The
Month of Dhul-Hijjah
Tariq b. Shihab reported that a Jew said to'Umar: You recite a verse which, if it had been revealed
in relation to us, we would have taken that day as the day of rejoicing.
Thereupon 'Umar said: I know where it was revealed
and on the day when it was revealed and where Allaah's
Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi
wa sallam)
had been at that time when it was revealed. It was revealed on the day of 'Arafa (ninth of Dhu'l hijjah) and Allaah's
Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi
wa sallam) had been staying
in 'Arafat. Sufyan said: I doubt, whether it was
Friday or not (and the verse referred to) is this:" Today I have perfected
your religion for you and completed My favours upon you" (v. 4).
No. 7153 SahihMuslim.Com
Narrated Ibn 'Umar: At Mina,
the Prophet (SallAllaahu `Alayhi
Wa Sallam)
said, "Do you know what is the day today?" The people replied,
"Allah and His Apostle know it better." He said, "It is the
forbidden (sacred) day. And do you know what town is this?" They replied,
"Allah and His Apostle know it better." He said, "This is the
forbidden (Sacred) town (
No. 1637 SahihalBukhari.Com
The Month of Dhul-Hijjah
By the Grace
of Allaah we have started the month of Dhul-Hijjah (the month of Hajj or Pilgrimage), in which Allaah has marked out, for both the pilgrims and the
non-pilgrims, some very blessed days. So we shall mention here some of the
virtues and rewardful acts that are connected to
these blessed days.
DOING GOOD DEEDS IN GENERAL:
The first ten
days of Dhul-Hijjah are the best and most virtuous
days of the year. They are the days in which Allaah
the Mighty and Majestic - most loves the doing of good deeds. About this the
Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi
wa sallam)
said, “The best days in the world are the ten days.” [1]
Imaam Ibnul-Qayyim (d.751H) - rahimahullaah
– said, “Indeed, its days are the most excellent of all the days with Allaah. And it has been confirmed in Saheehul-Bukhaaree
(2/382), from Ibn ’Abbaas (radiyallaahu ’anhumaa) who said,
that Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu
’alayhi wa
sallam) said, “There are no days during which good
deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these (ten)
days.” He was then asked, ‘Not even jihaad in the
path of Allaah?’ So he replied, “Not even jihaad in the path of Allaah,
except for a person who goes out with his self and his wealth, and comes back
with nothing.” And it is these ten days that Allaah
has taken an oath by in His Book, by His saying,
“By
the Dawn and by the Ten Nights.” [Sooratul-Fajr 89:1-2]
This is why it
is recommended to increase in making takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar), tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha illallaah) and tamheed (saying Alhamdulillaah)
during these days ...”[2]
The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)
said, “There are no days that are greater with Allaah,
and in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days. So
increase in making tasbeeh (saying Subhaanallaah), tamheed, tahleel and takbeer, during
them.”[3]
FASTING THE DAY OF ’ARAFAH:
The ninth day
of Dhul-Hijjah is the day of ’Arafah,
since it is on this day that the pilgrims gather at the mountain plain of ’Arafah, praying and supplicating to their Lord. It is mustahabb (highly recommended) for those who are not
pilgrims to fast on this day, since the Prophet (sallallaahu
’alayhi wa
sallam) was asked about fasting on the day of ’Arafah, so he said, “It expiates the sins of the past year
and the coming year.” [4] Likewise, the Prophet (sallallaahu
’alayhi wa
sallam) said, ‘There is no day on which Allaah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day
of ’Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing
on ’Arafah), and then He revels before His Angels
saying, ‘What are these people seeking.” [5]
Imaam
at-Tirmidhee (d.275H) - rahimahullaah
– said, “The People of Knowledge consider it recommended to
fast on the day of ’Arafah, except for those
at ’Arafah.” [6]
SLAUGHTERING ON THE DAY OF AN-NAHR AND ’EEDUL-ADHAA OR THE FOLLOWING
THREE DAYS:
The tenth day
of Dhul-Hiijah is known as the day of an-Nahr (slaughtering), since it marks the ending of the major
rites of Hajj (Pilgrimage), and commemorates the bounty and mercy of Allaah - the Most High - in that He gave His beloved
Prophet Ibraaheem - ’alayhis-salaam
- a ram to sacrifice in place of his firstborn son Ismaa’eel
- ’alayhis-salaam. And out of the ten best days of
the year, it is the day of an-Nahr which is the most
excellent day of the year with Allaah.
