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The
Excellence of Dhul Hijjah
In The name of
Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A reminder, "Fa Zakir, Inna Zikhrah Tinf'a Lili Mu'umineen" - " And Remind
(by preaching the Qur'an,O Muhammad [SWS] ), for verily, the reminding
profits the believers". Surah Adh-Dhariyat - 51:55.
Please read it, regardless you know (knowledgeable) or not, certainly,
Insha-Allah there is a great benefit for each one of us.
The Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah -Revised... Tasirul Islam
All praises and thanks for Allah Karim only, and Peace, Prayers and
Blessings upon our beloved Messenger (SWS), his family and Noble Companions.
Please pay attention very closely, as Allah Karim says:
1. By the dawn;
2. By the ten nights (the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijja),
3. And by the even and the odd (of all the creations of Allah).
4. And by the night when it departs.
5. There is indeed in them (the above oaths) sufficient proofs for men of
understanding (and that, they should avoid all kinds of sins and
disbeliefs)!
Surah Al-Fajr - 89: 1-5.
With resspect to verse 89:3, "Even and Odd" is interpreted differently by
different religious scholars. Some say, even is the Day of Slaughtering of
the Sacrifices, 10th of Dhul-Hijja, and Odd is the Day of Arafah (Hajj), 9th
of Dhul-hijjah. Others say, Even is all the creatures and Odd is Allah.
Some say, it is the the compulsory congregational prayer [Maghrib is Witr
(the odd)], and other four prayers are Ash- Shafi (the even).
Fasting on the 9th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah is strongly recommended,
the Messenger (SAW) said:
"Fasting the day of Arafah expiates the (minor) sins of two years: a past
one and a coming one. And fasting the day of Ashura expiates the sins of the
past year." Sahih Muslim.
I am sure, Insha-Allah each and everyone of you will try to take advantage
of this golden opportunity every year, as long as we live.
The Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah and its significance:
Insha-Allah, I will indicate a few Sunnah with respect to these blessed days
and Insha-Allah, rest assured will receive Allah's reward.
The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah:
"The best days in the world are the Ten days." Ibn Hibbaan, al-Bazzaar,
authenticated in Sahih Jaami` us-Sagheer # 1133.
"There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved by Allah than
these (ten) days." Sahih Al-Bukhari, At-Tirmidhi and others.
The Messenger was then asked: "Not even Jihaad in Allah's way?" He replied:
"Not even Jihaad in Allah's way; except for a person who went out (for
Jihaad) with his self and wealth and came back with none (i.e. lost all for
Allah)." At-Tirmidhee, authenticated in al-Albaanee's Irwaa' ul-Ghaleel, #
953.
All good deeds can be achieved during these blessed days and the early
generations of Muslims used to exert themselves in worshipping Allah only.
Especially, fasting and dhikr (i.e mentioning and remembering Allah) can be
done during these days.
Dhikr:
Ibn Abbaas commented on the verse and to mention Allah's name plentifully on
Known days -22:28, by saying: these known days are the ten days (of Dhul
Hijjah), (Tafseer ibn Katheer).
Fasting:
One of the wives of the Prophet (SWS) said:
"Allah's Messenger (SWS) used to fast the (first) nine days of Dhul Hijjah,
the day of `Ashura, and three days of each month. Sahih Sunan Abu Dawud
#2129.
Fasting on all these days, however, is not a waajib (compulsory), nor is it
a constant sunnah that the Messenger (SWS), never avoided. Aishah (RA)said:
"I never saw the Messenger (SWS) fast the ten days." Sahih Muslim.
The Day of `Arafah-The Best Day of the entire Year:
The day of Arafah is the day when the pilgrims stand in worship on the
Mountain of Arafah.
"Fasting the day of `Arafah expiates the (minor) sins of two years: a past
one and a coming one. And fasting the day of Ashura expiates the sins of the
past year." Sahih Muslim.
"There is no day on which Allah `Azza Wa Jall frees people from the Fire as
He does no the day of `Arafah. He comes close (to those standing on Arafah)
and then revels before His angels, saying: "What are these people seeking?"
Sahih Muslim
The Day of Adha:
The tenth of Dhul-Hijjah is Eid ul-Adha or the day of An-Nahr
(slaughtering). It marks the conclusion of the major rites of Hajj, and
commemorates Allah's bounty on His Messenger Ibrahim (AWS), when He gave him
a ram to sacrifice as ransom for his son Ismail (AWS).
