[Dar-us-Salaam] First of Thul-Hijjah is Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Tue Nov 17 23:20:46 EST 2009

Assalamu'alykum wa rahmatullah Community:

Alhumdulillah, Saudi Arabia announced that the month of Thul-Hijjah has
started. The first day will be Wednesday, November 18, 2009 insha'Allah,
making the Day of Arafah (the ninth of Thul-Hijjah) Thursday, November 26,
2009, and the next day will be Eid Al-Adha, Friday, November 27, 2009.

As you know, the most blessed nights of the year are the last 10 nights of
Ramadhan. The best DAYS of the year are the first 10 days of Thul-Hijjah
according to authentic hadith from the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alyhi wa
sallam. So, we urge all of you to make use of these days, fasting as many of
them as you can ESPECIALLY the Day of Arafah (the ninth of Thul-Hijjah), and
remembering Allah with takbir by saying Allahu Akbar, and doing as many good
deeds as you can.

We will announce the location of the Eid Prayer (to be held on Friday,
November 27, 2009) in the coming few days insha'Allah.

Here is some more information about these blessed days from a brother,
jazakAllahu khayra.

========

The first 10 days of the month of Dhul Hijjah are upon us, and these
10 days are
the* best daysof the year*. Doing good deeds in them is better than in any
of the other days of the year. Asprophet Muhammad peace be upon him
says: “There
are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these
ten days.” The companions asked: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” The
prophet replied: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes
out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with
anything." (Narrated by Bukhari).

*Insha'Allah, the first day of Dhul Hijjah will be this Wednesday, November
18.* It is highly recommended that we all increase in doing good deeds and
extra voluntary acts of worship during these 10 blessed days so we can make
the best out of them and gain Allah's reward.

These 10 days are so important and blessed that *Allah swore by them in the
Quran in the beginning of Surah Al-Fajr.* It is in these 10 days that all
the pillars of Islam are being performed, because it is the time of the year
for Hajj, along with the other pillars like Salah, Fasting, and Zakah also
being performed. So insha'Allah, we should strive to start that month with
sincere repentance to Allah and exert ourselves in doing as much good deeds
as we can.

Here are a few of the possible good deeds that one can do, along with a few
other things to keep in mind:

*1) Fasting: *

We should try to fast as much of the *first 9 days* of Dhul Hijjah as
possible, since fasting is a virtuous deed, and even more so during these
days. As prophet Muhammad peace be upon him says: “*Allah* says: ‘All the
deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I
shall reward for it.'” (Narrated by Bukhari).

It was the Sunnah of the prophet to increase in fasting during these
blessed days. However, fasting all of the first 9 days is not compulsory,
nor was it a constant sunnah that the prophet peace be upon him never
dropped. But insha'Allah, increase in your fasting during these first
9days because
the reward and virtues of fasting are numerous, such as the du'a or
supplication of the fasting person is accepted, fasting is a means of
attaining Taqwah, and it also is a protection from Hell-fire, as prophet
Muhammad peace be upon him says: “Whoever fasts one day for the sake of
Allah, Allah will keep his face seventy years’ distance away from the Fire
because of it.”(Narrated by Muslim).

*2) The Day of 'Arafah:*

*The day of 'Arafah is the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah (which will be on
Thursday, November 26),*and it is the day when the pilgrims (performing
Hajj) stand in worship on the mountain of 'Arafah.

Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said: “There is no day on which Allah
frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafah. He comes close and
expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people
want?’” (Narrated
by Muslim).

Whether you decide to fast most of the first 9 days, or you decide to just
fast only one day out of the nine, *make sure* that you *fast on the day of
'Arafah* which is the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah (which will be on *Thursday,
November 26*), because when prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was asked
about fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah, he said, “It expiates for the sins of
the previous year and of the coming year.” (Narrated by Muslim). Therefore,
it is highly recommended to fast on the day of 'Arafah for those who are not
going on Hajj. As for those who are going on Hajj, then it is *NOT* from the
sunnah for them to fast on the day of 'Arafah.

The day *after* 'Arafah, the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, is the day of Eid
Al-Adha which is also called the day of Nahr (slaughtering), and the next
three days after Eid (the 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul Hijjah) are
called the days of Tashreeq. The day of Eid and the three days of Tashreeq
after it are days of celebration and the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him
forbade fasting on these days and said: “Do not fast on these days, for they
are the days of eating, drinking and remembering Allah.” (Narrated by Ahmad;
Classed as Saheeh by Sheikh Albani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah).

*3) The Udhiyah (Sacrifice):
*
One of the righteous deeds that brings one closer to Allah is *slaughtering
an animal for the sake of Allah*, and this is highly recommended sunnah for
those who can afford it (some scholars even said it is mandatory to offer
the sacrifice for those who are able to afford it), because the prophet
Muhammad peace be upon him used to offer a sacrifice *every year* for
the 10 years
while he was in Medina, as narrated by the companion Abdullah ibn Omar may
Allah be pleased with them both. *The time for slaughtering the animal
begins after the Eid Prayer on the day of Eid and lasts until the end of the
three days of Tashreeq after Eid.*

For those who plan to sacrifice (usually, the head of the household), then
they are *prohibited to cut their hair or nails from the 1st day of Dhul
Hijjah until they offer the sacrifice.* This is only for the one who plans
on performing the sacrifice and not for his entire family, and it applies
the same to both men and women. As prophet Muhammad peace be upon him
said: “Once
the tendays start, for those of you who have the intention to sacrifice, let
them not cut any of their hair or nails (until they sacrifice)." (Narrated
by Muslim).
[Note: If you have the habit of biting your nails, this might be the perfect
way to help you break that habit during these great 10 days!]

If you plan on performing the sacrifice, also make sure to pick a *mature
and healthy animal that is free from any flaws* that you will slaughter. *When
slaughtering the animal, it is sunnah to say: "Bismillah, wa Allahu
akbar" *(which
means "In the name of Allah, Allah is most great).

*4) Other Deeds:*

Some other good deeds that we can do during the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah
are:

*Increase in Dhikr and remembering Allah frequently, like saying the Takbeer
at any time throughout the day. One of the forms of the Takbeer is "Allahu
akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha ill-Allah, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa
lillahi’l-hamd" (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).  *Keep in mind that the Takbeer should be done out loud but on an
individual basis and without saying it in unision as a group as this is not
from the sunnah.*

*Doing Istighfaar and repenting sincerely to Allah from all our sins, and
staying away from committing any more sins during these 10 days.

*Increase in giving charity.

*Do more of the voluntary acts of worship like extra prayers throughout the
day and at night.

*Pray the 5 obligatory daily prayers early on time and with tranquility, and
if you are able to then pray them in congregation at the Masjid.

**Any other good deed that you can think of !!*

**Remember to attend the Eid prayer on the day of Eid (the 10th day of Dhul
Hijja), as the prophet ordered everyone, men, women, and kids, to attend the
Eid prayer.*

Alhamdulillah, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon prophet
Muhammad and his family and companions. Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.darussalaam.org/pipermail/news_lists.darussalaam.org/attachments/20091117/4273708e/attachment-0001.html>