The blessed month of Dhu`l-\u1e24ijjah is upon us. The Messenger of Allah (Allah\u2019s blessings and peace be upon him) said that there are no days in which righteous actions are more beloved to Allah than the first ten days of this month.1
\nFor that reason some scholars have ruled that these days are better than the final ten days of Rama\u1e0d\u0101n, although the nights of Rama\u1e0d\u0101n are superior to these nights. Allah Himself swears by \u201cthe Ten Nights\u201d in S\u016brat al-Fajr, which is sufficient evidence of their greatness. Most of the scholars say that these are the first ten nights (and days) of Dhu\u2019l-\u1e24ijjah.
\nThe Prophet (Allah\u2019s blessings and peace be upon him) said that fasting one of these days is equal to the reward of fasting for a whole year and standing in one of these nights in prayer is equal to standing in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr.2
\nIt has also been narrated that the reward for actions in these days is multiplied seven hundred times.
\nThis is not to mention the Day of Arafat (the 9th of Dhu\u2019l-\u1e24ijjah) which is the greatest day of the year. Fasting that day wipes out the sins of the previous year and the year to come.
\nIf we are unable to fast the first nine days of the month, we should at least fast the Day of Arafat. If we are able to fast two or three days then by fasting Monday or Thursday or both we will gain the reward of following the Sunnah. Likewise by fasting three of these days we will have performed the Sunnah of fasting three days in every month.
\nThese are days in which we should remember Allah abundantly. Allah says that they remember the name of Allah on well-known days.3 These \u201cwell-known days\u201d according to the majority of scholars are the ten days of Dhu\u2019l-\u1e24ijjah. This is why the Prophet (Allah\u2019s blessings and peace be upon him) said we should make abundant tahl\u012bl (saying l\u0101 il\u0101ha ill\u2019All\u0101h), takb\u012br (saying All\u0101hu akbar) and ta\u1e25m\u012bd (saying al\u1e25amdulill\u0101h).4 Sayyidun\u0101 `Abdull\u0101h Ibn `Umar and Sayyidun\u0101 Ab\u016b Hurayrah would go into the marketplace in these days and raise their voices with the takb\u012br. The people in the marketplace would then raise their voices with the takb\u012br in response. Thus the most hated place to Allah, a place where most people are heedless of Him, was filled with His remembrance.
\nWhether it be prayer, fasting, charity, remembrance, seeking knowledge, helping people, any righteous actions we do will be greatly rewarded and beyond that are beloved to Allah. This is also a time when prayers are answered by Allah.
\nSayyid\u012b al-\u1e24ab\u012bb `Umar bin \u1e24af\u012b\u1e93 (may Allah preserve him and benefit us by him) reminds us that the linguistic meaning of \u1e24ajj is seeking or intending. Thus the people of Allah are constantly performing \u1e24ajj because they are constantly seeking Allah. Just as their whole year is Rama\u1e0d\u0101n, likewise their whole year is \u1e24ajj. Just as those performing \u1e24ajj respond to the call of Allah by saying \u201clabbayk\u201d they are swift to respond to the call of Allah. They take themselves to account and leave that which is disliked and dubious in all their states and actions. They reject the desires of their lower selves and they are the furthest of people from that which is prohibited. They constantly receive new blessings from their Lord so they constantly renew their i\u1e25r\u0101m.5 Day and night they make \u1e6daw\u0101f around the House of their Lord, the One to Whom they turn themselves with absolute sincerity until nothing remains in them which is directed to other than Allah.<\/p>\n
