Importance of the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah

According to Central London Mosque website: The 1^st of Dhū Al-Hijjah 1440 is Friday 2nd August 2019. The day of Arafat is on Saturday 10th August. Eid ul-Adha will be on Sunday 11th August  2019. Eid-ul-Adha is almost here, insha'Allah.

Please check your local mosque for confirmation of dates.

Importance of the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah
Taken from yaseen.org

Thanks to Amin Rahman for forwarding this article


Why do they matter?
Even for those not performing the pilgrimage, Hajj, the first ten days of this month are considered very sacred and a time for increased reflection, seeking Allah's forgiveness, doing good and various other forms of worship.

So sacred are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah that Allah swears an oath by them when He says in the Quran: "By the dawn; by the ten nights" [al-Fajr 89:1-2]. Swearing an oath by something indicates its importance and great benefit.

What kinds of worship should be performed?
While any good deed done for the sake of Allah according to the way He approves will be rewarded immensely during the first ten days, InshaAllah, some of the more specific actions mentioned in the traditions of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) are fasting and verbal Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah.

Fasting
In terms of fasting, it is particularly encouraged to fast on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, known in Arabic as Yawm Arafah. The Prophet used to fast on this day [an Nisai and Abu Dawud]. Fasting on this day will expiate a Muslim's sins for two years.

Abu Qatadah reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: Fasting the Day of Arafah will be credited with Allah by forgiving one's sins of the previous year and the following year.[Muslim]

One of the wives of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: Allah’s Messenger used to fast the (first) nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of Ashura, and three days of each month.[Sahih Sunan Abu Dawud #2129]

The day of Arafah is the day when the pilgrims stand in worship on the Mountain of Arafah. It is the best day of the Whole Year.

Fasting the day of Arafah expiates the [minor] sins of two years: a past one and a coming one. And fasting the day of Ashura expiates the sins of the past year. [Muslim]

There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire as He does no the day of Arafah. He comes close (to those standing on Arafah) and then revels before His angels, saying: "What are these people seeking?"[Muslim]

Dhikr
The verbal remembrance of Allah is another meritorious act during these first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. "And mention the name of Allah on the appointed days"[12:28].

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) encouraged Muslims to recite a lot of Tasbeeh (SubhanAllah), Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah) and Takbeer (Allahu-Akbar) during this time.The Takbeer may include the words "Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar, la ilaha ill-Allah; wa Allahu akbar wa Lillahil-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god but Allah; Allah is Most Great and to Allah be praise)," as well as other phrases.Men are encouraged to recite these phrases out loud and women quietly.

Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer individually when they heard them.

Good Deeds
Generally, all good deeds are rewarded highly at this blessed time. These actions include praying, reading Quran, making Du'a (supplication), giving in charity and being good to our families, and other voluntary (nafl) righteous deeds of worship. These are amongst the deeds that are multiplied in these days.

Seek Allah's Forgiveness and Repentance
In addition, seeking Allah's forgiveness (istighfar) and Tawbah (repentance) at this time is also encouraged. This means more than just a verbal statement of sorrow for past misdeeds. It also requires a firm resolution to avoid making the same mistakes in the future by giving up bad habits, and behavior while sincerely turning to Allah.

Sacrifice
The slaughtering of a sacrificial animal (Adhiyah) is also legislated for the Day of Sacrifice (10th) and the Days of Tashriq (11th, 12th and 13th).

The tenth of Dhul-Hijjah is Eid ul-Adha or the day of an-Nahr (slaughtering). It marks the conclusion of the major rites of Hajj, and commemorates Allah’s bounty on Prophet Ibrahim (alayhis salam), when He gave him a ram to sacrifice as ransom for his son.

It is repoted that Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) slaughtered (sacrificed) two horned rams, black and white in colour, and said Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), and placed his foot on their sides (while slaughtering them). [Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]

'The day of al-Fitr [Eid ul-Fitr], the day of an-Nahr, and the days of Tashreeq are Eid days for us Muslims. They are days of eating and drinking.' [Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, sahih al-Jami' #8192]

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 to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing [Sahih al-Bukhar]. 

Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) has said about the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah: There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days."

