DHUL HIJJAH

DHUL HIJJAH

All praise is to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, the companions and all the Muslims. 

I bear witness that there is no one to be worshipped other than Allah alone and I bear witness that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His messenger.

Insha'Allah, I will be sharing this short note as a reminder with references from the Holy Qur'an and the Ahadith of the Prophet (ﷺ), to the best of my knowledge.

Dhul Hijjah is one of the holiest months in the Islamic Calendar. It is the month of Hajj, one of the five sacred pillars of Islam, the month in which Prophet Ibrahim (Alayhi Salam) made his sacrifice to Allah translating to the procession Eid al-Adha. 

FIRST TEN DAYS OF DHUL HIJJAH

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah (the 10 best days) are the most sacred days of the year, loved by Allah. Therefore, by giving to Islamic Relief, you can reap the rewards of this blessed month.

Allah says;

وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ 

And [by] ten nights. (Surah Al-Fajr 89:2)

The noble Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explained the above Qur'an verse by saying:

"No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja)." Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Not even Jihad?" He replied, "Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah, unless a man goes out himself and his wealth and does not bring anything back.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 969, Sunan Ibn Majah 1727 and Sunan Abi Dawud 2438).

Those who intended Qurbani must abide by some laws, as commanded by Allah and the Prophet (ﷺ).

Allah says;

وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ 

.....And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice..... (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:196).

The Prophet (ﷺ) also laid emphasizes on the statement of Allah in some narrations of Ahadith. 

Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) reported the below Hadith directly from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ): 

If anyone has in his possession a Qurbani (sacrificial animal) to offer as a sacrifice (on Eid al-Adha), he should not get his hair cut and nails trimmed after he has entered the first days of Dhu'l Hijjah. (Sahih Muslim, 1977e).

THE QURBANI (SACRIFICE)

The Qurbani is the slaughtering of animal – a goat, sheep, camel or cow – during Eid al-Adha.

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an that:

فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ 

So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice [to Him alone]. (Surah Al-Kawthar 108:2)

and

لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 

Their meat will not reach Allāh, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allāh for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good. (Surah Al-Hajj 22:37).

QUALITIES OF QURBANI (SACRIFICE)

Qurbani is an act of worship most beloved to Allah during the days of Tashreek and it is important that one offers the best possible offering. Standards covers health, weight (meat yielded) and age.

Narrated by Anas bin Malik: 

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer two rams as sacrifices, and I also used to offer two rams. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5553).

QURBANI ANIMALS

The time for animal sacrifice starts from the 10th of Dhu'l Hijjah and ends by sunset on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah.

Eligible qurbani must meet the minimum requirements, such as the age of the animal for Qurbani and their conditions.

Below are recommended Qurbanis:

🔹Sheep/Goat/Ram: should be at least one year in age (this is equivalent to one person’s Qurbani).

🔹Cows/Buffalo: should be two years in age (equivalent to seven people’s Qurbani).

🔹Camels: should be five years in age (equivalent to seven people’s Qurbani).

CONDITIONS OF QURBANI (SACRIFICE)

All animals must be healthy and free of disease, including the following conditions:

- They must not be excessively thin or lean.

- They must be able to walk themselves to the site of the slaughter.

- They must not be toothless, or missing over half their teeth.

- They must not be blind or one-eyed.

- They must not have a lame leg (unable to walk on it).

SLAUGHTERING THE QURBANI

For an animal to be accepted as Qurbani, it is essential that the slaughter is carried out humanely following Qurbani rules. 

Below are some of the rules that should be followed:

1) A sharp knife must be used to carry out the Qurbani – dull knives may inflict unnecessary pain and suffering.

2) Knives must not be sharpened in front of the sacrificial animal.

3) No animal should be slaughtered in front of another animal.

4) When the sacrifice is being made, the words “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar” must be recited.

5) The animal should not to be skinned until the body is entirely cold.

It was narrated from Shaddad bin Aws that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 

“Allah has prescribed Al-Ihsan (proficiency) in all things. So if you kill, then kill well, and if you slaughter, then slaughter well. Let one of you sharpen his blade and spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.” 

(Sunan Ibn Majah 3170, Sunan an-Nasa'i, 4414 and Sahih Muslim 1955a).

SUNNAH ACTS ON EID AL-ADHA

It is said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform some rites on the day of Eid al-Adha. These rites are also recommended for all Muslims too.

Below are some of the Prophet's acts;

▪️Make ghusl (take a shower or bath)

▪️Eat breakfast – the Prophet (ﷺ) ate dates before going out.

▪️Wear the best clothes you have.

▪️Apply fragrance/perfume.

▪️Say the general takbeerat after Fajr prayer (and other days of Tashreek).

▪️Walk to the Eid praying ground (if not too far)– follow a different route on the way back home.

▪️Perform Eid prayer in congregation. (where safe to do so and socially distanced).

▪️Connect with friends and family (where safe to do so in person/virtually).

▪️Exchange gifts.

O Allah, guide us with those whom You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, be an ally to us along with those whom You are an ally to, and bless what You have bestowed upon us, and save us from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted.

BAITUL MA’MUR (THE FREQUENTED HOUSE)

Baitul Ma’mur (الْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ), the “Frequented House”. The angels make Tawaf (circumambulation) to this House just like we humans make Hajj or Umrah to the Holy Ka’aba. The Ka’aba on earth is a replica of it. Angels perform prayer in the Bait-ul-Ma’mur.

