Dhul Hijjah: The twelfth month of the Islamic year, and it’s the month in which Hajj takes place, the annual pilgrimage and one of the most important actions in the life of a Muslim; how can you prepare yourself for this holy month?
The Date of Hajj 2023
The Date of Hajj for this year, 2023, will start on June/26/2023, and it will end Insha’a Allah on July 1st.
Significance of Dhul Hijjah
The significance of this holy month of Dhul Hijjah is that it includes two of the most virtuous events of Islam; The pilgrimage of Hajj and the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, which are the most righteous days of the entire year.
Those days are so sacred that Allah swore an oath by them. Allah Almighty says: “By the dawn, by the ten nights [the first ten nights of Dhul Hijjah]” – Surah Al-Fajr – Verse 1-2.
Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ has taught us to increase our righteous deeds and acts of worship during this sacred time.
He ﷺ said: “There are no days in which righteousness deeds are more beloved to Allah than in these (Ten) days.” – Abu Dawud.
Therefore, all acts of worship, good deeds with good intentions, will grant you the Blessings and forgiveness of Allah the Most Greater.
You will be rewarded for everything you do for Allah’s sake, and your rewards are multiplied as much as Allah, The Most Generous, wants them to be.
Pilgrimage Set in This Month
The Islamic Calendar follows the Lunar year, where the Month of Dhul Hijjah falles at the ends of the year, it is the twelfth month of the lunar year.
During which the Pilgrimage of Hajj begins on a fixed period that range from the 8th of Dhul Hijjah until the 13th of Dhul Hijjah.
Allah Almight says in His Honored Qura’a: “Call ˹all˺ people to the pilgrimage.1 They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant path, so they may obtain the benefits ˹in store˺ for them,1 and pronounce the Name of Allah on appointed days over the sacrificial animals He has provided for them. So eat from their meat and feed the desperately poor. Then let them groom themselves,1 fulfil their vows, and circle the Ancient House.” – Surah – Al-Hajj. Verses 27.28.29.
Feed the Fasting Refugees on the Day of Arafah
One of the Four Sacred Months
Allah Almighty says: “Indeed, the number of months ordained by Allah is twelve—in Allah’s Record1 since the day He created the heavens and the earth—of which four are sacred. That is the Right Way. So do not wrong one another during these months. And together fight the polytheists as they fight against you together. And know that Allah is with those mindful ˹of Him˺.” – Surah At-Tawbah – Verse 36.
The Islamic Calendar has twelve lunar months, four of which are sacred, and each one of these four has its own importance and set of virtue, rules, and practices. The four sacred months are:
- Dhul-Qadah.
The eleventh month of the Islamic year, during which Muslims must sit back from engaging in any type of fighting or warfare.
- Dhul-Hijjah.
The twelfth month of the Islamic year, and it’s the month in which Hajj takes place, the annual pilgrimage and one of the most important actions in the life of a Muslim.
- Muharram.
It is the beginning of the Islamic year, and it means “The Forbidden”. It is the month in which many things are forbidden.”
- Rajab.
The second month of the Islamic year, “Rajab” means to remove and refrain. Muslims in this month start to prepare for the month of Ramadan.
Arafah or the Day of the Standing
The Prophet said: “Fasting the day of `Arafah expiates the sins of two years: the past one and the coming one.” – Muslim.
He ﷺ explained the Value of the ten days of Dhul Hijjah, especially the Day of Arafah. Muslims who are not making the pilgrimage of Hajj must fast on the Day of Arafah because there is no greater act of worship before Allah more beloved to Him Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala than to fast the ten days of Dhul Hijjah and the day of Arafah.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.” – Ahmad.
Just as Laylat al-Qadr is the most blessed night of the Islamic year, the Day of Arafah is the most sacred day of the Islamic year.
And since fasting is one of the best deeds that please Allah Almighty, fasting on the Day of Arafah is one of the best acts of worship you can do for the sake of Allah S.W.T.
In a hadith Qudsi, Allah says: “All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me, and I shall reward for it.” – Bukhari.
