By Imam Murtadha Gusau
Sunday, 19/05/2024
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation, may Allah extol the mention of our noble Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in the highest company of Angels, bless him and give him peace and security―and his family, his Companions and all those who follow him correctly and sincerely until the establishment of the Hour.
Respected brothers and sisters! The month of Dhul-Qa’dah is the 11th month in the Islamic calendar. It is first of the four sacred months in Islam. The others consecutively are Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab.
The Islamic calendar is known as a Lunar Calendar and months starts when the first crescent of the new moon is sighted. Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an:
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers (who are attacking you and your religion) collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him].” [Surah At-Tawbah: 36]
The name is given as ‘Dhul-Qa’dah ’ and during this month as well as all of the sacred months, people abstained from war and fighting. Hence, they are the ‘sacred’ months. The main purpose of the month of Dhul-Qa’dah was the preparation for the journey for Hajj in the coming month ahead.
The Arabs used to consider Dhul-Qa’dah a sacred month in the days of ignorance (Jahiliyyah). They abstained from fighting and war and from taking revenge during this month. Even if the murder of his own father or brother was witnessed, there would be no retaliation and neither a harsh response.
Allah Almighty has forbidden injustice upon another during the sacred months. In the Qur’an it is stated:
“…so do not wrong yourselves during them.” [Surah At-Tawba: 36]
Hence, to do harm to one another or to do injustice during these months is considered a greater sin due to the intensity of this month. As per Qatadah, injustice during these months is considered a greater sin as compared to other months, even though injustice itself is a big sin.
What is Considered Injustice During the Sacred Months?
By leaving the obligatory deeds such as prayers. Pursuing the impermissible or haram deeds such as indulging in obscenity, leaving ties of kinship.
Dhul-Qa’dah is considered one of the months of Hajj. Allah Almighty has said:
“Hajj is [during] well-known months.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 197]
One of the narrations of Bukhari states:
“Ibn Umar (RA) said: This means the first ten days of Shawwal, Dhul-Qa’dah and Dhul-Hijjah.”
And to perform Umrah during the month of Dhul-Qa’dah is a Sunnah of the Prophet (Peace be upon him).
Shaikh Ibn Baz (Rahimullah) says:
“To perform Umrah in the month of Dhul-Qa’dah other than Ramadan is considered one of the best of deeds. In fact the pious predecessors have narrated that they consider Umrah during this month is preferred to performing Umrah during Ramadan.
Imam Ibnul Qayyim (Rahimullah) has differed in his opinion and has said:
“We do istikharah regarding this for Allah Almighty to guide us to that month which is more blessed to performing Umrah.”
And fasting is liked during the month of Dhul-Qa’dah as per few pious predecessors. Although there is no significance of fasting in this particular month.
Allah Almighty promised Musa (AS) in the month of Dhul-Qa’dah of the thirty nights as per Mujahid, Masruq and Ibn Juraij.
The ghazwa with Banu Quraidha was fought in this month.
The Treaty of Hudaibiyah was signed in the 6 Hijrah where the following verse was revealed:
“Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear conquest.” [Surah Al Fath:1]
Upon this, Umar (RA) questioned:
“Oh Allah’s Messenger, is this a victory?” The Prophet (Peace be upon him) replied, “Yes.”
These months are to be respected and considered sacred.
All commands of Allah Almighty ought to be followed during these months.
The obligatory deeds must strictly be adhered to.
To obey Allah Almighty must be the prime goal of every Muslim.
One must abstain from sin especially and consciously during these months.
One must try to please Allah Almighty and not incur His wrath by disobeying Him.
Imam Ibn Rajab (Rahimullah) says:
“If a person is unable to perform good deeds during these months then at least he should abstain from and have mercy upon his own self. This particularly includes doing injustice.”
Examples of such oppression is wronging parents and children, the spouse wronging each other, devouring the wealth of an orphan, stealing, taking bribery etc.
The sacred months have begun so it is time that we seek forgiveness for all the sins we have committed. These include shirk, being disobedient to one’s parents, cutting ties of kinship, consuming usury, lies, talking behind another’s back (Ghibah), jealousy (Hasad).
We learn that the month of Dhul-Qa’dah is a sacred month in which the reward for good deeds is hopefully multiplied. Let’s use this to our advantage to earn ourselves Jannah (Paradise) by obeying Allah Almighty.
May Allah Almighty give us the tawfiq to race towards the good and forgive our sins. Ameen.
Dear brothers and sisters! Also the month of Dhul-Hijjah is one of the four Sacred Months of the Islamic year. It is a time when increased acts of worship are greatly prescribed. Indeed, this is the month when Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is performed and when Muslims travel from all over the planet to perform it. But the blessings of this month are far from limited to those who perform Hajj. The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are superior even to the days of the blessed month of Ramadan in virtue, while Lailatul Qadr is the most blessed night of the year. Allah Almighty says:
“Indeed, the number of months decreed by Allah when He created the heavens and the earth is twelve [lunar] months. Of these, four are sacred. That is the upright (i.e. correct) law (i.e. the sacredness of these months), and so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight the disbelievers (who are attacking you and your religion) collectively just as they fight you collectively. And know that Allah is with those who fear Him.” [Surah At-Taubah: 36]
Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“The sequence of time has now returned to its form when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year consists of twelve months, of which four are sacred. Three sacred months occur in succession, and these are: Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar, which comes between Jumadah Al-Akhirah and Sha’aban.” [Bukhari]
In Pre-Islamic Arabia (Jahiliyyah), the Pagan tribes would delay or defer a sacred month to another month with the intention of waging war at a time when it was prohibited to do so. The Qur’an condemns this practice, and in the above report, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) states that, with Islam, this practice was abolished and the sanctity of the Sacred Months was restored.
