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 ore 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 intends 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).
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