Fasting on the Day of 'Arafah

Fasting on the Day of 'Arafah
By Tajuddin B. Shu'aib
Da`awah Enterprises International, LA, California. USA
Taken from sunnahonline.com


The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar) is the day of 'Arafah. It is the day when pilgrims stand on the plain of 'Arafah to pray. On this day, Muslims all over the world who do not witness the annual hajj should spend the day in fasting, in preparation for the three days festivity following 'Eid ul-Adha (the celebration marking the end of the hajj commemorating the Prophet Ibrâhîm's willingness of sacrifice).

Abû Hafsah, may Allâh be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said:
"Fasting on the day of 'Arafah absolves the sins for two years: the previous year and the coming year, and fasting on 'ashûra, (the tenth day of Muharram) atones for the sins of previous years." [Reported by all except al-Bukhârî and Tirmidhî]

In another saying the Prophet's wife Hafsah, may Allâh be pleased with her, said:
"Four things the Messenger of Allâh never neglected: Observing fast on the day of 'ashûra, 'Arafat, three days every month, and offering fajr sunnah prayers early in the morning." [Muslim]

These statements are proof that fasting on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, the day before 'Eid ul-Adha was a lifelong practice of the Prophet, peace be upon him, as his wife reported.

There are some reports that fasting is prohibited on the day of 'Arafah. However, it must be understood that this refers to a person performing the hajj. If a person is on the hajj, there is no fast for him or her on the day of 'Arafah. That is undoubtedly a blessing for him because of the hardships of the pilgrimage. In a saying reported by Umm al-Fadl, may Allâh be pleased with her, she said:

"The companions doubted whether the Prophet was fasting on 'Arafah or not. She decided to prove to them that he was not, so she said, 'I sent to him milk, which he drank while he was delivering the khutbah (sermon) on 'Arafah.' " [Recorded by al-Bukhârî]

Prohibiting the pilgrims from fasting on these days is a great mercy for them, for fasting will exert undue hardship on the person performing the hajj, while they are primarily concerned with their pilgrimage. Above all, the pilgrim would not be fasting anyway because he is travelling.

First ten days of Dhul-Hijjah - be productive!

The following taken from an e-mail I received from Islamic Tube. Author: Muhammad Amin Tily of productivemuslim.com

The Superiority Of These Days

The immense importance of these days is shown by the fact that Allah  swears an oath by them in the Qur’an: “By the dawn; And [by] ten nights.” [Qur’an: Chapter 89, Verses 1-2]

In Tafsir Ibn Kathir it is mentioned that the “ten nights” in the verse above refer to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

Also, the Prophet  said: “There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e., the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).” He was asked: “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah?” He  replied, “Not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah, except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not return with either of it.” [Sahih Bukhari]

The reason righteous deeds are more rewarding during these days, according to Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, is because they are Hajj days in the sacred season of pilgrimage. Because of their excellence and importance, Allah  swore by them.

So what can you do to honour these days?

1. Take special care of your obligations

Before talking about any voluntary actions (and bonuses), it is important to remind ourselves that we must first take care of all our obligations. How can we think of building and beautifying a house without constructing its pillars? Thus, we have to pay special attention to the pillars of Islam and strive to perfect our obligations.

a) Pray on time (and in congregation, for men)

The Messenger of Allah  said, “Verily, between a man (i.e., a Muslim) and between shirk (polytheism) and kufr (disbelief) is the abandoning of As-Salat (prayers).” [Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 82]

b) Give your zakat if it is due!

Click here to read about ‘How Zakat Impacts Productivity’.

c) If you have not yet fulfilled the obligation of Hajj, make special dua to Allah  to grant you the opportunity to do so soon and in the best of manners.

2. Supplicate for sighting of the new moon

Start the month with this supplication:

‘Allah is the Most Great. O Allah, bring us the new moon with security and Faith, with peace and in Islam, and in harmony with what our Lord loves and what pleases Him. Our Lord and your Lord is Allah.’ [Fortress of the Muslim]

3. Repeat tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed

These remembrances have a special connection to these ten days:

Our Prophet  said: “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 (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allah), takbeer (saying Allahu akbar) and tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillah) during them.” [Ahmad]

The companions would go to the marketplace and recite the takbeer out loud and people would also recite after hearing them. Let us follow their footsteps and encourage others to recite the takbeer as well, as an act of worship and a proclamation of the greatness of Allah ! You might find it uncomfortable to constantly remind your family members, but if you simply play an audio file from your laptop, mobile, etc., you’ll notice others will join in with the recitation naturally, In sha Allah.

