Spirituality of the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah

 Muslims have been blessed with a variety of sacred occasions in an Islamic year. Allah Almighty not only improves the spirituality of believers in this month but also the reward for it gets multiplied as per the will of Allah Almighty. Though as Muslims we know that every new day is like a blessing from Allah Almighty for believers, certain times are considered a bit more holy for a variety of reasons. Among those, the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah reserves great significance. It’s the 12th and last month of an Islamic lunar calendar that carries special status because the annual obligatory pilgrimage of Hajj is observed in it. Millions of Muslims flock to the city of Makkah through umrah packages deals and offer holy rituals together.

Here’s a brief description of the spirituality of the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah.

Importance of Fasting during first ten days.

Fasting on a daily basis during the first ten days of Dhu-al-Hijjah possesses exceptional significance. Especially fasting on the ‘Day of Arafah’ (which is the 9th of Dhu-al-Hijjah) is something Muslims all over the world observe.

It was narrated by Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) that fasting on the Day of Arafah is an expiation for all the sins committed in the previous year and an expiation for all the sins of the coming year as well.

Recitation of Dhikr and Takbir.

A believer must recite as much Takbir and Dhikr as he/she possibly can at this time of the year because it’s one of the greatest Sunnah of our Holy Prophet (SAWW).

It was narrated by Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) in a Hadith that there are no days on which good deeds are greater and more beloved to Allah Almighty but on these ten days of Dhu-al-Hijjah; recite Takbir, Tahmeed and Tahleel excessively.

The time for Hajj pilgrimage.

Hajj is observed every year by millions of Muslims in the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah. The rituals of Hajj are commenced from the 8th of Dhu-al-Hijjah and last till the 12th day. In this time period pilgrims gather in the holy city of Makkah; travel to a lot of different places and offer holy rituals there as specified in the sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAWW).

Eid-al-Adha.

In the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah i.e., on the 10th; Muslims across the globe celebrate Eid-al-Adha and sacrifice animals. This celebration is done in the remembrance of the great Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) i.e. when he got ready to sacrifice his son Hazrat Ismail (AS) on the orders of Allah Almighty.

Hence Muslims slaughter goats, sheep, cows, camels during this festival and distribute its meat among three equal parts; for the needy, for their relatives as well as keeping for themselves.

That’s how important the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah remains for the Muslims in terms of its spirituality and association with Islamic history.