MEANING:
The month of
"Hajj" (Pilgrimage). This is
the last sacred month in which fighting was forbidden.
The first ten days of Dhul
Hijjah are full of virtues and great blessings. According to a large group of
mufassireen (commentators of the Qur’aan), the ten nights mentioned in Soorah
Al-Fajr are the nights of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Allah says:
By the Dawn; By the ten
Nights; (89:1-2)
This oath substantiates
the greatness and sacredness of these ten nights in the eyes of Allah. This is
an extra ordinary oath; it is very reliable and significant and the wise men
can understand that by this oath, Allah too attaches great importance and value
to the ten nights of Dhul Hijjah.
The Prophet (PBUH&HF)
too, has clearly mentioned the importance and the virtue of these blessed
moments. It is reported by Abdullah Ibne Abbaas (RA) that the Prophet said, “No
good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten
days of Dhul Hijjah).” Thereupon, some companions of the Prophet said, “Not
even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even jihad, except that of a man who does it by
putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return
with any of these things.” (Bukhaari V1 pp132)
In another Hadith, the
Prophet (PBUH&HF) said, “On no days is the worship of Allah desired more
than in the (first) ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The fast of each of these days is
equal to the fast of a whole year, and the worship of each of these nights is
equal to the worship of Laylatul Qadr.” (Tirmizi V1 pp58)
Moreover, what other
virtue can be greater for these blessed days than the fact that certain
specific devotions cannot be performed but in these specified days. Allah
Almighty has specifically chosen these days for the fulfilment of two of the
most important devotions, viz. Hajj and Qurbani.
One may argue and say that
there are other forms of devotions too, which are fixed to specific days and
moments; hence what is the speciality of these particular days? The answer to
this argument is simple. Although there are other devotions too, which are also
fixed to specific time, such as fasting in the month of Ramadhan; but one may,
if he desires, fulfil the devotion of fasting in days other than Ramadhan i.e.
as an optional devotion. On the contrary, the wuqoof of Arafat (which is the
essence of Hajj), the wuqoof of Muzdalifah, etc., cannot be performed but in
these specified days.
If one was to remain in
Arafat for many months after the 9th Dhul Hijjah, he will not receive any
reward whatsoever and it will never be considered an act of ibaadah.
Similarly, Qurbani is
performed only in three days one of which is 10th Dhul Hijjah. There is no
possibility whatsoever of a nafl Qurbani once these days have lapsed, so much
so that qazaa Hajj or qazaa Qurbaani is not even possible. It is because of
these distinguishing characteristics that the ulamaa have stated, in the light
of Qur’aan and Hadith that after the days of the month of Ramadhan, the
greatest days in virtue are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.
The
reward of ibadah in these days increases abundantly and the results are
honoured with specified blessings and mercies by the Creator.
EVENTS:
1. Hadhrat Fatimah (SA)
was married in this holy month to Hadhrat Ali (AS)
2. Egypt was conquered by
the army sent by Hadhart Umar (RA)
3.
"Bay'ate-Aqabah"
4. Shahadat Imam Mohammad Baqir (AS).
5. The Prophet
(PBUH&HF) performed the farewell Hajj and gave the historic sermon known as
the "Farewell Sermon"
6. 9th Zilhajj: Day of
Arafah and Shahadat-e-Hazrat Muslim Ibne Aqeel (AS)
7. The second Muslim
festival Eid ul Adha falls on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.
ACTS OF VIRTUE:
The first ten days of
ZulHajjah are extremely sacred and good deeds are most beloved to Allah in
these ten days. There are certain specific acts of virtue in these blessed days
of Dhul Hijjah which are enumerated and explained below:
These days are so blessed
that a day’s fast is equivalent to a year’s fast and a night’s devotion is
equivalent to the ibaadah of Laylatul Qadr. The indication is towards the fact
that we should endeavor to perform as many virtuous acts as possible in these
days.
1. Recite the masnoon dua
when sighting the moon of Dhul Hijjah.
2. Recite the Takbiraat as
much as possible from the 1st to 13th of Dhul Hijjah.
3. Perform good deeds
(Fasting, charity, voluntary prayers, zikr, etc) as much as possible.
4. Observe the fast of 9th
Dhul Hijjah as it leads to expiation of sins of the previous year and the
coming year.
5. It is recommended to
observe fasting on the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah, for it is equal to the
fasting of one’s whole lifetime.
6. At each of these ten
nights, it is recommended to offer a two unit prayer between the Maghrib and
Isha obligatory prayers and to recite at each unit Surah al-F¡tihah once, Surah
al-Tawhid once, and the following verse (7/142):
And We appointed with
Moses a time of thirty nights
and completed them with
ten more,
so the appointed time of
his Lord was complete forty nights,
and Moses said to his
brother Aaron: Take my place among my people,
7. The Sunnah of Prophet
Ibrahim (AS) – the Qurbani. It is to be performed on 10th, 11th or 12th Dhul
Hijjah. One may sacrifice a thousand animals on days other than these, but it
will never be regarded or considered a Qurbani.
Here, a believer is taught
a great lesson that an action or a place or a time does not hold any virtue in
itself; but rather it is Allah’s command and order that changes the status,
level and grade of things.
BLESSINGS:
1. 9th Dhul Hijjah is the
day of Arafah in which the main fardh of Hajj is performed i.e. wuqoof Arafah.
This is a great moment for the pilgrims when the Mercy of Allah descends upon
them in abundance and their sins are forgiven and du’aa accepted. Allah,
through His Compassion and Mercy, has not deprived the non-pilgrims of his
mercy, but rather, shown the way to His Pleasure. The Prophet (PBUH&HF) was
asked about the fast of the day of Arafah. He said, “It compensates for the
(minor) sins of the past and the coming year.”
(Note: One should take note
that the sins forgiven are minor sins. The major sins are not forgiven without
tawbah.)
2. 10th Dhul Hijjah is the day of Eid ul Adha. The fifth pillar of Islam
"Hajj" is performed in this sacred month. The first ten days of
Zul-Hijjah are the most virtuous days in this whole month, Hajj is performed
amongst these ten days.
An animal sacrifice in
memory of the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) is offered on 10th ZulHajjah.
May Allah ta’aalaa bless
us with spiritual gains and His Pleasure in these blessed moments. Aameen.