One of the forms of takbeer you may recite is:

“Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allah, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillaahil-hamd”

Translation: “Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god but Allah, Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, and to Allah be praise.”

4. Renew your taqwa

After the fasting of Ramadan whose main purpose was “…that you may become righteous” [Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 183], Allah  makes a special connection between sacrificing animals (which has to be offered on the days of Eid) with taqwa:

“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.” [Qur’an: Chapter 22, Verse 37]

The people of taqwa, as explained in Dr. Muhsin Khan’s translation of the Qur’an, are “the pious believers of Islamic Monotheism who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained).”

Thus, let us repent from all our sins and try our level best to attain taqwa.

5. Earn the reward of a Hajj without going to Makkah

Prophet Muhammad  said: “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun has risen, then he prays two Rak’ah, then for him is the reward like that of a Hajj and Umrah.” He said: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Complete, complete, complete.’” [Al-Tirmidhi]

That’s a small deed with such an immense reward! Allahu Akbar! However, this would not mean that you will be free from the obligation of Hajj (the fifth pillar of Islam) of course.

6. Observe voluntary fasts

Allah’s Messenger  said: “Allah says: ‘(The person observing Saum) has abstained from food and drink, and sexual pleasures for My sake; fasting is for Me, and I will bestow its reward. Every good deed has ten times its reward.'” [Sahih Bukhari]

In addition, Messenger of Allah  said: “Whoever observes fast for a day in the way of Allah (non-obligatory fasting observed for the sole purpose of pleasing Allah and seeking His blessings), Allah will remove his face from the Hell to the extent of seventy years’ distance.” [Sahih Muslim]

So imagine the reward for keeping fasts during these grand days, In sha Allah! This applies only for the first nine days. The 10th of Dhul Hijjah will be Eid, in which fasting is prohibited.

7. Do not miss out on ‘Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah)!

The great importance of the day of ‘Arafah, the day when pilgrims gather in Mt. ‘Arafah and perform the most important ritual in Hajj, is shown by the fact that Allah  swears an oath by this day:

“And [by] the witness and what is witnessed [the day of ‘Arafah].” [Qur’an: Chapter 85, Verse 3]

To make the most of the grand day of ‘Arafah, make sure to:

a) Fast and expiate your sins

Out of the first nine days, this is the most important day to keep a fast on:

Abu Qatadah  reported that the Prophet  said: “Fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah, I hope from Allah, expiates for the sins of the year before and the year after.” [Ibn Majah]

Fasting this day is only recommended for those who are not performing Hajj, and it is not permitted for those performing Hajj to fast on the day of ‘Arafah.

b) Repent

The Messenger of Allah  said: “There is no day when Allah ransoms more slaves from the Fire than the day of ‘Arafah. He draws near and expresses His pride to the angels and says: ‘What do these people want?’” [Sahih Muslim]

Don’t settle for less. You will have your minor sins forgiven with the fast of ‘Arafah (In sha Allah), so what about your major sins? Repent sincerely and remember that Allah  is capable of forgiving all our sins no matter how great they are. Allah  says in the Qur’an:

“Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” [Qur’an: Chapter 39, Verse 53]

These grand days are a great opportunity to quit your sinful habits once and for all! Be regretful for committing sins and make a strong determination to never commit them ever again.

c) Make dua, istighfar and special adhkar

Even though the Day of ‘Arafah has a special status, it’s important to remember that all the days of Hajj are days of dhikr (remembrance of Allah).

The importance of dhikr is demonstrated in the following verses in which Allah  addresses the pilgrims in Surat Al-Baqara:

“…But when you depart from ‘Arafat, remember Allah at al- Mash’ar al-Haram. And remember Him, as He has guided you, for indeed, you were before that among those astray.” [Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 198]

“Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allah…” [Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 199]

“And when you have completed your rites, remember Allah like your [previous] remembrance of your fathers or with [much] greater remembrance…” [Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 200]

“And remember Allah during [specific] numbered days…” [Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 203] in reference to the Days of Tashreeq (11-13 Dhul Hijjah).

