The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught us about the Dhul-Hijjah and the day of Arafah:
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " ما من أيام العمل الصالح فيها أحب إلى الله من هذه الأيام"
“There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” [Sahih]
These first ten blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah are coming to a close, with Eid al-Adha fast approaching! Over the last few days many of us will have tried to fast and hopefully increase our worship in some little way. If not fasting then maybe cutting back and trying to eat just one morsel less. Whatever good you were able to do may Allah reward you for it; no matter how small.
Fasting
The most virtuous of the 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah is just on the horizon, the day of Arafah! When asked about fasting on the day of Arafah the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
قال: "يكفر السنة الماضية والباقية"
"It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and (an expiation for the sins of) the coming year" [Sahih].
Arafah is considered to be the main day of Hajj, when those performing Hajj will gather to make dua, beseeching Allah for His mercy, His guidance and His forgiveness. We may not be with the hujjaj (Hajj pilgrims) on Mount Arafah this year but there are a multitude of ways we can still benefit from this day wherever we may be.
Small Prayers, and Adhkaar
قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أَعْظَمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ فِيهِنَّ الْعَمَلُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَيَّامِ: عَشْرِ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ- أَوْ قَالَ: الْعَشْرُ- فَأَكْثِرُوا فِيهِنَّ مِنَ التَّهْلِيلِ وَالتَّسْبِيحِ وَالتَّكْبِيرِ وَالتَّحْمِيدِ
“There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel (la illaha il Allah), tasbeeh (subhanallah), takbeer (Allahu akbar) and tahmeed (Alhumdulillah) during them.” [Sahih]
Apart from fasting, one of the most important things we can do for our souls is to increase in dhikr. Reciting litanies, trying to remember Allah throughout our day, and focusing our actions on trying to please him.
"إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ"
“The most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.” — Qur’an 49:13
" وَٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ"
“And Allah is the Guarding Friend of the mindful.” — Qur’an 45:19
Prayer & Calling upon Allah
We should remember that prayer and mindfulness of Allah aren't passive acts. They’re a conversation, intimate and dynamic. We should tell Allah what we’re feeling, asking him to ennoble and enable our good thoughts — while also asking him to forgive and protect us from any bad deeds.
The Prophet (ﷺ) told us:
رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ عَبْدًا مِنَ النَّارِ مِنْ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ وَإِنَّهُ لَيَدْنُو ثُمَّ يُبَاهِي بِهِمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ فَيَقُولُ مَا أَرَادَ هَؤُلاَءِ "
"There is no day when God sets free more servants from the fire than the Day of Arafah. He draws near, then praises them to the angels, saying: "What do these people desire?"" [Sahih]
No Prayer is Too Small
Allah tells us that the Day of Arafah is a day of both forgiveness and granting people what they desire. We should make dua for the things we want, not just for ourselves but for others. While also seeking repentance for any transgressions in the past. What we’re praying for is never too small or insignificant. It is never the case that we should be embarrassed to ask of Allah.
" وَعِندَهُۥ مَفَاتِحُ ٱلْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَآ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مُّبِينٍ"
"With Him are the keys of the unseen—no one knows them except Him. And He knows what is in the land and sea. Not even a leaf falls without His knowledge, nor a grain in the darkness of the earth or anything—green or dry—but is ˹written˺ in a perfect Record." — Qur’an 6:59
Just as Allah cares for every small seed or grain in the darkness, He nurtures it, He helps it to grow and spring forth; likewise He cares for all of us.
Anything we’ve been praying for, forgiveness, healing, success, closure, tranquility. He cares about us. He created us from a small clot of cells, and nurtured and protected us throughout our lives. He knows what’s in our hearts, He knows us intimately, He knows what we want to ask before we even ask it, we need only ask.
What is best will reach you
"ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ
ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ
عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ
أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ
إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ"
"Read, ˹O Prophet,˺ in the Name of your Lord Who created humans from a clinging clot.
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught by the pen -- taught humanity what they knew not.
Most certainly, one exceeds all bounds once they think they are self-sufficient.
˹But˺ surely to your Lord is the return ˹of all˺."
