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.