Thursday, December 13, 2007

Merits of the month of Dhul-Hijjah


December 12, 2007 was the first day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar in Mumbai and surrounding areas. This is the month of sacrifice and Hajj, and is very auspicious. The ninth day of this blessed month falls on Thursday, December 20, and 'Id -ul-Adha on Friday, December 21, 2007.

Allah swears an oath by the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "By the dawn; by the ten nights" (Surah al-Fajr 89:1-2). The "ten nights" refer to those of Dhul-Hijjah.

Ibn 'Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah]." (Related by Bukhari)

Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There is no day more honorable in Allah's sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allah than those in these ten days. So say tahleel (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah: Laa ilaaha illallaah), takbeer (Allah is the greatest: Allaahu Akbar) and tahmeed (All praise is due to Allah: alhamdulillaah) a lot [on those days]." (Related by Ahmad)

Abu Hurayrah relates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There are no days more loved to Allaah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power [ i.e., Lailatul Qadr]." (Related by Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Baihaqi)

Fasting on the day of 'Arafah (9th Dhul-Hijjah)

Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Fasting on the day of 'Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it." (Related by Muslim)

Hafsah reported, "There are five things that the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) never abandoned: fasting the day of 'Ashurah [10th Muharram], fasting the [first] ten [days of Dhul-Hijjah], fasting three days of every month and praying two rak'ah before the dawn prayer." (Related by Ahmad and Nasa'i)

For those who intend to sacrifice

Those who intend to sacrifice are recommended to refrain from clipping nails and shaving/cutting hair.

Umm Salamah reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "If anyone has in his possession a sacrificial animal to offer as sacrifice [on 'Id al-Adhaa], he should not get his hair cut and nails trimmed after he has entered the first days of Dhul-Hijjah." (Related by Muslim)

Umm Salamah reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "He who has a sacrificial animal with him whom [he intends] to offer as sacrifice, and he enters the month of Dhul-Hijjah, he should not get his hair cut or nails trimmed until he has sacrificed the animal." (Related by Muslim)

Those who cannot sacrifice an animal are also recommended to refrain from clipping nails and shaving/cutting hair. This will entitle them to a reward equal to those who sacrifice, Insha Allah.

Shared by Brother Shamlan