By Alh. Lukman Idris
Dhū l-Hijjah/Ḏū l-Ḥiǧǧah is the twelve and final month in the Islamic calendar.
This is a very sacred month in the Islamic calendar, marking the end of the year. It is in this month in which the Hajj (pilgrimage) takes place.
“Dhu al-Hijjah” literally means “Possessor of the Pilgrimage” or “The Month of the Pilgrimage”. It is during this month that pilgrims from all around the world congregate at Mecca to visit the Kaaba.
The Hajj is performed on the eighth, ninth and the tenth days of this month. Day of Arafah takes place on the ninth of the month. Eid al-Adha, the “Festival of the
Sacrifice”, begins on the tenth day and ends on sunset of the twelfth day.
QUR’ANIC REFERENCE –
The first 10 nights of Zul Hijjah are of the most blessed of nights in which to do good deeds.
Allah (Swt) takes oath in the Holy Qur’aan: “Wal Fajr, Walayaalin Ashr
By the dawn, and the ten nights”
(Surah Al Fajr 89:1-2)
The commentators of the Qur’aan generally agree that the ten nights mentioned above refer to the nights of Zul Hijjah.
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HADITH REFERENCE
According to Islamic traditions, the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are the most blessed days in which to do good deeds.
Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja).”
Then 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 those things.” (Reported by Tirmidhi)
The Prophet used to fast the first nine days of this
month, owing to their virtue:
One of the wives[vague] of Muhammad (saws) said: “Allah’s Messenger (saws) used to fast the [first] nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of ‘Ashurah, and three days of each
month.” (Reported by Abu Dawud)
15th to 24th of September, 2015 is this year’s first ten days of DHUL-HIJJAH, Muslims are hereby enjoined to advise one another to excel in doing good deeds and engage in lots of adhkar (azikiri – praising and glorifying Allah) in these days. Muslim men, most especially are hereby enjoined to make extra efforts to make their 5 daily salat in congregation (strong prerequisite for du’as to be accepted by Allah). And in sha Allah, subsequently continue such virtues into the rest of the year.
Specifically, fasting is prescribed for the 9th of DHUL-HIJJAH (September 23rd – day of arafah) for Muslims not on pilgrimage. On the day of Arafah, du’as are not rejected by Allah, so its imperative to make lots of du’a on this day.
May Allah accept all our acts of ibadah. Amin.
