Zul-Hijjah | The Sacred Days

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THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF ZIL-HIJJAH

Rasulullah (Sallaahu ‘alayhi Wasallam) said: “On no days is the worship of Allah desired more than in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The fast of each of these days is equal to the fast of a whole year, and the Ibaadat (worship) of each of these nights is equal to the Ibaadat of Laylatul Qadr.” 

[Tirmidhi / Ibn Majah]

Hadhrat Ibn `Abbas (RA) reported that Rasulullah (Sallaahu ‘alayhi Wasallam) said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days."

The people asked, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?"

He said, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause (of Allah), and came back with nothing." 

[Sahih Bukhari]

Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn 'Umar (RA) related that Rasulullah (Sallaahu ‘alayhi Wasallam) said: "No days are as weighty with Allah and so liked by Him for good deeds than the first ten days of Zul Hijjah. So on these days increasingly read: 

SubhaanAllah, Laa ilaaha illallaah, Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar." 

[Musnad Ahmad]

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THE DAY OF ARAFAH (9th ZUL HIJJAH)

Hadhrat Talhah (RA) reported that Rasulullah (Sallaahu ‘alayhi Wasallam) said:  "Apart from the day of the Battle of Badr there is no day on which the shaytaan is seen to be more humiliated, more rejected, more depressed and more infuriated, than on the day of Arafah, and indeed all this is only because of beholding the abundance of descending mercy (on the day) and Allah's forgiveness of the great sins of the servants." 

[Mishkaat]

Rasulullah (Sallaahu ‘alayhi Wasallam) was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah

 (the 9th  Zul Hijjah). 

He said, "It atones for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year." 

[Sahih Muslim]

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When meeting on the day of Eid

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When the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (RA) met on the day of Eid, 

they would say to each other:

Laylatul Qadr

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Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa-Sallam) said : “Whoever stands in prayer and worship on the night of Qadr, with complete faith and with sincere hope of gaining reward, all his previous sins are forgiven.”

Hazrat Ayesha (RA) had asked Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa-Sallam) what prayer she should engage in if she finds Laylatul Qadr. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa-Sallam) advised her the following Dua: 

Suhoor | Sehri

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Hazrat Anas ibn Malik  (Radhiyallahi 'anhu) reported that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Take the morning meal (Suhoor), for verily, there is blessing in the morning meal.”

[Sahih Al-Bukhari | Sahih Muslim]

Hazrat Ibn Umar (Radhiyallahu 'anhu) related that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: ‘Verily Allah and His Malaa’ikah (Angels) send Mercy upon those who eat ‘Suhoor’.

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Verily that which separates (i.e. distinguishes) between our fast and the fasting of the People of the Book (i.e. Jews and Christians) is the eating before dawn (Suhoor).”

[Sahih Al-Bukhari | Sahih Muslim]

Ibn Hajar (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) has mentioned different reasons for taking Suhoor and drawing its blessings:

·         It is a Sunnah

·         Through Suhoor, we differentiate ourselves from the ways of Ahlul-Kitaab, which we are at all times commanded to do.

·         It provides strength for worshiping Allah Ta’ala.

·         It promotes greater sincerity in Ibaadah (worship)

·         It aids in eliminating bad temper, which sometimes surfaces due to hunger.

·         The time of Suhoor is a time when prayers are accepted.

·         At the time of Suhoor, one gets the opportunity to remember Allah Ta’ala, engage is Zikr and lift up the hands in supplication.

Laylatul Bara'ah | 15th of Sha'baan

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Hazrat Aayesha (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) said:

"One night Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) woke up and performed Salaah. He prolonged the Sajdah to such an extent that I wondered whether he had passed away. Seeing this, I got up and shook his foot. Perceiving movement, I felt at ease.

When Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) lifted his head from Sajdah and completed his Salaah, he said: "O Humairah (RA)! Did you think that the Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had deceived you?"

I replied in the negative and said: "I swear in the name of Allah, due to the length of your Sajdah I thought that you had passed away. "

Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: "Do you know what night this is?"

I said: "Allah and his Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) know best."

He said: "This is the fifteenth night of Sha'baan, Allah looks at His servants in this night and forgives those who seek forgiveness, shows mercy upon those who seek mercy and delays the decision of those who harbour feelings of hatred for others”

  

(Baihaqi)

It is also mentioned in this narration that Hazrat Aisha (RA) heard Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) reading this Dua in his Sajdah:

Practising Upon The Sunnah

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Every Sunnat

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