Islamic Months
THE MONTH OF DHUL-Hijjah
Assalam o alikum
Masjid Al Ansar would like to extend to you and your family Eid greetings.
The month of Dhul Hijjah 1442 AH, one of the sacred month begins on Sunday, 11th July 2021.The 9th of Dhul Hijjah will be on Monday July 19th It is recommended for those who are not performing the Haj to fast on this day.Eid ul Adha will be on Tuesday, July 20 2021. Insha allah, Masjid Al Ansar will be performing the Eid salah on Tuesday , July 20th at its location 161-34 Foch Blvd at 7 am sharp.
We pray that Allah suban u tallah will accept our sacrifices, prayers and all our acts of Ibadah and grant us forgiveness during the best 10 days of the Islamic year
NOTE: the best nights are the last 10 nights of Ramadan and the best days are the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.
Ibn’ Abbas says about the Aayah, “Remember Allaah during the well known days,” that it refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. [This is related by al-Bukhari]
Allaah swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning) “By the dawn; by the 10 nights” [al-Fajr 89:1-2]. Ibn Abbaas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer said: “This is the correct opinion.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413]
Praise be to Allaah Who has created Time and has made some times better than others, some months and days and nights better than others, when rewards are multiplied many times, as a mercy towards His slaves. This encourages them to do more righteous deeds and makes them more eager to worship Him, so that the Muslim renews his efforts to gain a greater share of reward, prepare himself for death and supply himself in readiness for the Day of Judgement.
This season of worship brings many benefits, such as the opportunity to correct ones faults and make up for any shortcomings or anything that one might have missed. Every one of these special occasions involves some kind of worship through which the slaves may draw closer to Allaah, and some kind of blessing though which Allaah bestows His favour and mercy upon whomsoever He will. The happy person is the one who makes the most of these special months, days and hours and draws nearer to his Lord during these times through acts of worship; he will most likely be touched by the blessing of Allaah and will feel the joy of knowing that he is safe from the flames of Hell. [Ibn Rajab, al-Lataaif, p.8]
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].” The companions asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad in the way of Allaah?” He said, “Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger [for Allaah’s sake] and returns with neither of them.” [This is related by the group except Muslim and an-Nasa’i]
Ahmad and at-Tabarani record from Ibn’Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “There is no day more honorable in Allaah’s sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allaah than those in these ten days. So say tahlil (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah : Laa ilaaha illallaah), takbir (Allaah is the greatest Allaahu Akbar) and tahmid (All praise is due to Allaah : alhumdulillaah) a lot [on those days].” [Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated it is saheeh]
Abu Hurairah 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 Hijja. 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].” [This is related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi]
Ibn’ Umar narrated that at Mina, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “Do you know what is the day today?” The people replied, “Allaah and His Messenger know it better.” He said, “It is the forbidden (sacred) day. And do you know what town is this?” They replied, “Allaah and His Messenger know it better.” He said, “This is the forbidden (sacred) town (Mecca). And do you know which month is this?” The people replied, “Allaah and His Apostle know it better.” He said, “This is the forbidden (sacred) month.” The Messenger added, “No doubt, Allaah made your blood, your properties, and your honour sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours in this town of yours.”
Narrated Ibn’ Umar: On the Day of Nahr (10th of Dhul-Hijja), the Messenger (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) stood in between the Jamrat during his Hajj which he performed (as in the previous Hadith) and said, “This is the greatest Day (i.e. 10th of Dhul-Hijjah).” The Messenger (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) started saying repeatedly, “O Allaah! Be Witness (I have conveyed Your Message).” He then bade the people farewell. The people said, “(This is Hajjat-al-Wada).” [Bukhari 2.798]
Fasting Day of Arafat
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. Fasting the day of ‘Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it.” [This is related by “the group,” except for al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]
Hafsah reported, “There are five things that the Messenger (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) never abandoned: fasting the day of ‘Ashurah, fasting the [first] 10 [days of Dhul-Hijjah], fasting 3 days of every month and praying two rak’ah before the dawn prayer.” [This is related by Ahmad and an-Nasa’i]
‘Uqbah ibn’Amr reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) said, “The day of ‘Arafah, the day of sacrifice, and the days of tashreeq are’ids for us–the people of Islam–and they are days of eating and drinking.” [This is related by “the five,” except for Ibn Majah. At-Tirmidhi grades it sahih]
Abu Hurairah stated, “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu’alaihi wa sallam) forbade fasting on the day of’Arafah for one who is actually at ‘Arafah.” [This is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah]
At-Tirmidhi comments: “The scholars prefer that the day of ‘Arafah be fasted unless one is actually at ‘Arafah.”
