The Approach of Thul-Hijjah

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12 Thul-Qa’dah 1440 / 15 July 2019

Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) beautifully encapsulates the significance of the first ten days and nights of Thul-Hijjah in the following blessed words:  

“There are no days more beloved to Allah that He be worshipped in, than the (first) ten days of Thul Hijjah. Fasting each day of them is equivalent to fasting a year, and standing (in Ibadah) on each night of them is the equivalent of standing on the Night of Qadr” (Tirmizi)

As Thul-Hijjah will soon approach us, we should prepare ourselves adequately in order to gain maximum benefit from this great month. Indeed, it is a very great month. In this month, millions perform their Fardh Haj, while the Waajib Ibaadat of Qurbani is fulfilled by millions back home.

However, we should not restrict the extra Ibaadat only to the fast of the day of Arafah and to the act of Qurbani the next day. We should endeavour to maximize our Ibaadat, especially from the beginning of Thul-Hijjah.

The Hadith beautifully explains the tremendous rewards one can earn by doing a little more Ibaadat than usual in the first ten days and nights of Thul-Hijjah. Fasting each day equals to the reward of fasting a whole year and some extra Ibaadat on each night equals to the Ibaadat of Laylatul-Qadr.

In preparation for these great awards of the days and nights of Thul-Hijjah, we should prepare ourselves from now. We should incumbently discard all forms of distractions, vices and sins from now, in order to have our first ten days of Thul-Hijjah glow and shine with Ibaadat.

Spending each night in Ibaadat doesn’t mean depriving ourselves entirely from sleep the whole night. We are too weak to do that, although there were many great personalities who used to do that. The requirement is just a little extra Nafl Ibaadat, whether it is in the form of some extra Tilaawat, some Thikrullah which includes Istighfaar and Durood Shareef, some extra Rak’aats Nafl Salaah like Shukr Salaah, Taubah Salaah etc.

Men should incumbently be present in the Masjid, especially for the Esha and Fajr Salaah, because the Hadith states that performing Esha anf Fajr Salaah with Jamaat earns one the reward of spending the full night in Ibaadat. From now, we (the men only – women have to incumbently perform ALL their Salaah at home) should make it a point to be in the Masjid, in the first Saff and to begin the Salaah with Takbeer-e-Ulaa, so that we don’t struggle to achieve this in the month of Thul-Hijjah, Insha Allah.

On the other hand, women should perform their Salaah on time, in their rooms. They should also instruct and stress this upon their Baalighah (mature) daughters as well. Children close to Buloogh (maturity) should also be educated likewise.

If, as a family, all engage in a few minutes of extra Ibaadat every night from now onwards, then indeed a wonderful environment of Ibaadat and Amal will be in that home. And these special and significant days and nights will be spent earning a healthy ‘bank balance’ of the Aakhirah with Thawaab. Homes which have Haraam TVs, or individuals involved in watching You-Tube etc., should understand that these instruments are the tools of Shaitaan. An effort should be made immediately to get these tools out of our homes. Don’t be misled into thinking that TV, videography, photography etc. are Halaal by the appearing of modern Ulama on these tools of Shaitaan. Their baseless justifications and concocted ‘Fatwas’ to legalize TV, etc. are worth to be flung into the trash. Plenty of Ahaadith warn of severe punishments for people involved in picture making.

Allah Ta’ala has created us in order to worship Him. He has made many days and nights auspicious and great, in order that we take advantage and exhort ourselves in order to gain extra benefits. Thus, these ten days prior to Qurbani, Allah Ta’ala has granted much virtue and reverence to them. Only an uninterested person, who is intoxicated with the love for wealth and Dunya, and who has no interest in coming close to his Creator, and who is fooled by the temporary glitter and glamour of the artificial lights around him of the Dunya, will pass such great days and nights in total negligence and sins.

A person who has space and love in his heart for his smartphone, or has love and space in his heart for a flashy and sporty vehicle which has some extra features etc. and does not wake up from his state of Ghaflat (heedlessness), will pass by these ideal opportunities while being Ghaafil (heedless). Hence, though maybe his phone will be of the latest features, or his vehicle will be of the latest model with many extra add-ons, he will be left far behind as far as safeguarding his Jannat is concerned. This world is nothing compared to Jannat!

By putting ourselves straight from now, will, Insha Allah help us benefit from the many golden opportunities soon to come.

May Allah Ta’ala guide us and keep us steadfast upon A’maal, Aameen.