Actions that Carry the Reward of \u1e24ajj<\/strong> 1. Remembering Allah from Fajr until Ishr\u0101q.<\/strong> The Messenger of Allah (Allah\u2019s blessings and peace be upon him) said, \u201cWhoever prays \u1e62ub\u1e25 (Fajr) in congregation and then sits in the place where he prayed remembering Allah until the sun rises and then prays two rakats has the reward of a complete \u1e24ajj and `Umrah.\u201d He repeated \u201ccomplete\u201d three times.6<\/p>\n 2. Attending a gathering of knowledge.<\/strong> The Messenger of Allah(Allah\u2019s blessings and peace be upon him)said, \u201cThe one who goes out to the mosque wanting only to learn good or teach it has the reward of a complete \u1e24ajj.\u201d7<\/p>\n 3. Going to the mosque for the congregational prayer.<\/strong> The Prophet (Allah\u2019s blessings and peace be upon him) said, \u201cWhoever performs ablution in his house and then goes out to perform the obligatory prayer in the mosque has a reward similar to the reward of a Hajj pilgrim. Whoever goes out to perform the mid-morning prayer (\u1e0cu\u1e25\u0101) has a reward similar to the reward of the one performing `Umrah.\u201d8<\/p>\n 4. Performing the Friday Prayer.<\/strong> Sayyiduna Sa`\u012bd Ibn al-Musayyib said performing the Friday Prayer is \u201cmore beloved to me than a supererogatory \u1e24ajj.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. Performing the `\u012ad Prayer.<\/strong> One of the Companions said: \u201cGoing out to pray `\u012ad al-Fi\u1e6dr is equal to performing `Umrah and going out to pray `\u012ad al-A\u1e0d\u1e25\u0101 is equal to performing \u1e24ajj.\u201d<\/p>\n 6. Fulfilling the needs of your brother or sister.<\/strong> Sayyiduna \u1e24asan al-Ba\u1e63r\u012b said: \u201cGoing to fulfill the need of your brother is better for you than performing \u1e24ajj after \u1e24ajj.\u201d<\/p>\n 7. Being good to your parents.<\/strong> The Prophet (Allah\u2019s blessings and peace be upon him) commanded one of the Companions to be good to his mother. If you do so, he said, \u201cYou are a Hajj pilgrim, a person performing `Umrah and someone striving for the sake of Allah (muj\u0101hid).\u201d<\/p>\n 8. Performing obligatory actions. The slave can only draw near to Allah by performing supererogatory actions after first having performed that which is obligatory. This includes purifying one\u2019s heart from forbidden attributes and guarding one\u2019s tongue and limbs from committing forbidden actions. All of this is much harder on the lower self than many supererogatory acts of worship. Source: MuslimVillage<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The blessed month of Dhu`l-\u1e24ijjah is upon us. The Messenger of Allah (Allah\u2019s blessings and peace be upon him) said that there are no days in which righteous actions are more beloved to Allah than the first ten days of this month.1<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6473,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-c71-introduction-to-islam-muslims"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nNothing of course can equal actually performing the \u1e24ajj and worshipping Allah in those blessed places. Allah knows that many people long to make \u1e24ajj every year but are unable to do so. Out of His generosity, He made the reward for certain actions similar to the reward of a supererogatory Hajj.<\/p>\n
\nFinally there is no action more beloved to Allah on the Day of `\u012ad than making a sacrifice. The Messenger of Allah (Allah\u2019s blessings and peace be upon him) told his beloved daughter Sayyidah F\u0101\u1e6dimah al-Zahr\u0101\u2019 that she would be forgiven for her previous wrongdoings with the first drop of blood to be shed from the sacrificed animal. She asked if this reward was specifically for the household of the Prophet and he replied: \u201cFor us and for all the Muslims.
\nHere are some of the adhk\u0101r that many of the pious people would read during the first ten days of Dhu\u2019l-\u1e24ijjah. Sayyid\u012b al-\u1e24ab\u012bb `Umar bin \u1e24af\u012b\u1e93 (may Allah preserve him and benefit us by him) recommends reading them.
\n\u2014
\n1 Narrated by al-Bukh\u0101r\u012b, Ab\u016b D\u0101\u016bd, al-Tirmidh\u012b and Ibn M\u0101jah
\n2 Narrated al-Tirmidh\u012b and Ibn M\u0101jah
\n3 Al-\u1e24ajj, 22:28
\n4 Narrated by A\u1e25mad
\n5 The state of sanctity in which the pilgrim approaches Allah
\n6 Narrated by al-Tirmidh\u012b
\n7 Narrated by al-\u1e6cabar\u0101n\u012b
\n8 Narrated by Ab\u016b D\u0101\u016bd<\/p>\n