Eid Al-Adha
Eid Al-Adha is another blessed festival that comes with the holy month of Dhul Hijjah. Believers celebrate the commemorates of the Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah Almighty and their submission along with his son Ismail (AS) to Allah S.W.T.
Today, Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Adha around the world; they perform prayers – Salatul Eid – and give gratitude to Allah for all the blessings He bestowed upon us.
On the morning of the first day of Eid Al Adha, Muslims give Qurbani to seek the closeness and the pleasure of Allah Almighty and to follow the example of the Prophet Ibrahim.
It teaches us Muslims to let go of worldly attachments in the way that Ibrahim (AS) did, and your sacrifice means that Allah (S.W.T.) will always return His love to you by granting you mercy and rewarding your piety.
Get the Best out of These Days
There are many good deeds and acts of worship that you can do to get the best of these ten days. Let us mention a few of the most vital acts of worship during these days.
Renew your Relations with people.
Family members, precisely the parents, are at the top of our obligations as Muslims. Before performing any act of worship, we need to renew our relations with our family members, starting from our parents, then our grandparents, our siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and so on, from the closest circle to the widest one in your extended family.
Your relation with other people in your community is also required to perform your worship fully, your friends, neighbors, colleagues, and whoever you deal with in your regular life.
Allah says:
“So fear Allah! And set things aright among yourselves. And obey Allah and His Messenger if, indeed, you are believers.” – Surat Al-Anfal, 8:1
Fasting in Dhul Hijjah
Fasting the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah is the most beloved act of worship to Allah Almighty, as it shows your devotion to Allah and you’re following the Sunnah of our Beloved Prophet ﷺ which will grant you the greatest reward of all.
Abu Qatadah reported that: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the observance of fasting on the day of Arafah. He said ﷺ “it expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year.” – Muslim.
Sadaqah in Dhul Hijjah
Maximizing our Sadaqah during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah is extremely valuable and presents the perfect opportunity to earn extra rewards for simple good deeds!
Hasan al-Basri (R.H.) said, “Going to fulfill your brother’s need is better for you than performing Hajj after Hajj”.
Dhul Hijjah in Quran And Hadith
Allah Almighty says in His Honored Qura’a: “Call ˹all˺ people to the pilgrimage.1 They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant path, so they may obtain the benefits ˹in store˺ for them,1 and pronounce the Name of Allah on appointed days over the sacrificial animals He has provided for them. So eat from their meat and feed the desperately poor. Then let them groom themselves,1 fulfil their vows, and circle the Ancient House.” – Surah – Al-Hajj. Verses 27.28.29.
Allah Almighty says: “Indeed, the number of months ordained by Allah is twelve—in Allah’s Record1 since the day He created the heavens and the earth—of which four are sacred. That is the Right Way. So do not wrong one another during these months. And together, fight the polytheists as they fight against you together. And know that Allah is with those mindful ˹of Him˺.” – Surah At-Tawbah – Verse 36.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.” – Ahmad.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Fasting the day of `Arafah expiates the sins of two years: the past one and the coming one.” – Muslim.
FAQ
Why is Dhu al Hijjah a Sacred Month?
Dhu al Hijjah is a sacred month because it holds two of the most remarkable events of the Islamic religion; the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, including the Day of Arafat and Eid Al-Adha.
Are the Nights of Dhul Hijjah Blessed?
Yes. They are.
What are the Benefits of Dhul Hijjah?
If you performed acts of worship with full extension and devotion for the sake of Allah, all your good deeds will be rewarded multiple times, and if you fast on the Day of Arafat, your sins will be erased for two years, one before and one after.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Fasting the day of `Arafah expiates the sins of two years: the past one and the coming one.” – Muslim.
Resources
- https://www.zakat.org/how-do-you-prepare-for-dhul-hijjah-2022
- https://www.orphansinneed.org.uk/news/the-benefits-of-the-first-10-days-of-dhul-hijjah/
- https://muslimhands.org.uk/latest/2019/08/the-benefits-and-sunnah-of-the-first-ten-days-of-dhul-hijjah
- https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/islamic-calendar/dhul-hijjah/