Journeying through sacred month:
A time of devotion, worship and spiritual growth
Introduction:
The month of Dhul Hijjah holds a deep desire for every Muslim, as it ignites the longing to perform Hajj, regardless of prior experience or not. The mere thought of visiting the Ka’bah brings an unparalleled sense of tranquility, while the blessed waters of Zamzam quench the thirst like nothing else. The city of Madinah, too, envelops hearts in a unique serenity.
As we anticipate the divine opportunity to embark on the sacred journey of Hajj, we can utilize this time to prepare ourselves by delving into the teachings of the Noble Quran.
“..so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of iḥrām], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do – Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is piety..” [2:197]
With this profound understanding, why delay any further? Let us equip ourselves with provisions that not only benefit us in this worldly life but also in the hereafter. Let us make a sincere intention to embrace Taqwa to the best of our abilities, In Shaa Allah!
In this blog post, we will explore the beauty and essence of Dhul Hijjah, shedding light on its importance, recommended acts and the special opportunities it presents to gain immense rewards during these blessed days.
Dhul Hijjah: Among the Sacred Four
“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..” [9:36]
Divine Pledge: The Days Sworn by Allah
In the opening of Surah Fajr, He says:
“By the dawn; by the ten nights.” [1-2]
The consensus is that these ten nights are the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah. The virtue and sanctity of these days are emphasized by the fact that Allah has honored them by taking an oath.
Messenger’s insight: The Excellence of the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “The best days in the world are the ten days.” [Authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee]
These 10 days encompass the blessed days of Hajj, including Yawm Al Arafah, when Allah perfected the religion for us, and Yawm An Nahr, the day of sacrifice in the name of Allah.
Unmatched Rewards: Prevail over Jihad
Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “There are no days during which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days,” meaning the (first) ten days of Dhul Hijjah. They said: “O Messenger of Allah! Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?” He said: “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah, unless a man goes out with himself and his wealth and does not bring anything back.” [Ibn Majah 1727]
Ibn Hajr (رحمه الله) said: “The reason why the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are special is because they comprise the essential acts of worship such as Salah, fasting, charity, and Hajj, which are not found in any other period.”
Supremacy of deeds: Surpassing merits of Ramadan
Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said: “The 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are more virtuous than the last 10 days of Ramadan, and the last 10 nights of Ramadan are more virtuous than the last 10 nights of Dhul Hijjah.”
Ibn Rajab (رحمه الله) said: “The voluntary acts [performed] in the ten days of Dhul Hijjah are better than those [performed] in the [last] ten days of Ramadan. Similarly, the obligatory acts in the ten days of Dhul Hijjah are multiplied more than they are multiplied in the days other than them.”
( فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري / جـ ٩)
Abundant remembrance of Allah: Recite the Takbeer
Imam Al-Bukhari (رحمه الله) said: “Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with both) would go out to the market place on the ten days of Dhul Hijjah saying the takbeer. Upon hearing them, the people would do likewise.”
It begin from the time the sun set preceding the first day of Dhul Hijjah due to the saying of Allah:
“..and mention the name of Allah on known days.” [22: 28]
Beware the Bid’ah trap: Navigating Common Innovations
After associating partners with Allah (shirk), innovating new practices in matters of faith (bid’ah) is detested by Allah. Just as we adhere to the teachings of the Prophet (sunnah), it is our responsibility to be aware of prevalent bid’ah and abstain from it. Some of them that are commonly practiced during these days are,
- Offering sacrifices in the name of anyone other than Allah is considered associating partners with Him (shirk), which goes against the principles of Islam.
- Reciting takbeer collectively, in dhikr circles, or through mass messaging is not in accordance with the practices of the Prophet (sunnah).
- Abstaining from applying perfume, refraining from marital relations, and not washing the hair solely for the sake of sacrifice is not in line with the teachings of the Prophet (sunnah).
- Observing mourning on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah due to Hussain’s رضي الله عنه departure from Makkah to Kufa is a belief associated with the Shia.
- Fasting on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah as a sign of respect is explicitly forbidden, as it is the day of Eid al-Adha, and fasting on the days of Eid is considered prohibited (haram).
