Dhul-Hijjah [“The month of Hajj” – this is the month of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, again when no warfare or fighting is allowed]:
This month has been named zul hajjah because the hajj pilgramage is performed in this blessed month. it is ,therefore, necessary to know the injunctions about it which are briefly mentioned below:
out of these three injunctions are very important:
- it is desirable to make sacrifical animals fat, flesy and healthy. for this purpose they should be purchased in advance.
- the man who intends to offer qurbani (acrifice)should not pare his nails nor get himself shaved during the period from the first of zul hajjah till the slaughter of the sacrifical animal.
- it is necessary to keep vigil from the night on which the moon is slighted and observe fast from the first day of the month. all these acts are desirable
THE VIRTUES OF NINE DAYS OF FASTING AND OF KEEPING AWAKE TILL THE TENTH NIGHT.
THE HOLY PROPHET PBUH is reported to have said that by ” ten nights are meant the ten nights of zul hajjah, by the odd is meant the arafah day and by the even is meant the day of the qurbani (sacrifice).
THE HOLY PROPHET PBUH has said that the good deeds done during these ten days are more pleasing and dearer to ALLAH than good deeds done on any other days.
ALMIGHTY ALLAH is more pleased with the worship done during the ten days of zul hajjah than worship done during any other days. one days fasting during these ten days is equal to one years fasting and keeping vigil on every one night of power.
NOTE:
it is forbidden to observe fast on four days i.e. from the tenth to the thirteenth of this month. so the fast carrying vitue are those which are observed up to the ninth day.
THE HOLY PROPHET PBUH said:
i hope from ALLAH that the fast observed on the arafah (the 9th of zul hajjah)will be a expiation for the proceeding one year from this day and the following one year.
HE PBUH also said that fasting on the arafah day is equal to fasting on one thousand days.
The sins commited during the two years are forgiven for him who observes fast on the day of arafah.
THE HOLY PROPHET PBUH has said in a hadith: if a man keeps vigil on the nights of eidul fitr and eid ul adha his heart shall remain alive onthe day on which the hearts of others will become dead.
TAKBEER E TASHRIQ
THE HOLY PROPHET PBUH has said: there are no days better in the sight of ALLAH than these days (i.e. the ten days of zul hajjah) for doing good deeds. thus, you should be particular in reciting during these days.
The words of the takbeer tashreeq are:
ALLAHU AKBAR, ALLAHU AKBAR, LAILAHA ILAHU, WALAUAKBAR, ALLAHUAKBAR, WALILAHILHAMD.
NAWAAFIL PRAYERS AND FASTING FOR THE MONTH OF ZIL HAJJATUL HARAAM.
This month is full of attanments, particularly the first ten days and nights. in these days PROPHET HAZRAT IBRAHEEM (ALAIS SALAAM). Along with his sons. HAZRAT ISMAIL (ALAIS SALAAM), Laid down the foundation of the house of ALLAH, the kabba. In this month, HAZRAT IBRAHIM (ALAIS SALAAM) Was asked by ALMIGHTY ALLAH to sacrifice HAZRAT ISMAIL(ALAIS SALAAM).
THE PROPHET MOHAMMAD (SALAALHO ALAHI WA SALLAM) said that ALLAH ALMIGHTY called ZIL HAJJ a month of great blessing. Its first days are full of blessing and anyone offering prayers will recieve great rewards. of these ten days, the 8th day (tarwiyya or day of takbeer), the 9th day (day of arafah) and the tenth (day of sacrifice) enjoy the most significance and greatness. all prayers offered on these days will recieve limitless reward.
NAFIL FASTS DURING THIS MONTH
To fast from the 1st to the 9th day of zil hajj is a means of recieving many rewards and blesssing of ALLAH TA’ALA. fasting on the 7th,8th and 9th leads to the reward of graeter excellence. ALLAH TA’ALA will shower his blessing in many ways on such a person.
THE PROPHET MOHAMMED (SALLALAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) has described the virtues of the fasting in this month:
* Fasting on the 1st day:Virtue as much as jihad for ALLAH’S sake for 2,000 years without resting.
