Welcome Dhul-Hijjah 1445
Welcoming the Best Days of the Year!
Alhamdulilah, we are blessed with the best days of the year, Dhul-Hijjah. The twelfth and final month of the Islamic Hijri calendar and it holds immense significance for Muslims worldwide. It is a month dedicated to the greatest journey, the journey of Hajj. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam where millions of Muslims gather in Makkah to fulfil this obligatory act of worship. This month is especially revered for the first ten days, which are considered the best days of the year for performing good deeds.
“The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.””
Anyone who performs good deeds during these ten days, will be rewarded more than in any other period of the year. Let us use this opportunity to make the most of the ten days. It does not need to be an exhaustive list, but rather creating good habits in performing small and consistent acts of worship. Prephaps this will serve a catalyst to a renewed dedication to worshiping Allah.
FASTING
The Prophet ﷺ said, “I used to fast the first 9 days of Dhul-Hijjah.”
[Nasa’i]
Fasting is one of those deeds that are so special, that Allah Subhana wa ta’ala Himself will reward His servant for it. It is mentioned in Hadith Qudsi, that Allah says, “All of the deeds of the son of Adam are for him except for fasting, and fasting is for Me, and I will reward accordingly.”
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever fasts a day in the way of Allah, Allah will move his face away from the Hellfire by a distance of seventy years.”
[Bukhari]
FASTING 'ARAFAH
If you are not able to fast for the first eight days of Dhul-Hijjah, ensure not to miss out on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah which is the Day of ‘Arafah.
The Day of ‘Arafah is the best day of the year. for those who are performing Hajj, the scholars says that Hajj is ‘Arafah, implicating the importance of this day. It is the day on which sins are forgiven, souls are released from the Hell-fire, and duas are accepted.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no day in which Allah sets free more slaves from Hell-fire than the Day of ‘Arafah. Indeed, He draws near, and He then boasts about them (pilgrims) to the angels and says: ‘What do these (slaves of mine) want?’”
[Muslim]
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the fast of the Day of ‘Arafah, he said: “It wipes away the (sins) of the past year and upcoming year”
[Muslim]
DHIKR
During these days, one should keep his tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah. It is such an easy and effortless act of worship which has huge rewards.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “There are no days greater in the sight of Allah, or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him than these 10 days. So, recite a great deal of ‘Tahil’ (La ilaa ha ilAllah), ‘Takbir’ (Allah Akbar), and ‘Tahmid’ (Alhamdulillah.
[Ahmad]
SADAQAH
let us remember the importance of giving charity. Give Sadaqah even if it’s a little bit each day, since good deeds on these ten days are more beloved to Allah!
‘The best charity is that given in Ramadan, and then in Dhul- Hijjah.’
[Bayhaqi]
QUR'AN
It is essential that one engages in reading and understanding the Qur’an daily during these blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah.
‘Indeed, this Qur’an guides to what is most upright, and gives good news to the believers who do good that they will have a mighty reward.’
[Surah Al-Isra: 9]
If Ramadan was the last time you picked up the Qur’an, the this is a great time to get back into reading and understanding the Book of Allah! Allah had made the Qur’an easy for one to remember.
UDHIYYAH
If you are planning to offer a sacrifice, then one should not cut his hair or nails until the udhiyyah is completed on Eid-ul Adha after salah.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said; “When you see the new moon of Dhul-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.”
[Muslim]
DUA & ISTIGHFAR
The best Dua is the Dua of ‘Arafah:
“There is no god worthy of worship but Allah. He is Alone and He has no partner whatsoever. To Him Alone belongs all sovereignty and all praise. He is over all things All-Powerful”
[Tirmidh]
Transliteration: “Laa illaaha illAllahu wahdahu, laa shareeka lahu, lahul mulku, wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay in qadeer”
Prophet ﷺ said; Allah will write one hundred hasanat (rewards) for whoever says this (above dua) ten times in the morning and forgive him one hundred misdeeds. He will have the reward of freeing a slave and will be protected from the shaytaan throughout the day unto dusk. Whoever says it in the evening will have the same reward.
[Ahmad]
Seek the forgiveness of Allah during these blessed days and have hope that Allah will forgive you.
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’”
[Surah Az-Zumar: 53]
SALAH
Aside from the obligatory prayers, use these days to develop a consistent habits to perform your sunnah prayers and voluntary (nafl) prayers. In doing so, these will guard your obligatory prayers and help one to draw closer to Allah.
Let us strengthen our bond with Allah by seeking Istighfar every day during these blessed days, asking Allah to protect us from the Hell-Fire and to grant us Paradise.
As we would like Allah to forgive us for our shortcomings, do not forget to seek the forgiveness of each other. You may have hurt, upset, or been unjust to someone or they may have wronged you. Therefore, let us all forgive others for the wrongs they have done to you.
May Allah make these days our best days and accept it from us. Ameen.