Every single day, seventy thousand (70,000) angels visits it fo circumambulation. This will continue on until the Day of Resurrection.

The house itself is also mentioned in Qur'an.

Allah says;

وَٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْمَعْمُورِ 

“And by the Bait-ul-Ma'mur (the frequented House).”  Surah At-Tur 52:4.

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also mentioned it in the narration of his journey to the heaven (Isra' wal Mira'aj).

"Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma’mur (i.e. Allah’s House). I asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma’mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave, they never return to it (but always a fresh batch of angels comes into it daily)."  Sahih Al-Bukhari 3207 and  Sahih Muslim 164.

He also said, Then the Bait-ul-Ma’mur was raised up to me. I said: O Gabriel! what is this? He replied: It is the Bait-ul-Ma’mur. Seventy thousand (70,000) angels enter into it daily and, after they come out, they never return again. Two vessels were then brought to me. The first one contained wine and the second one contained milk, and both of them were placed before me. I chose milk. It was said: You did right. Allah will guide rightly through you your Ummah on the natural course.......

And then he narrated the rest of the hadith to the end.”  Sahih al-Bukhari 3207 and  Sahih Muslim 164

SUMMARY

This indicates their great numbers (of angels) and that only Allah knows how many they are. Hence, we must believe in them generally and specifically as honored creation, not humans or Jinn, but as creatures created from light as related in numerous hadith.

It is a Masjid like the Kabah, above seven skies. The angels visit it, pray in it, and do Tawaf (circumambulation). Each day, a fresh batch of 70,000 angels comes to it. Till the Day of Judgement the same batch of angels will not get a chance to return to it again. Haven known how mighty and powerful the work force of Allah, how powerful must Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) be?

PROPHET NUH'S ARK

Safinat Nuh (سَفِينَةُ نُوحٍ). 

Other name: Al-Fulk (الفُلْك).

The size of the Ark was 300 cubits by 50-cubit.

Surah 29:15 of the Quran refers to it as a safina, an ordinary ship; surah 7:64 uses fulk, and surah 54:13 describes the Ark as "a thing of boards and nails.

The Ark was constructed three (3) different layers; wild and domesticated animals were lodged in the first part; Prophet Nuh and his followers occupied the second layer, and the third were occupied by different birds.

Whenever Prophet Nuh (Alayhi Salam) invites his people to Allah, they either run away from him or put their fingers in their ears and became too proud to listen to the truth. All in all, he realized overtime that his efforts were surely in vain.

Consequently, he became tired and sad; so he asked Allah (SWT) to destroy the non-believers.

As Quran says:

وَقَالَ نُوحٌ رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ دَيَّارًا 

And Noah said, "My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant.

إِنَّكَ إِن تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا۟ عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا فَاجِرًا كَفَّارًا 

Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked one and [confirmed] disbeliever.

Surah Nuh 71:26-27

Allah (SWT) then accepted his prayer and asked him to build an Ark away from the sea with wood and tools. As non-believers saw these preparations, they mocked at him thinking he went mad. As Quran says:

وَٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ۚ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ 

And construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration and do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are [to be] drowned."

Surah Hud 11:37

Eventually when the Ark was built, Prophet Noah (AS) and his believers patiently waited for the command of Allah (SWT). Allah revealed to him that when water miraculously gushed forth from the oven at Prophet Noah's(AS) house, that would be the sign of the start of the flood, and the sign for Prophet Nuh (AS) to take action.

It was also said that the waves rose over the mountains by a height of eighty miles. Yet, this ship continued to move upon the water, sailing by the permission of Allah. It moved under His shade, His help, His protection and His blessing.

When the ship got to it's destination point, Allah commanded the rain to stop and the water to dry up. 

Allah say;

وَقِيلَ يَٰٓأَرۡضُ ٱبۡلَعِى مَآءَكِ وَيَٰسَمَآءُ أَقۡلِعِى وَغِيضَ ٱلۡمَآءُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ وَٱسۡتَوَتۡ عَلَى ٱلۡجُودِىِّۖ وَقِيلَ بُعۡدًا لِّلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ 

And it was said, "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]." And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and it [i.e., the ship] came to rest on the [mountain of] Jūdiyy. And it was said, "Away with the wrongdoing people."

Surah Hud 11: 44.

It was said that the ark began its voyage at Kufa in central Iraq and sailed to Mecca, circling the Kaaba before finally traveling to Mount Judiyy in Turkey, which the above surah gave as its final resting place.

Qatadah, one of the Prophet's companion said;

"The ship rested upon it (Mount Judi) for a month before they (the people) came down from it.

Allah made Nuh's ship remain on Mount Judi in the land of Al-Jazirah, as a lesson and a sign.

He also added that the early generations of this Prophet Muhammad ummah saw the Ark".

According to The Observer newspaper, 16 January 1994, a team of scientists said that they had found Noah’s Ark on the Turkish-Iranian border, 32 kilometers from Mount Ararat, according to the leader of that team who did a six-year thorough investigation on the site.

The Turkish government was so convinced by the findings that, after years of intransigence, it had designated the site one of special archaeological interest and agreed to its excavation later.