Allah already knows what we want, and what we need. They might not be the same thing but it is the process of humbling ourselves that is important. To admit that things in this world are outside of our control and we need to ask him for the help we want to receive.
To believe that we are self-sufficient and that we are the ones effecting change and bringing about goodness is incorrect, we simply take the means Allah has provided us and do our best. The outcomes are up to Him.
How often do try really hard in an endeavour, only to see that it doesn’t work out, despite us being confident it would? Conversely, don’t we see that sometimes we try hard and sincerely to make something work — and even though it seems unlikely — through his blessings Allah makes things work out, perhaps even wildly better than we had expected! This is all from the blessings and the guidance of Allah.
رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمًا فَقَالَ " يَا غُلاَمُ إِنِّي أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ احْفَظِ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْكَ احْفَظِ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَكَ إِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ اللَّهَ وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الأُمَّةَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ رُفِعَتِ الأَقْلاَمُ وَجَفَّتِ الصُّحُفُ "
"Know that if the whole world were to gather together in order to help you, they would not be able to help you except if God had written so. And if the whole world were to gather together in order to harm you, they would not harm you except if God had written so.” — Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
This is the power of dua. We need only to make dua for what is best, praying for what we want, and for guidance to what is best. After that we put in our best efforts, sincerely working towards it and praying for the best outcome; whatever it may be. Whatever draws us closer to Him is what is best for us.
If Allah were to grant us everything we wanted, it wouldn’t decrease Him at all. He could grant us all of our desires immediately. But sometimes from his mercy He withholds things from us as He knows they’re not good for us, or that they would be better for us at a later time. These events are always good for us and often they are a source of building patience and personal growth.
"وَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا ۖ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ"
"So be patient with your Lord’s decree, for you are truly under Our ˹watchful˺ Eyes. And glorify the praises of your Lord when you rise." — Qur’an 52:48
Eid al-Adha
The day of Arafah will be Tuesday 27th June 2023 for those performing Hajj this year. After the rites of Hajj are complete the 28th of July brings us to Eid al-Adha. An integral part of the Hajj and part of the celebration that we will take part in even if we’re not performing Hajj.
Eid al-Adha is the Eid of sacrifice. As with so many of the rites of Hajj, this follows from the events in prophet Abraham's life. Eid al-Adha is named as such as Prophet Abraham sacrificed a sheep on this day, due to the mercy Allah bestowed upon him and his son.
This is an integral part of the celebration and the fact that this is observed by Muslims around the world is an incredible way of donating food on a global scale. Meat in many places is still very expensive and for many people this is one of the few times in the year they will enjoy such a rich meal.
I encourage everyone to donate generously with their qurbani/sacrifice and help those who have less than ourselves. May Allah reward you immensely for your sacrifice in these days.
Conclusion
Best 10 days of the year — “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days” of Dhul-Hijjah.
The day of Arafah (1 day before Eid) is an incredible day to fast: "It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and (an expiation for the sins of) the coming year" [Sahih].
Throughout our day we can aim to “recite a great deal of tahleel (la illaha il Allah), tasbeeh (subhanallah), takbeer (Allahu akbar) and tahmeed (Alhumdulillah)”
Prayer is not just on the tongue - but in the heart. An intimate conversation with God.
God cares and nurtures us all. Just as He nurtures every small seed, He helps it to grow and spring forth; likewise He cares for all of us and supports us throughout our lives.
We should constantly be mindful of God and be grateful for his blessings and his help,
Goodness is written for us and will reach us in its due course.
Eid al-Adha is an incredible day of celebration and sacrifice. Let’s make sure our qurbani, goes far and we are able to feed others while also enjoying ourselves!
I hope everyone has a blessed week, fasting and making dua on the day of Arafah and celebrating with family and friends on Eid al-Adha.
May Allah forgive us for any misdeeds in the past, and strengthen us to be better in the future. May He accept our duas and grant us what is best for us, granting us fruitful and tranquil lives, in this life and the next.
" رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ"
“Our Lord! Grant us the good of this world and the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” — Quran 2:201