*fasting on the 2nd day: virtue worshiping ALLAH for 2,000 yaers.
*Fasting on the 3rd day: virtue freeing 3,000 slaves from the heirs of HAZRAT ISMAIL (ALAHIS SALAAM)
*Fasting on the 4th day: virtue 4,000 years praying.
*fasting on the 5th day: virtue giving clothing to 5,000 unclad persons.
*fasting on the 6th day: virtue equal to 10,000 martyrs
*fasting on the 7th day: virtue all the seven doors of hell are closed from that person.
*fasting on the 8th day: virtue eight doors of paradise are opened for that person.
RECITNING SURAHS
DURING THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF ZIL HAJJ: reciting ‘surah duha’ during these days will lead to great blessing from ALLAH TA’ALA. PROPHET MOHAMMAD (SALLALAHO ALAHI WASALLAM) said, ALLAH TA’ALA will save the reciter of this surah from the hell fire.
NAFIL NAMAAZ
1ST TO 10TH NIGHT: after isha, offer two rakats. in each rakat, after alhamdu, recite ‘sura kausar’ and ‘Qul hu wal lah’ three times each. the reward: for each hair in the persons body, he would get 10,000 vitues, and he would get reward of offering (sadqa) of one thousand gold coins. in the book of deeds, many of his sins will be wiped off.
1ST night: on the night when the moon is sighted, after isha prayers offer 4 rakats in 2 salaams. in each rakat, after surah fatiha, recite ‘qul hu wal lah’ 25 times. the person will recieve countless blesing from ALLAAH FOR THIS PRAYER.
2ND NIGHT: offer 4 rakats with 2 salaams. in each rakaat after surah fatiha recite ‘ayutul kursi’ 3 times, ‘qul hu wal la 3 times, ‘surah falaq’ 3 times and ‘surah nas’ 3 times. after namaaz recite durood sharif’ 11 times. after this raise your hands and read dua. then read’ durood sharef’ again, 11 times. then ask ALLAH TA’ALA for all that you desire. INSHA ALLAH, These will be granted.
1ST THUSDAY NIGHT OF ZIL HAJJ: offer 2 rakat after salatul isha. In each rakat after SURAH FATHIHA, recite ‘SURAH KAUSER’ and ‘QUL HU WAL LA’ once. the person offering this salat with sincerity and devotion will have the pleasure of seeing his place in paradise in his lifetime, INSHA’ALLAH.
1ST FRIDAY OF ZIL HAJJ: Offer 6 rakat salat after salatul zuhr, with 3times. in each rakat after surah fatiha, recite ‘QUL HU WAL LA’ 11 times. then beseech ALLAH TA’ALA in all eagerness for the acceptance of your salat and for forgivness of your sins, offering DUROOD SHARIF 11 times before and after your dua. ALLAH TA’ALA. Out of his infinite mercy will pardon your sins and grant you a place in paradise.
OF SACRIFICE QURBANI
Offering of sacrifice (qurbani) is of great credit. THE HOLY PROPHET PBUH is reported to have said that during the days of qurbani (zill hijja) no other thing is dearer to ALLAH than qurbani and during these days this virtuous act is better than all other virtues.
While sacrificing an animal every drop of its blood that falls on the earth is eccepted by ALLAH before it actually reaches the ground, therefore sacrifice ahould be offered with pleasureand broad heartedly the HOLY PROPHET PBUH has said that for each hair of the sacrifice. ALLAH be praised! what more credit can be than the unlimited virtuous if one, for whom qurbani is not essential, offers sacrifice in expectation of this unlimited reward. if the perscribed days of qurbani are missed, then how would one get the reward?
If anyone has been favoured with wealth by ALLAH, then it is better for him to offer sacrificefor his decesed relatives father, mother etc_ so that their souls may get the promised reward. sacrifice should also be offered for the HOLY PROPHET PBUH, his consorts and one’s spiritual preceator etc. at least one should offer sacrifice for his ownself. if a rich person or thoses for whom it is essential, do not offer sacrifice, it is not only a misfortune but also a sin.