With regards to making dua, the Prophet  said: “”The most excellent dua is the dua on the Day of Arafa, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said, is ‘There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner.'” [Muwatta Malik]

Another recommended dua that is mentioned in the Qur’an is: “…”Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”” [Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 201]

What a great chance you have to get your duas accepted! Prepare a dua list, as advised in Ramadan, so that you don’t spend a minute without asking Allah  for everything you want, in dunya and akhirah.

Again, don’t waste this golden, annual opportunity to gain enormous rewards. Fast and spend your time in supplication, repentance and remembering Allah .

8. The Udhiyah (Sacrifice)

A great act of charity to get closer to Allah  on the day of ‘Eid ul-Adha is sacrificing a livestock animal. This revives the sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim . He  was ready to give up everything for the sake of Allah  and submitted unconditionally to Allah’s  commands by even offering his beloved son as a sacrifice.

Revive the spirit behind the sunnah, be generous and select a healthy animal for sacrifice. You may have given a lot of charity other than the udhiyah, but if you miss out on this, you have missed out on a great act of charity specific to this occasion. Look at how you have spent your money on luxuries for the entire year. Now what will you offer as a sacrifice to gain the closeness of Allah ?

Remember to abstain from paring your nails or having your hair cut until after the sacrifice, as the Prophet Muhammad  is reported to have said:

“When anyone of you intends to sacrifice the animal and enter in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, he should not get his hair cut or nails pared till he has offered his sacrifice” [Muslim].

9. Give in charity http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/syriacrisis 

The days of Eid are the days of sacrifice. Apart from the udhiya, what will you give for the pleasure of Allah ?

a) Spend from what you really love

Allah  says in the Qur’an:

“Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah ] from that which you love. And whatever you spend – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.” [Qur’an: Chapter 3, Verse 92]

What is it that you value greatly? What possession can you sacrifice for Allah’s  sake by giving it in charity? This may even be your precious talents, time, reputation, etc. How can you spend that in the way of Allah ?

b) It’s time to give away everything extra

This may be the best time to de-clutter your house. Give in charity everything extra that you possess. What is the use of hoarding stuff that you will never use?

Assess your community needs. What can you do to help your community?

10. Befriend the Qur’an

The immense reward of reciting the Qur’an is evident from the following hadith:

Ibn Mas’ud  reported that the Messenger of Allah  said: “Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a ten-fold reward. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter.” [At-Tirmidhi]

As Muslims, our job is to not only recite, but also to understand, implement and spread the teachings of the Qur’an. How can we expect to be guided to the straight path unless we read The Book of guidance? Given the importance of reciting the Qur’an, it is essential that we block time out of our day especially for this task. The most productive time to recite the Qur’an is in the early hours, as Allah  says:

“Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur’an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.” [Qur’an: Chapter 17, Verse 78]

Reading around 3½ Juz’ each day will allow you to finish the Qur’an before Eid begins In sha Allah (within the first 9 days)!

11. Do not waste time

These are the best days of the year! How can you possibly waste your time? Reject all invitations to parties and appointments which can be delayed to a later date. Tell them about the immense importance of these days and In sha Allah you will even get rewarded for every good that they consequently do. If you can take time off work, do so. Again, remember that these are the most valuable days of the year!

12. Maintain good character

Just like the person performing Hajj must refrain from getting into disputes and acts of disobedience or risk the acceptance of their Hajj, you should try to do the same. Forgive everyone no matter what they have done to you. Visit the sick. Have good relations with people, especially your parents, relatives and neighbors. This would be the best time to re-establish ties of kinship and put barakah in your life.

13. Spread the knowledge

Unfortunately, many Muslims are unaware of the superiority of these days, or are unsure how to make the most of them. Spread the knowledge and multiply your rewards. This will also In sha Allah get you motivated to be foremost in performing good deeds.

The best days of the entire year have almost arrived! Muslims from around the globe will unite to perform one of the greatest forms of worship: Hajj. Make the most of this grand opportunity by drawing nearer to our Creator by performing acts of worship with true sincerity and according to the sunnah.

May Allah  make us understand the greatness of these days and help us perform the best possible deeds with the purest of intentions. Ameen.

Hajj 2010 - The Journey of a Lifetime in Pictures

Some beautiful images of Hajj 2010 - published in Arab News Online.

Clink on the link to see them all : http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article188297.ece

When you open the link go to the bottom right hand corner of the picture to view the next image. If the image does not have the arrow to view the next image then simply click either side of the numbers to view the next/ previous image.

