Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “…The year consists of twelve months, four of which are Sacred. Three from them are consecutive: Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram. And (the fourth Sacred Month is) Rajab.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Forget the laymen, even Huffaaz and those who are pursuing higher Islamic studies are at times caught off guard when asked to name the Four Sacred Months (Ashurul Hurum). Dhul-Qa’dah heralds us into the first of the three consecutive Sacred Months as explained in the Hadith Shareef above. The Unique, Wondrous and Marvellous Divine System of Allah Ta’ala is truly astonishing! Just over a month ago was Ramadhaan, in which the ‘spiritual batteries’ of the Ummah were recharged with some sort of extra Ibaadaat in the Mubaarak Month – in Ibaadaat in the form of fasting, Suhoor, Iftaar, Taraweeh, Du’a, Tilaawat, Zikrullah, etc.
Upon the termination of Shawwaal, we are now in Dhul-Qa’dah, in which we should not become lax, nor let this month pass in a state of negligence. The Mashaaikh have encouraged us to increase in good deeds in these Months. They have said that good deeds done in these Months – the Four Sacred Months – will Insha Allah lead to those deeds becoming part of our life throughout the balance of the year. In fact, good deeds carried out in the Sacred Months are more rewarding, while at the same time, evil deeds done in these months are more sinful, as stated in the Kitaabs (full narration at the end of this article).
Therefore, let us not let our guard down. Let us keep the momentum strong. Just a few weeks ago, in Ramadhaan, we did so much Ibaadaat, therefore, to do half of that amount, or even a quarter of that will truly go a long way ahead, Insha Allah in these Sacred Months. Let us take advantage of the Spirituality and the extra rewards promised for good deeds performed in the Sacred Four Months, starting from NOW, from Dhul-Qa’dah!
LET US KEEP UP AND PRIORITIZE THE FOLLOWING BASIC A’MAAL WHICH NEED JUST A LITTLE MOTIVATION TO OBSERVE DILIGENTLY:
Tahajjud Salaah, Ishraaq, Chast, Awwabeen and the complete Rak’aats for each respective Salaah – for example, 17 Rak’aats of Esha, 8 Rak’aats of Asr, etc. A small amount of Zikrullah, Durood Shareef and Istighfaar, daily, and gradually increasing the count. And for men, ALL Salaahs with Jamaat, in the Masjid, with Takbeer-e-Ula – including FAJR Salaah.
To our mothers and sisters, one great contribution you may invest in, especially in these Sacred Months, is to ensure the menfolk – husbands, brothers and Baaligh sons – proceed to the Masjid for ALL their Salaahs! Insha Allah, you will find this effort from your side to be a mountain of Thawaab in the Aakhirah in your favour, Aameen.
A MUSLIMAH’S HOUSE-RULE TO ALL MENFOLK – A GOOD MOTIVATION:
And yes, there are Muslim sisters in this era as well, who are meticulous and particular that ALL their menfolk – from the eldest to the youngest, i.e. youngest Baaligh male – attend the Masjid for Salaah with Jamaat. She made the rule of her house in the following lines, “All men in this house perform their Salaah in the Masjid”. Allahu-Akbar! Meaning, the only ones not going Masjid in her home are the women!
How positive news is this not, to learn that there are still such Ummatis in South Africa! And mind you, she is not a Haafizah, nor an Aalimah; neither is her husband an Aalim nor a Shaykh of Tasawwuf. She is just a concerned Muslimah who values the importance of Salaah in the Masjid for her menfolk. May Allah Ta’ala allow us to take inspiration from this.
Imagine if ALL women of the Ummah had this concern and mind-set. We then probably wouldn’t find the huge plague we find our Masaajid commonly have, that of healthy, strong, fit and full-of-energy youngsters being absent for Salaah with Jamaat – especially Fajr – despite them gallivanting the town and prowling the streets, the entire or most of the day. All this, despite them living just a few doors away from their local Masjid’s door. Innalillah…
THE SACRED MONTHS – AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY:
As mentioned above, good deeds started in these Sacred Months will lead to those deeds becoming our nature and habit for the rest of the year. This is indeed the Barkat of these Sacred Months. It is an ideal opportunity for ALL of us who require some sort of boost in our deeds, to start doing A’maal. If we are lacking in certain deeds, let us bring them alive NOW, in order that they become part of our lives for the rest of the year.
For example, if any man’s weakness is not to attend Salaah with Jamaat, or not to make it for Takbeer-e-Ula, or any Muslim’s weakness is not to be completing the full Rak’aats of each respective Salaah, then why are we waiting? Let us start right now! Why give in to Shaitaan’s whisper when he says, “I’ll start after the next Ramadhaan”. Why wait for our next Umrah trip to ‘change’ – despite recent Umrah trips we undertook – or several Umrah trips – yet we haven’t changed. Thus, one doesn’t need to wait for an Umrah trip, Ramadhaan or for Jumu’ah day to start. Rather, we need our focus and some inspiration and motivation to start from NOW. The ideal motivation is the Sacred Months! The virtues of these months are enough as motivation! We leave you with one such motivation to boost our Ibaadaat:
“Allah offered distinction to four months. He has made them Sacred and has increased their Sacredness. He has made sinning in them more sinful and good deeds carried out during these months more rewarding.” (Lataaiful Ma’aarif)
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