Yawm Al Arafah: Pinnacle of Hajj
Ibraheem عليه سالم had a dream in which he was commanded to sacrifice his son. Upon waking up, he questioned whether it was a divine revelation or just a dream. This led to a day of contemplation known as the day of Tarwiyah. The following night, he had the same dream again, and upon awakening, he realized it was indeed a command from Allah. This day became known as the day of Arafah, signifying the day he recognized the divine message. [Taken from ‘Al-Mughni’ by the Faqeeh Ibnu Qudaamah رحمه الله]
The most virtuous day: 9th of Dhul Hijjah
A man from the Jews said to ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه :‘O leader of the believers; there is an Ayah in your Book which you read; if it had been revealed to the like of us Jews then we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid. Which Ayah is that?’ He said: “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” [5:3]
The very reality that Allah handpicked the day of ‘Arafah to reveal this verse makes it even more special and blessed.
Day of Allah’s divine mercy: Liberation from Hell’s grasp
Aisha رضي الله عنها reported Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying: “There is no day when Allah sets free more servants from Hell than the Day of ‘Arafah. He draws near, then praises them to the angels, saying: What do they want?” [Muslim 1348]
Ibn Abdil – Barr رحمه الله said : “This proves that they have been forgiven , because He would not boast of the people of errors and sins except after repentance and pardon – and Allah Knows best .”
Triumph of Repentance: Shaytan’s defeat on the blessed day of Arafah
Shaykh ‘ Abdur – Rahmaan As – Sa’dee رحمه الله said : “For indeed ; Satan is not seen to be more driven away than on the day of Arafah , due to that which he sees from the descending of the Angels and mercy from Allah for His servants .”
Observing fast on day of Arafah: Erase 2 Years Worth of Sins
It is mustahab (highly recommended) for those who are not pilgrims to fast on this day, since the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was asked about fasting on the day of ’Arafah, so he said, “It expiates the sins (minor) of the past year and the coming year.” [Muslim]
On this day, Allah showers His mercy upon those who are sincere and genuine in their worship. If we do not seize this opportunity to turn to Allah in repentance on this day, then when will we do so? If we ignore the call of our Lord on this significant day, then when will we respond? It is truly unfortunate for a person whose past sins have not been forgiven, as they hesitate to engage in good deeds and miss out on the blessings of sacred moments. They remain unaware of the potential success and prosperity that lies ahead, failing to seize the opportunities presented to them. How many of us truly fear Allah and have achieved our aspirations and hopes? Why should we not shed tears when we are uncertain about what awaits us after this worldly life? How can we remain idle when we have no knowledge of our destination after death?
Remember the saying of ‘Abdullah Ibn Mubarak رحمه الله !
“I entered upon Sufyan al-Thawri on the evening of ‘Arafah whilst he was kneeling on his knees and his eyes shedding tears, so he turned towards me and I said to him: “Do you know who the loser is today?” He replied: “The one who thinks Allah shall not forgive him!” [لطائف المعارف ابن الجوزى ص ٣١٠]
So strive hard, read the Qur’an, do your Adhkar, and keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah. Forgive those who have hurt you and seek forgiveness from those whom you have wronged. Good deeds indeed erase bad deeds, and Allah rewards us even if we do good worth an atom. So make the most out of it; who knows, it could be our last Arafah.
Conclusion:
Don’t let the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah pass you by as if they are ordinary days of the year. Such blessed times occur only ONCE in a year. Take benefit before they elapse and we become regretful. Beware of falling short in doing good deeds, for this day cannot be made up for.
How merciful is He? That He gives us chance, after chance. Opportunity after opportunity – to attain His mercy, His forgiveness, and His guidance. How then can we turn our faces away from Allah knowing these are days in which two units of prayer are better than anything in this world, and that in it includes Yawm al-Arafah, a day where Allah wants to forgive our sins.
Let these 10 days be a glad tiding to the one who did not exert all his effort in Ramadan, to the one who sinned after he repented, to the one who has neglected years of Ibadah. Glad tidings to us all, for it is a chance to turn back to Allah. It is a chance to make our scales of good deeds heavier than our bad. It is a chance to make up for the past and an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with our Creator.May we be granted the ability to nurture our spirituality in this Dhul-Hijjah in the way Allah intended us to. Aameen.