performs Hajj. Take a minute to recall how many times Allah عزوجل says in the Quran multiple times that, in little is barakah, only few are obedient, some are righteous, some are truthful? So should we not ask Allah to make us amongst such a blessed gathering that encompasses only some (people) of the entire nation ? Should we not strive hard enough to be a part of it ? While most people recite the takbeerat from the Day of Eid and extend it till the 13th of dhul Hijjah, there are only some who know and recite it from Day 1 to 13. While most people fast on Yaum ul Arafah, there are only some who fast from the 1st of dhul hijjah till Yaum ul Arafah. Strive to revive the sunnah, because the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Whoever revives my sunnah, then he has loved me and whoever loved me, he shall be with me in paradise.” And so we should be consistent in such acts regardless of how many (people) perform it.

Finally it reminds us like how Ibrahim (عليه السلام) went on to slaughter the desire of his son Ismail (عليه السلام) due to the command of Allah and as the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Beware! there is a piece of flesh inside the body, if it is good everything becomes good and if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.” We need to slaughter the evils and desires in our hearts to purify it so that he عز وجل  facilitates for us in all our affairs (like how Ismail AS was saved from being slaughtered in the end). As Allah says in the Quran, Surah Hajj, “Their meat will not reach Allah, not will their blood. But what reaches him will be piety from you.”

I ask Allah to bless you all and grant you jannah. All goodness is from Allah and may he (SWT) forgive me for all my mistakes. و الحمد لله رب العالمين.