- VIRTUES OF THE 10 DAYS OF DHULHIJJAH -
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Alaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days.” They said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” (al-Bukhaari, 2/457)
This means that if this man was killed but left behind property, or lost all his property and was injured, the person who takes advantage of these 10 days is better than him in Allah's sight.
Why? Because these are the days of Hajj.
Allah said in (89:2):
"وليال عشر"
Most of the interpreters said this verse refers to the 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Allah said in (89:2):
"وليال عشر"
Most of the interpreters said this verse refers to the 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah.
When Allah swears by something it indicates the greatness of the matter. Therefore, we should magnify and honor these days.
Q. Is the superiority of these days restricted to daytime or does it include the night as well?
Q. Is the superiority of these days restricted to daytime or does it include the night as well?
A. It includes both day and night time. The scholars said that it is even greater than the 10 nights of Ramadan, with the exception of the night of Qadar.
The believer who truly believes in the greatness of these days will be very keen to perform good deeds.
Some good deeds we can do:
1) Remember Allah
Takbeer, Tahleel, Tahmeed is prescribed in these days
2) Dutifulness to Parents
If they are alive, bring joy to their hearts, fulfill their needs, ask forgiveness for them. If they are dead, give charity on their behalf, pray for them, etc.
3) Giving Charity
4) Reciting, Memorizing, Pondering over the Qur'an
5) Join relations between the kith and kin
6) Acquire knowledge
Allah has opened different doors of good for each person. The wealthy person can spend his wealth for the sake of Allah, the person whose parents are alive can be dutiful to them, etc.
- The Strong Believer vs The Weak Believer -
Belief has an impact on the behavior and utterances of people. Although we profusely hear about the virtues of these 10 days, most people don't deal with them as they should.
The believer thinks about the day of Judgement with every moment that goes by, every word he says, every action he takes. He takes himself to account all the time.
People fall into sins like cheating, backbiting, etc because there's a strong barrier between them and the belief in the Judgement Day.
When the strong believer gives charity he sees the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgement. He feels the sun drawing near his head, and how nothing will protect him from its heat except that shade.
He imagines the darkness of his grave, how nothing will avail him except his good deeds.
When the weak believer gives charity he sees his money diminishing. He doesn't look at fasting except that he sees hunger, He doesn't look at prayer except that he sees tiredness.
Judge yourself; How do you feel when you do good deeds? Are you a strong believer or a weak believer?
The strong believer is always alert and aware of Allah's observation over him.
In (21:1):
اقترب للناس حسابهم وهم في غفلة معرضون
اقترب للناس حسابهم وهم في غفلة معرضون
Allah is informing us of a fact: اقترب الناس حسابهم
This word is in past tense, to indicate its surety.
How do people receive this fact? With heedlessness.
All of us know that we will die one day and that Allah will take us to account. But we receive this with غفلة (Negligence due to lack of awareness/alertness).
Heedlessness and اعراض are two contradicting matters. But when they are joined together it means that even when they are reminded they turn away
The aspects of الاعراض:
a) Calling someone and they turn away. They don't want to hear you at all.
b) The person listens to you but doesn't accept or act upon what you tell them.
a) Calling someone and they turn away. They don't want to hear you at all.
b) The person listens to you but doesn't accept or act upon what you tell them.
We are meant by these verses. If we were truly aware of the greatness of these days we would be saying the تكبير all the time.
Verse 2:
"ما يأتيهم من ذكر من ربهم محدث إلا استمعوه وهم يلعبون"
Allah said "من ربهم" to show you how much Allah takes care of us, that he sends reminders, admonitions, verses after verses to awaken us.
But the people receive this while they're playing. We know that children play. What about adults?
The scholars said, '"Actions which are a mere fulfillment of the desire/lust, to be indulged in vile, vain talk are all kinds of play'
Verse 3:
لاهية قلوبهم وأسروا النجوى الذين ظلموا هل هذا إلا بشر مثلكم أفتأتون السحر وأنتم تبصرون
Their hearts are diverted and distracted with worldly things.
The strong believer who is always aware of the Day of the Judgement. He is concerned about his حساب, his grave, when nothing will benefit him except his good deeds. He is worried about the day when his records will be spread and his deeds will be shown openly. A day when all his efforts will be seen openly, all his secrets disclosed.