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) - rahimahullaah – said, “The most excellent day of the week
is the day of Friday, by the agreement of the Scholars. And the most excellent
day of the year is the day of an-Nahr. And some of
them said that it is the day of ’Arafah. However, the
first opinion is the correct one, since it is related in the Sunan collections that the Prophet (sallallaahu
’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The most excellent days with Allaah is the day of an-Nahr,
then the day of al-Qarr (the day that the Muslims
reside in Minaa).” [7]” [8]
The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)
said, “The greatest day of the Hajj (Pilgrimage) is the Day of an-Nahr (Slaughtering).” [9]
The day of an-Nahr is also known as ’Eedul-Adhaa
(the Festivity of Sacrifice) and is one of the two major festivals that Allaah has granted to this Ummah.
Anas (radiyallaahu ’anhu) said, ‘The Prophet (sallallaahu
’alayhi wa
sallam) came to al-Madeenah
and the people of al-Madeenah had - since the times
of jaahiliyyah (Pre-lslaamic
Ignorance) - two days which they marked out for play and amusement. So the
Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi
wa sallam)
said, ‘I came to you, and you had two days of play and amusement in the times
of jaahiliyyah. But Allaah
has replaced them with something better for you: The day of al-Adhaa (sacrificing) and the day of al-Fitr
(ending the Fast).” [10]
The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)
also said, “The day of al-Fitr, and the day of an-Nahr, and the days of at-Tashreeq
(the three days after an-Nahr) are our days of ’Eed (festivity); and they are days of eating and drinking.”
[11]
’Eedul-Adhaa, is a day in which the Muslims slaughter a
camel, cow, sheep or goat, in commemoration of the sacrifice of Ibraaheem - ’alayis-salaam. And
this sacrifice is an obligation upon all those who have the means to do so -
according to the most correct opinion of the Scholars. [12] The basis of this
is the Prophet’s (sallallaahu ’alayhi
wa sallam)
saying, “One who has the ability to sacrifice, but chooses not to do so, should
not approach our place of (’Eed) Prayer.” [13] And
his (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)
saying, “Whosoever sacrificed before the Prayer, then let him do so again. But
whosoever has not sacrificed, then let him sacrifice.”
[14] So this order refers to those who have the ability to do so - and Allaah knows best.
As regards
those who intend to sacrifice - normally the head of the household - then they are prohibited from cutting their hair or nails, starting
from the first day of Dhul-Hijjah up until after the
sacrifice. Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu
’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When the ten days start, and one of you
intends to sacrifice, then let him not cut his hair or his nails.” [15]
GLORIFYING ALLAAH WITH THE TAKBEER:
From the day
of ’Arafah (the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah),
up until the ’Asr Prayer on the thirteen day, are
days in which the takbeeraat (saying Allaahu Akbar) should be said. Imaam al-Khattaabee (d.456H) - rahimahullaah – said, “The wisdom behind saying the takbeeraat in these days is that in the times of jaahiliyyah (pre-lslaamic
ignorance), they used to slaughter for their tawaagheet
(false objects of worship). So the takbeeraat were
prescribed in order to indicate that the act of slaughtering is directed to Allaah alone, and by mentioning only His - the Mighty and
Majestic - Name.” [16]
Shaykhul-lslaam Ibn Taymiyyah - rahimahullaah – said, “All praise be
to Allaah. The most correct saying concerning the takbeer - that which the majority of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors), and the Scholars from the
Companions and Imaams were upon - is to begin making
the takbeer from Fajr
(dawn) on the day of ’Arafah, up until the last day
of at-Tashreeq (the thirteenth of Dhul-Hijjah),
after every Prayer.” [17]
Ibn Abee Shaybah relates, “That ’Alee
(radiyallaahu ’anhu) used
to make the takbeer beginning after the Fajr Prayer on the day of ’Arafah,
up until after the ’Asr Prayer on the last day of at-Tashreeq.” [18]
As regards the
actual wording of the takbeeraat, then nothing
authentic has been related from the Prophet (sallallaahu
’alayhi wa
sallam). However, certain wordings have been
authentically related from a group of Companions. From them:
Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallaahu ’anhu) would say, “Allaah is
great, Allaah is great. None has the right to be
worshipped except Him. And Allaah is great, Allaah is great. And to Him belongs all praise. [Allaahu akbar,
Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Laa ilaahaa illallaah,
wallaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar wa
lillaahil-hamd.]” [19]
Ibn ’Abbaas (radiyallaahu ’anhu) said, “Allaah is great, Allaah is great, Allaah is great,
and to Allaah belongs all praise. Allaah
is greater and Sublime. Allaah
is greater to what He has guided us to. [Allaahu akbar, Allaahu
akbar, Allaahu akbar, wa lillaahil-hamd.