"The day of Al-Fitr (i.e. Eid ul-Fitr), the day of an-Nahr, and the days of
Tashreeq are Eid days for us Muslims. They are days of eating and
drinking." Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, Saheeh ul-Jaami # 8192.
The Three Days Following Eid ul-Adha.
On these days, the pilgrims complete their rites, Muslims continue with
their Eid celebrations, and are prohibited to fast. "The days of tashreeq
are days of eating, drinking and mentioning Allah." Sahih Muslim.
The Sacrifice:
Allah Azza Wa Jall mentioned the sacrifice together with the first and
foremost worship in Islam: prayer. This is a clear indication of its great
significance. Thus He ordered His Messenger (SWS), to slaughter sacrifices
by saying: Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (slaughter)
Surah Al-Kauther-108:2.
The Ruling:
The general concensus of the Muslim scholars is that the sacrifice is an
important Sunnah, and a worship called for in the Law of Allah. However,
they differ as to whether it is nafl (voluntary) or waajib (mandatory) for
those who can afford it. Some scholars have explained the different Ahadith
on the subject by indicating that the sacrifice is obligatory on those who
can afford it and not obligatory on those who cannot.
Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Messenger (SWS), said: "He who has the
capacity, and does not sacrifice, may not approach our musallaa (place of
prayer - on the Eid)." Ibn Maajah, Ahmad and others, authenticated by
Al-Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah, #2533.
Regarding this hadith, Imam ash-Shaukaanee said: "Prohibiting the one who
could afford to sacrifice, but did not do so, from approaching the musallaa
indicates that he must have left off a waajib, as it becomes useless to
offer the salaah without this waajib (obligation)." Nayl ul-Awtaar.
Avoid Cutting Hair or Nails:
The one who plans to sacrifice (normally, the head of household) is
prohibited to cut his hair or nails from the first Dhul Hijjah until he
offers the sacrifice. "For the one who has a slaughtering to perform (on
Eid then, once the hilaal (crescent) of Dhul Hijjah is observed, let him
not cut any of his hair or nails until he sacrifices." And in another
narration: "Once the ten days start, for those of you who have the intention
to sacrifice, let them not cut any of their hair or nails (until they
sacrifice)." Sahih Muslim. This prohibition is the opinion of the majority
of the scholars of the early generations of Muslims.
Women and children going out to attend Eid Prayers:
Our Islamic Shari'ah requires all ages of women and children to go out and
attend Eid Prayers. It includes married, single, young, old and menustrating
women. Umm Atiyah reports that our Messenger (SWS) said:
"We were ordered to go out with the single and mesnustrating women to the
two Eids in order to witness the good and the supplications of the Muslims.
The Menustrating women would be separated from the others." Sahih Al-Bukhari
and Sahih Muslim.
Ibn Abbsas (RWA) narrated that The Messeneger (SWS) would take his wives and
daugters to two Eids. Ibn-Majah and Al-Baihaqi.
Ibn Abbas further reported that "I went out with the Messnger (SWS) on the
day of breaking the fast or the of the Sacrifice, and he prayed and gave a
Khutba, and then he went to the women and admonoshed them, reminded them of
Allah, and ordered them to give charity. Sahih Al-Bukhari.
I close with what Allah says:
"And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (SWS), and transgresses His
limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to abide therein; and shall have a
disgraceful torment. Surah An-Nisa - 4:14,
And
"...And whatsoever the Messneger (Muhammad SWS) gives you, take it; and
whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it). And fear Allah; verily is
Severe in punishment. Surah Al-Hashr - 59:7.
I wish you all "Eid Mubarak" and those of you are going for Hajj, May Allah
accept your Hajj and as well all Muslims. Ameen!
Please do not forget to include my family and me in your Du'a. Please
forward to everyone for the reminder, Jazak-Allah Khairan.
May Allah bless you all reading it, and Insha-Allah surely you will benefit
from it, rest assured, all rewards from Allah Karim only. I pray that Allah
Karim accept this from me. Allah Karim knows best
Tasir.
Revised - January, 2005.
February, 2002.
Tasirul Islam
tasirul@yahoo.com
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