” Indeed, the number of months ordained by Allah is twelve—in Allah’s Record since the day He created the heavens and the earth—of which four are sacred.”
It’s that time of the year again!
There are four sacred months in Islam. During these months, warfare is forbidden. As well as this, the reward of a good deed is multiplied!
Let’s learn about these months to maximize our benefit from them!
Muharram
Ashura occurs on the 10th of Muharram. Ashura commemorates the monumental day when Musa(as) parted the red sea! This allowed the Israelites to cross safely, but swallowed pharaoh and his armies. Ibn Abbas Reports:
The Prophet (ﷺ) came to Medina and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them about that. They replied, “This is a good day, the day on which Allah rescued Bani Israel from their enemy…
Sahih Al Bukhari
Make sure you fast on Ashura! The reward is the forgiveness of all the previous year’s sins!
He was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafa (9th of Dhu’I-Hijja), whereupon he said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year. He was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Ashura (10th of Muharram), whereupon be said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year.
Sahih Muslim
Rajab
Imam Abu Bakr al-Warraq al Balkhi (rh) once famously said:
“The month of Rajab is the month of planting (your seeds), the Sha’ban is the month of watering them and Ramadan is the month of harvesting the crop”.
On the 27th of Rajab the Prophet ﷺ made his miraculous night journey, the Isra and Mi’raj! It was on this journey that he ﷺ ascended into the divine court of Allah ﷻ , where not even Jibreel(as) was allowed to enter. Here, the prophet ﷺ was given the blessing of the five daily Salah.
Dhu al-Qadah
Dhu al-Qa’dah begins the chain of the three consecutive holy months. 90 days, 90 golden opportunities for us to come closer to our lord!
Dhu al-Qa’dah is the last month before the Hajj. Pilgrims will begin entering Mecca now. As the anticipation and excitement grows for the Hajj we should reflect on our spiritual state and see how we can make improvements!
Dhu al-Hijjah
“By the dawn; And [by] the ten nights.”
Qur’an 89:1-2
The first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah are the best days of the year! They are so special that Allah ﷻ swears by them in the Quran.
Ibn Abbas relates:
“There are no days during which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days,” meaning the (first) ten days of Dhul- Hijjah. They said: “O Messenger of Allah! Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?” He said: “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah, unless a man goes out with himself and his wealth and does not bring anything back.”
Sunan Ibn Majah
These are the days of the Hajj, the largest pilgrimage in the world. We should busy ourselves in doing good deeds during these days. As well as this, it is a sunnah to fast during the first nine of these days.
One of the wives of Muhammad said: “Allah’s Messenger used to fast the [first] nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of ‘Ashura, and three days of each month.”
Abu Dawud
We should especially make an effort to fast on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah. The reward is the forgiveness of the past and future years’ worth of sins.
Abu Qatadah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about fasting the day of Arafat and he said, “It will expiate the sins of the previous and upcoming years.”
Sahih Muslim
The tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah is the greatest day of the year! This day is known as Eid al-Adha, the greater eid. It is the day when Ibrahim(as) sacrificed his son Ismail, who was later replaced with a ram. To commemorate this sacrifice, we sacrifice an animal for the poor. This is known as Qurbani.