Also fasting on the Day of Arafah earns forgiveness for the sins of two years – the sins of the previous year and those of the year to come.
Qatadah Bin Nu’man, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever fasts the Day of Arafah will have the sins of the previous year and the year to come forgiven.” [Muslim]
There is no day on which Allah emancipates more people from [the deserved punishment of] the Fire than the Day of Arafah.
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrates that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“There is no day on which Allah emancipates more people from [the deserved punishment of] the Fire than the Day of Arafah. He draws near, then boasts of His servants to the angels, and says ‘What do these [pilgrims] seek?” [Muslim]
The answer to this question comes from the angels and is understood to be:
“They seek nothing more than your forgiveness.”
This is further corroborated by another narration that was also collected by Muslim where Allah then says:
“Bear witness, My angels, that I have indeed forgiven them.”
In a report narrated by Abdullah Ibn Abbas, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these [ten] days [of Dhul-Hijjah].” 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 sets out to wage JIhad, and gives of his own self and his wealth for the cause, and then comes back with nothing.” [Bukhari]
Some of the good deeds prescribed in these blessed days are as follows:
- Hajj and Umrah.
- Fasting – especially the first 10 days and, above all, Arafah.
- Saying the Takbir often.
- Repenting from our sins.
- Praying more, reading more Qur’an and making more Zikr.
- Sacrificing an animal.
- Praying the Eid prayer.
- Appreciating the blessings of Allah, thanking Allah for HIs blessings and asking His forgiveness for our sins.
- Honouring one’s parents and upholding ties of kinship.
- Asking Allah for the opportunity to perform Hajj and to accept it from us.
It is Sunnah to fast on the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, because fasting is one of the best of deeds. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than in these [ten] days.” [Bukhari]
Ummu Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that the Prophet said:
“Whoever sees the new crescent of Dhul-Hijjah and wants to offer a sacrifice, let him not remove any of his hair or nails until he has offered the sacrifice.” [An-Nasa’i]
Dear brothers and sisters! With the month of Dhul-Hijjah fast approaching, we’re reminded of the numerous blessings it brings. Even for those of us not undertaking the Hajj (pilgrimage), participating in animal sacrifice (Layyah) holds great significance.
Each year, our Islamic Center distributes the meat from your sacrifice to our orphans and brothers and sisters living in poverty under some of the world’s harshest conditions.
Often, this is their only chance to enjoy nutritious food of high quality.
By giving your sacrifice now, you’ll assist our trusted Islamic Center in acquiring your animal and planning the sacrifice and distribution at the appropriate time.
Even if you can’t offer a full sacrifice, you can contribute as little as you can for a share in an animal.
Please don’t overlook this opportunity, or postpone it. They eagerly await Dhul-Hijjah, knowing that the generosity of the Ummah will shine upon them.
If you think Dhul-Hijjah is still far away, it’s closer than you realise! Together, let’s ensure that no one is forgotten this Dhul-Hijjah.
As usual, we sincerely seek your financial support, your help, your assistance, your donation and your contribution about the buying of cows in this coming blessed Eid-Ul-Adha Celebrations for our orphans and the students under our care in our Islamic schools. Your support is highly needed for Allah’s sake. FISABILILLAH!
We sincerely solicit for your kind and sincere contribution towards the Eid-Ul-Adha Udhiyyah/Layyah (sacrifice) for our orphans and our students; and the development of our schools and Islamic Center financially, materially and morally.
Our aim and objective always is to have a standard Islamic center and Arabic/Islamic schools for orphans and less privileged Muslims children.
Also if you want to pay your this year’s Zakah our great Islamic center is waiting for your kind and merciful gesture. Sincerely, your donation will help distribute sacrifice meat, etc for our orphans.
Remember, Eid-Ul-Adha Celebration will not be the same without our families, but unfortunately this is not a privilege enjoyed by everyone. This is the reason we’re steadfast in planning to provide meat for the orphans and students under our care!
We planned to distribute meat package that worth amount up to 7,000 orphans In Shaa Allah, this year.
And your contribution is highly needed as usual. May Allah rewards all your efforts and your good deeds, ameen.
Allah Almighty says:
“If you support the course of Allah, He will support you.” [Qur’an, 47: 7]
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever relieves his Muslim brother of a hardship from the hardships of this world, Allah shall relieve him of a hardship from the hardships of the Day of Judgement. And whoever makes things easy for a person in difficulty, Allah will ease for him in this world and the Next. Allah is forever aiding a servant so long as he is in the aid of his Muslim brother.”
And he (Peace be upon him) said:
“Every act of goodness is considered as Sadaqah.” [Bukhari]
Please donate to our meat and food package project. With your support we can provide essential Sallah meat, food Items and help alleviate the difficulties and bring ease to the orphans and needy who have been affected the most by the insecurity, inflation, cost of living crisis and world economic crisis.
Keep helping the cause of Allah with Allah’s money. Whoever gives for Allah, Allah will give him more. Donate to the Nagazi-Uvete Islamic Center.
This is our account details as follows:
- Account no. – 0048647196, GTBank
- Account no. – 1779691620, Access Bank
For more enquiries contact, Imam Murtadha Muhammad Gusau, the director and Imam Of the Center: 08038289761.
And to donate cows, rams etc, contact the following Numbers: 08038289761, 08056557477
Jazakumullah Khairan as you kindly contribute.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of: Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah Mosque; and Late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene Mosque, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com; or +2348038289761.