- A few Descriptions of the People of Jannah -
In (76:7-10)
يوفون بالنذر ويخافون يوما كان شره مستطيرا
ويطعمون الطعام على حبه مسكينا ويتيما وأسيرا
إنما نطعمكم لوجه الله لا نريد منكم جزاء ولا شكورا
إنا نخاف من ربنا يوما عبوسا قمطريرا
يوفون بالنذر ويخافون يوما كان شره مستطيرا
ويطعمون الطعام على حبه مسكينا ويتيما وأسيرا
إنما نطعمكم لوجه الله لا نريد منكم جزاء ولا شكورا
إنا نخاف من ربنا يوما عبوسا قمطريرا
The first description of the righteous people is: يوفون بالنذر
النذر = This vow refers to the acts of worship the believer enjoins upon himself which Allah didn't make obligatory on him.
E.g. If he doesn't recite a certain amount of the Qur'an everyday he feels upset. He upheld this and stuck to it.
The second description: و يخافون يوم كان شره مستطيرا
When they fulfill these vows there is a fear of the Judgement Day in their hearts. The Day of Judgement is always in front of their eyes.
The third description: و يطعمون الطعام على حبه
They love that food, but they give it because they prefer Allah's love over their own.
The fourth description: إنما نطعمكم لوجه الله لا نريد منكم جزاء و لا شكورا
They give because they want to see Allah's face in Jannah. They don't want or wait for any recompense or praise from the people.
The fifth description: أنا نخاف من ربنا يوم عبوسا قمطريرا
They do good deeds with fear in their heart of the Day of Judgement.
This is the true believer. They do good deeds while being afraid it wont be accepted or that it'll go in vain. They're worried that their hearts may have turned towards the people while they did the act of worship.
Therefore their recompense will be: فوقا هم الله شر ذالك اليوم و لقاهم نضرة و سرورا
They feared Allah in this life so there won't be fear for them in the Day of Judgement. If you don't fear Allah in this life, you will be fearful on the Day of a Judgement.
- Reviving the Hearts -
In order to revive our hearts we have to take care of our belief. Eeman is to believe with certainty in the unseen matters which causes you to have feels like love, hope, fear, in Allah. These feelings should push you to take an action.
When many people hear 'آمنوا و عمل الصالحات' the immediately think of the actions of the limbs, unaware that our hearts have actions as well. It has both good and evil actions which will be rewarded and punished.
Evidence: It was narrated from ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “No one who has an atom’s-weight of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise.” A man said, “O Messenger of Allaah, what if a man likes his clothes and his shoes to look good?” He said, “Allaah is Beautiful and loves beauty. Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people.” (Muslim, 91)
Pride resides in the heart. We are thus responsible for the actions of our heart.
Tawakkul, Hope in Allah, Fear, Love, Repentance, all begin with the heart. Even الشوق (yearning, longing) for the 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah, rejoicing when you do an act of worship, feeling regret and sorrow when you missed one, hating something for the sake of Allah, are all acts of worship done by the heart.
One of the most important actions is التقوى. Allah prepared Paradise for the Muttaqeen (أعدت للمتقين). And the place of Taqwa is the heart.
It is the fear of Allah that will make you act upon His commands and abstain from all the prohibitions.
And Tawheed is the greatest command of Allah. We are here in this world to fulfill Tawheed and avoid Shirk, and this is what having Taqwa requires you to do.
And Tawheed is the greatest command of Allah. We are here in this world to fulfill Tawheed and avoid Shirk, and this is what having Taqwa requires you to do.
In (22:1):
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّڪُمۡۚ إِنَّ زَلۡزَلَةَ ٱلسَّاعَةِ شَىۡءٌ عَظِيمٌ۬
The relation between Taqwa and the earthquake of the Day of Judgement: Knowing the horrors of the hour will cause and help a person to have Taqwa.
The relation between the first verse and last two verses of the Surah:
-> In order to save yourself from the horrors of that day you should do those good deeds.
-> Allah commanded us with Taqwa in the beginning of the Surah, and shows us how we can attain it at the end.
The relation between the title and the first verse:
-> Hajj linguistically means القصد الى معظم (to betake oneself to someone who is great). While you are journeying to Allah, you should have the provision of Taqwa.
-> Hajj legally means to worship Allah by performing rituals in a specific way, in a specific time, and at a specific place. As you worship Allah you need Taqwa, and one of the goals to be attained from Hajj is Taqwa.
-> There are similarities between Hajj and the Judgement Day. Hajj is a minor gathering, whereas the day of judgement is a major gathering. Taqwa will benefit you in both the minor and major gathering.