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.” ← Back to Blogs
