The Sacred Month of Dhul Hijjah: A Time of Spiritual Awakening

The Sacred Month of Dhul Hijjah: A Time of Spiritual Awakenin

The month of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, holds immense significance for the 1.9 billion Muslims around the world. It is one of the four sacred months during which warfare was forbidden since the time of the Prophet (ﷺ). Instead, this is the month when hearts turn towards Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى - in love and servitude, as Muslims from across the globe set out on a journey of Ishq-e-Haqeeqi (highest form of love for Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى ) and devotion to the holy city of Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage. It is on this sacred journey that individuals leave behind their status, race, achievements, and even gender, standing together in a state of purity and submission before the Lord of the Kaaba, Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. Hence why, the name Dhul Hijjah means “The Month of Pilgrimage”. 

The First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah: A Divine Opportunity for All

Today, marks the start of this blessed month and we’re already excited! We’re excited because whether or not, we have the means to embark on the Hajj pilgrimage, we have the opportunity to multiply our rewards and gain closeness to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى through His Infinite Mercy, especially in the first 10 days of this month. These days are so auspicious that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى swears an oath by them on different occasions in the Qur’an such as: 

‘By the dawn; by the ten nights’ [The Noble Qur’an, 89:1-2]. 

‘Remember Allah during the appointed days.’ [The Noble Qur’an, 2:203] 

Subhan Allah, when Allaسُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى swears an oath by something, it is to magnify its worth in our limited vision, draw our hearts to its greatness and to invite us to return, to renew our covenant with our Creator, to stand before Him-in humility and hope! 

Hadith on the Virtues of Dhul Hijjah

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also reminded us the same when he said,  

“There are no days more beloved to Allah that He be worshipped in them than the ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah, fasting every day of them is the equivalent of fasting a year, and standing every night of them (in prayer) is the equivalent of standing on the Night of Qadr.” (Tirmidhi) 

How to Make the Most of Dhul Hijjah

It is worth reflecting that if Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has honoured the blessed days with His Divine Oath, we cannot afford to let go of this unmissable opportunity. We might be distant from the Kaaba, but our hearts yearn for Him every second. Let us look at some of the beautiful ways in which we could honour this month and express our love to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى with a heart that is overflowing with gratitude:  

Engage in Daily Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)

 Let us moisten our tongues with a very simple dhikr such as the Eid takbeer or just increase the Tasbeeh after each of your five daily prayers i.e Subhan Allah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu Akbar 34 times. 

Fast the First Nine Days of Dhul Hijjah

 
Reap maximum rewards by fasting on the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, as was the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (ﷺ). In a beautiful Hadith Qudsi, Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى says, “ ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.’ [Bukhari]. If at all, fasting is difficult for all these nine days, we could just try to fast on the Day of Arafah as it is one of the most blessed days of the year. 

Recite the Qur’an as Much as Possible

Recite Qur’an as much as possible as the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten.(Tirmidhi) 

Use these days to reconnect with the Qur’an and fill your days and nights with its recitation. 

Pray Tahajjud and Seek Forgiveness

Pray Tahajjud as it holds equal rewards to performing nightly worships in Laylatul Qadr, something that we all miss the most while biding adieu to the blessed month of Ramadan. 

Give Sadaqah and Make Du’a for Loved One

Remember your loved ones and give Sadaqah in their name. Be it someone who left for his heavenly abode earlier than you though or a loved one going through a difficult phase in life, make heartfelt duas during these blessed days so that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى forgives, surrounds them with mercy and brings immediate relief for them in this world and the hereafter.  

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, ‘When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: Sadaqah Jariyah, knowledge from which benefit is gained, or a righteous child who prays for him.’ [Muslim] 

Plant the Seeds of Eternal Goodness

These blessed days of Dhul Hijjah might slip away quicker than you thought, and so will the fragrance of mercy and forgiveness diffuse in the air of our materialistic pursuits. This is a season of planting seeds of everlasting goodness and watering them with pure intentions so that they blossom for us in the hereafter-deeds that continue to nourish our souls and others long after we have left this world. 

Let us pledge to give for Sadaqah Jariyah by building wells of blessings that will quench the thirst of innumerable lives.  

Plant your seeds of goodness today. Bring water, bring life.  

Donate now to Penny Appeal’s Thirst Relief and Sadaqah Jariyah projects in your loved ones’ names - and let your charity flow on forever.