Takbeer
It is Sunnah to say Takbeer (“Allaahu akbar”), Tahmeed (“Al-hamdu Lillaah”), Tahleel (“La ilaha ill-Allaah”) and Tasbeeh (“Subhaan Allaah”) during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and to say it loudly in the mosque, the home, the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allaah and mention His name out loud, as an act of worship and as a proclamation of the greatness of Allaah, may He be exalted. Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning)
“That they might witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e., reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the name of Allaah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice)…” [al-Hajj 22:28]
The majority of scholars agree that the “appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, because of the words of Ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father), “The appointed days are the first ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah).”
The Takbeer may include the words “Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, la ilaaha ill-Allaah; wa Allaahu akbar wa Lillaahil- hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah; Allaah is Most Great and to Allaah be praise),” as well as other phrases.
Takbeer at this time is an aspect of the Sunnah that has been forgotten, especially during the early part of this period, so much so that one hardly ever hears Takbeer, except from a few people. This Takbeer should be pronounced loudly, in order to revive the Sunnah and as a reminder to the negligent. There is sound evidence that Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with them) used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them. The idea behind reminding the people to recite Takbeer is that each one should recite it individually, not in unison, as there is no basis in Sharee’ah for doing this.
As we enter the first 10 days of this blessed month, our hearts and prayers are with those undertaking the holy pilgrimage of Hajj during these days. While many of us are unable to make the blessed journey this year, there are still many ways for us to reap the blessings of this month.
Here are some tips so we can all make the most of during blessed 10 days and night days of Dhul Hijjah:
- Read the Quran:
Reading the Qur’an is a good deed and Allah (swt) especially loves the good deeds done in these days. Read as much as you can, even if it is a few verses each day.
- Increase in Nawaafil Prayers
There are a number of extra prayers you can observe during the day to increase your worship and good deeds.
- Make lots of dhikr
Our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.” [Ahmad]:
These words should be recited abundantly in the masajid, homes, streets and in every place where it is permissible to remember and glorify Allāh for He says “That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (reward of Hajj in the Hereafter and also some worldly gain from trade), and mention the Name of Allāh on appointed days (the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah), over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice)”
Tahmeed: Al-hamdu Lillah (All praises be to God)
Tahleel: Laa ilaha ill-Allah (There is no god but Allah)
Tasbeeh: Subhaan-Allah (Glory be to God)
Reciting the Takbeeraat-e-Tashreeq from the 9th to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah:
Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallahu Wallahu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Wa lillahil Hamd.
Translation: “Allāh is the greatest, Allāh is the greatest. There is no deity besides Allāh and Allāh is the greatest. Allāh is the greatest and all praises are for Allāh only.”
Note: Men can recite the above after every fardh salaat from Fajr of the 9th of Dhul Hijjah until Asr of the 13th of Dhul Hijjah audibly. Women should recite it si So, remember and glorify Allāh no matter what you are doing: This is particularly easy as one can remember Allāh anywhere and at any time whether it is during work or any daily activity.silently.
Avoid doing the takbeerat in unison, the Sunnah is for everyone to do it individually.
- Istighfaar
Use these blessed days to seek forgiveness for all our wrongdoings.
5. Fasting
It is Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, because fasting is one of the best of deeds. In a hadith qudsi, Allah says: “All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.” [Bukhari, 1805]
The Prophet said: “Fasting the day of `Arafah expiates the sins of two years: the past one and the coming one.” [Muslim]
- Give in charity
Give in charity in these blessed days, as much as you can.
- Preserve ties of kinship
Maintaining the ties of kinship is from the best of deeds due to the saying The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his lifespan to be extended, let him maintain the ties of kinship.” [Bukhari].
The Apostle of Allah said: “When you see the new moon of Dhu’l-Hijjah, if any one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, then he should stop cutting his hair and nails until he has offered his sacrifice.” In another report he said: “He should not remove (literally, touch) anything from his hair or skin.” (Reported by Muslim)
This authentic hadith indicates that the one who wants to offer animal sacrifice must stop cutting his hair and nails and removing anything from his skin, from the beginning of the month of Dhul-Hajj until he or she has offered his sacrifice on the allowable days.
And finally as Eid approaches, don’t forget to give your Qurbani.