Allaahu akbar
wa ajalla. Allaahu akbar
’alaa maa hadaanaa.]” [20]
Unfortunately,
many Muslims have neglected the takbeer established
from our Salaf (Pious Predecessors) and have instead
resorted to additions which have no basis at all.
Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr
(d.856H) - rahimahullaah – said, “Indeed, additions
have been invented upon this day, which have no basis
at all.” [21]
And may Allaah have mercy upon the one who
said,
“Every good is
in following the Salaf; And
every evil is in the innovations of the late-comers.”
And all praise
is for Allaah, Lord of the worlds. And may Allaah extol and send the choicest blessings of peace upon
our Leader, Muhammad, and upon his Family, his Companions, and all those who
follow them.
Footnotes:
[1] Saheeh: Related by al-Bazzaar
(1/234). It was authenticated by Shaykh
al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’
(no. 1133).
[2] Refer to Zaadul-Ma’aad (1/56).
[3] Saheeh: Related by at-Tabaraanee
in al-Kabeer (3/110/1) It was authenticated by al-Mundharee in at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (2/24).
[4] Related by
Muslim (no. 1162), from Aboo Qataadah
(radiyallaahu ’anhu).
[5] Related by
Muslim (no. 1348), from ’Aa‘ishah (radiyallaahu ’anhaa).
[6] Refer to Jaami’ut-Tirmidhee (3/377).
[7] Saheeh: Related by Aboo Daawood (no. 1765), from ’Abdullaah
Ibn Qart (radiyallaahu ’anhu). It was
authenticated by al-Albaanee in Irwaa‘ul-Ghaleel
(no. 2018).
[8] Refer to Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (25/288).
[9] Saheeh: Related by Aboo Daawood (no. 1945), from Ibn ’Umar (radiyallaahu ’anhu). It was authenticated by al-Albaanee
in al-lrwaa‘ (no. 1101).
[10] Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (3/103).it was authenticated by
al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr in Bulooghul-Maraam (no.
398).
[11] Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (no. 1945), from ’Uqbah Ibn ’Aamir
(radiyallaahu ’anhu). It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’ (no. 8192).
[12] As
explained by Ibn Taymiyyah
in Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (23/162-164).
[13] Hasan: Related by Ibn Maajah (no. 3123), from Aboo Hurayrah (radiyallaahu ’anhu). It was authenticated by Shaykh
al-Albaanee in Takhreej Mushkilatul-Fiqr (no. 398).
[14] Related
by al-Bukhaaree (no. 5562) and Muslim (no. 1960),
from Jundub Ibn ’Abdullaah al-Bajalee (radiyallaahu ’anhu).
[15] Related
by Muslim (no. 1977), from Umm Salamah (radiyallaahu ’anhaa).
[16] Quoted
from Fathul-Baaree (21/586).
[17] Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (24/220). However, what seems more
correct is not to restrict the takbeeraat to being
just after every Prayer, as al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr pointed out in Fathul-Baaree (21/587).
[18]
Related by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf (
[19] Related
by Ibn Abee Shaybah with an authentic chain of narration
[20] Related
by al-Bayhaqee (3/315) with an authentic chain of
narration.
[21] Fathul-Baaree (2/536).
Taken from
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