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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 Ibn al-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 radiallaahu
'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." [Soorah al-Fajr 89:1-2]. This is why
it is recommended to increase in making takbeer (saying Allaahu
akbar), tahleel (saying Laailaaha illallaah) and tamheed
(saying Alhamdulillaah) during these days ..."2
The Prophet sallallaohu '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.
Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) -
rahimahullaah - said:
"The most excellent day of the week is the
day of Jumu'ah (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 radiallaahu
'anhu said: The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam came to
Madeenah and the people of 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
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam's 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's
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 takbeers
(saying Allaahu Akbar) should be said. Imaam al-Khattaabee (d.456H) -
rahimahullaah - said: "The wisdom behind saying the takbeers
in these days is that in the times of jaahiliyyah (pre-lslaamic
ignorance), they used to slaughter for their taaghoots (false objects of
worship). So the takbeers 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's - 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 radiallaahu '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
takbeers, 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 radiallaahu '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 radiallaahu '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 on 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.
1. Saheeh: Related by
al-Bazzaar (1/234). It was authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee in
Saheehul-Jaami (no.1133).
2. 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. 1 162), from Abu Qaatadh
radiallaahu 'anhu.
5. Related by Muslim (no.1348), from 'Aaishah
radiallaahu 'anhaa.
6. Jaami'ut-Tirmidhee (3/377).
7.
Saheeh: Related by Abu Daawood (no.1765), from 'Abdullaah ibn Qart
radiallaahu 'anhu. It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in Irwaa'
ul-Ghaleel (no.2018).
8. Majmoo' Fataawaa (25/288).
9.
Saheeh: Related by Abu Daawood (no 1945), from Ibn 'Umar
radiallaahu '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 radiallaahu 'anhu. It was
authenticated by al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami' (no.8192).
12.
As explained by Ibn Taymiyyah in Majmoo' Fataawaa (23/ 162-
164).
13. Hasan: Related by Ibn Maajah (no.3123), from Abu
Hurayrah radiallaahu '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 radiallaahu 'anhu.
15. Related by Muslim (no.1977),
from Umm Salamah radiallaahu 'anhaa.
16. Quoted from
Fathul-Baaree (21586).
17. Majmoo' Fataawaa (24/220).
However, what seems more correct is not to restrict the takbeers to
being just after every Prayer. as al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr pointed out
in Fathul-Baaree (21587).
18. Related by Ibn Abee Shaybah in
al-Musannaf (2/1/2). It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in
al-lrwaa' (31125).
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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