Also check out the following galleries for equally great pictures....

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/11/hajj_2010.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2010/nov/12/mecca-islam#/?picture=368628764&index=0

Hajj pilgrims to ride first Makkah metro

Taken from emirates247.com
By Nadim Kawach, Sunday, October 10, 2010

Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims will ride a new railway metro transport system for the first time when they converge on the Saudi holy city of Makkah next month, according to the local media.

The Gulf Kingdom, where millions of Muslims from around the world gather every year for their annual haj (pilgrimage) season, has just completed the first stage of a train that will eventually transport nearly two million people.

Officials said around 170,000 pilgrims would be able to use the Chinese-built metro during this haj season, which is expected to start in mid November.

“The train will have a capacity to transport around 170,000 pilgrims this year, mostly from Saudi Arabia and nearby Gulf countries,” said Prince Mansour bin Mutab bin Abdul Aziz, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Municipal Affairs.

The Prince was speaking on Tuesday following a 10-minute test trip by the train through Makkah, Islam’s holiest shrine. His trip was apparently intended to refute claims by some Saudis that it was not up to international standards.

Pic Source: ArabNews

Pic Source: emirates247

Pic Source: emirates247

Pic Source: SaudiPressAgency

Pic Source: SaudiPressAgency

The remarks by Saudi businessmen, citizens and newspapers about the train’s risks followed reports that one of its cars fell off the rails during a trial drive in the holy city last week without causing any casualties.

Prince Mansour said his ministry has set up a committee to study transport fees for passengers using the train that will transport pilgrims through Makka’s holy sites during the four-day Haj season.

Saudi Arabia has allocated nearly SR6.7 billion (Dh6.6 billion) for Makkah’s first train project, which will eventually have the capacity to transport around two million Muslim pilgrims when it is completed within two years.

Newspapers said the train would launch services this year for the first time in Makkah’s history, adding that it would largely contribute to easing road congestions caused by the accumulation of thousands of cars near Makkah.

“The train will have the capacity to transport 500,000 pilgrims when the second phase is completed next year and two million when the third and last phase is finished in 2012…its total cost will be around SR6.7 billion,” said Jamil Al Qirshi, Director of the Saudi Haj (pilgrimage) commission in Makkah.

Dubbed the “Holy Rituals Train”, the project is part of a costly programme by Saudi Arabia to tackle massive traffic congestions in and around the city and facilitate access to all sacred sites in Makkah.

The train project, initiated three years ago, followed a series of incidents that have killed thousands of pilgrims in stampedes, building collapses and other accidents during the few days of the Haj season.

More than two million Muslims from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Co-operation Council countries and other nations descend on Makkah every year to perform Haj.

China Railway Construction Corp, part of a Saudi-French-Chinese consortium which won the contract, is carrying out the project, involving nearly 5,000 workers. The train is the Gulf’s second metro system after the Dubai Metro.

"The train project is part of ongoing efforts under the directives of His Majesty the Monarch to alleviate the suffering of the pilgrims and facilitate their holy mission. Several projects have been implemented in this respect and more would be carried out in the future," Alriyadh newspaper said.

The government has spent more than SR20 billion on development projects in Makkah over the past few years following an increase in accidents and criticism over lack of proper services for pilgrims.

The projects involved the construction of buildings on top of a surrounding hill, expansion of the area on top of the holy Mount Arafat, development of the sewage and fire-fighting systems, upgrading health and transportation services and a SR4.2 billion expansion of the space and roads leading to where Muslims perform Ramyi Aljamarat (stoning of the devil), the scene of some deadly accidents over the past few years.

------------------------------------------

It must be noted that the service will officially be open to all pilgrims next year inshallah. This Hajj it is speculated that the service will be trialed by Pilgrims from Saudi and other Gulf countries only.

Hajj in 1953

Snaps taken during Hajj in 1953
Taken from al-hajjumrahtours.co.uk

Please click on the images to make them bigger. More picture are avalable on the link above.

Pilgrims arriving by air

Pilgrims arriving for Hajj by sea

The Borders of Haram

Salaat at the holy Kaba

View of Mina

Pilgrims cooking in Mina

Stoning of Jamarat

Tawaaf around Holy Kabbah

Pilgrims choosing animals for sacrifice

Head shaving of pilgrim