الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي الحمد لله الذي أعطانا عشرة أيام ذي الحجة لكي نقترب إليه ، نحمده تعالى ونستعينه، ونشكره تعالى ونستغفره ونستغيثه، نعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهد الله فهو المهتد ومن يضلل فلن تجد له وليا مرشدا، ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك و له الحمد، يحيي ويميت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير، ونشهد أن سيدنا و مولانا محمداً عبده ورسوله، وحبيبه وصفيه، بلغ الرسالة وأدى الأمانة ونصح الأمة، النبي الأمي الذي أرسله الله بالهدى والدين الحق، بشيرا ونذيرا بين يدي الساعة، صلى الله عليه وسلم وعلى آله وأصحابه ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.
أما بعد! فيا عباد الله اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. يأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم. ومن يطع الله ورسوله فقد فاز فوزا عظيما. اتقوا الله فيما أمر وانتهوا عما نها عنه وزجر
قال الله تعالى في كتابه الكريم وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ
Praise be to Allah, who created time and made some of it more virtuous than others. In His infinite wisdom, He has designated certain months, days, and nights as special. Bestowing upon them unique qualities in order to encourage us to increase in acts of obedience and strive in worship until certainty comes to us.
Among these special times are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. But in order to truly appreciate the magnitude of these days it is first necessary for us to understand how it is presented to us. Allah, the Most High, uses oaths in the Qur’an to grab our attention, focus our thoughts and prepare us for messages filled with profound guidance. In Surah Al-Fajr, Allah begins with an oath!
وَٱلْفَجْرِ
Most translations would render it as “by the dawn”, but it doesn’t quite capture our attention, therefore necessity dictates we delve deeper. Firstly, what is the linguistic meaning of “fajr” – to rip apart – that it why infijar, which comes from the same root letters as fajr, means explosion! Al-Fajr refers to the time when the darkness of night is torn apart by the light of morning like an explosion of light. Ash-Shawkani writes that this time symbolizes the removal of darkness and the arrival of light, signifying the power of Allah to bring life after death. Why is our duah after waking up from sleep:
الحمد لله الذي أحيانا بعدما أماتنا وإليه النشور
“Praise be to Allah who gave us life after He has caused us to die, and to Him is the ultimate resurrection.” Ibn Ajeebah comments that the dawn is not just a physical phenomenon but also represents the dawn of Islam, which ripped through the layers of darkness of shirk (polytheism) and kufr and brought the light of tawheed (monotheism). Al-Fajr encompasses all these meanings, connotations and inferences which creates an awareness of how real and near the Day of Resurrection is. Then our Merciful Lord continues by swearing by “ وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ ” – ten nights. Not “The Ten Nights” just “Ten Nights” No definite article. Leading to an inevitable difference of opinion, wa-algumdulilah. There are two prominent interpretations of these nights: The Last Ten Nights of Ramadan and The First Ten nights of the First ten days of Dhul Hijjah. If we look at each interpretation in isolation, in other words we choose one over the other, then the absence of a definite article has no significance. However, if we believe that every word and every letter has been perfectly chosen and placed then even the absence of a definite article must have meaning. Meaning that multiple interpretations add to the overall meaning of this ayah. Therefore, an inferred connection exists between the last ten and first ten. Which in and of itself is significant, because the last 10 nights of Ramadan are famous and well known. Muslimeen all over the world strive in those nights more than any other time of the year, a time of taqwa, guidance, Qur’an, salah, sadaqah. A connection by omission is made between those nights and the 10 nights of the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah. Ramadan has a special night and Dhul Hija has as special day. Ramadan has a night better than a thousand months, and Dhul Hijjah has day that can wipe out a lifetimes worth of disobedience. What has taken me hundreds of words to explain, Our All Knowledgeable Lord, has said in three words or two oaths. (Ayah). Resurrection is coming as certain as the dawn, here are 10 days to help you prepare for it.
We are now on the cusp of those great and blessed days, the most significant days of the year, as the Prophet ﷺ explained:
أَفْضَلُ أَيَّامِ الدُّنْيَا أَيَّامُ العَشْرِ
“The best days in this world are the ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah).” The Prophet ﷺ said:
ما من أيام العمل الصالح فيهن أحب إلى الله من هذه الأيام العشر
“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” (Bukhari). The companions asked, “Not even Jihad in the way of Allah?” He replied:
وَلَا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، إِلَّا رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْجِعْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِشَيْءٍ
“Not even Jihad in the way of Allah, except for a man who goes out with his life and wealth at risk and returns with nothing.” (Bukhari) “The most apparent reason for the ten days of Dhul Hijjah being distinguished in excellence is due to the assembly of the greatest acts of worship in one period – salah, siyam, sadaqah, and Hajj. In no other periods do these great deeds combine.” (Fath al-Bari)
During these blessed days, Muslims from all over the world gather in Makkah, wearing the simple garments of Ihram, reminding themselves and us of the Day of Judgment. They stand together on the plain of Arafat, all of them supplicating to Allah with one voice:
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
“Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Indeed, all praise, grace, and sovereignty belong to You alone. You have no partner.” Everything around them, even the trees and stones, joins in their chant. The angels respond to their call. How great is this religion that unites people in such a magnificent season of obedience, where there is no difference between them in language, colour, or nationality. They are all one nation, as Allah has described them:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah are those who have the most Taqwa. Allah is Knowing and Well – Acquainted with all you do.” (Quran 49:13)
أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرَّحيم
الحمد لله الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، صلى الله وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله وصحبه، والتابعين وتابعي التابعين ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.
أما بعد! فيأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله ما استطعتم واسمعوا وأطيعوا وأنفقوا خيرا لأنفسكم. يا عباد الله أوصيكم وإياي بتقوى الله وطاعته وأحذركم وإياي عن معصيته ومخالفته: أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم التُّؤَدَةُ فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ خَيْرٌ إِلَّا فِي عَمَلِ الآخِرَةِ
“Deliberation (meaning calmness and avoiding haste) is good in all things except in the actions for the Hereafter.” (Abu Dawood) Therefore, hasten, during this great season for forgiveness from your Lord, for a Jannah as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the competitors.
وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ
“So for this, let the competitors compete.” (Quran 83:26). For those who are not performing Hajj this year, Allah has prepared great rewards for those who engage in deeds pleasing to their Lord during these ten days. Again, Allah (SWT) has encapsulated the best of these deeds in three words or one ayah:
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنۡحَرۡ
“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice” Salah and Sacrifice. Prioritize the Salah specifically to your Master, who bestowed upon you immense blessings. Do it sincerely for His sake, do not be heedless, do no show off, fulfill the rights of gratitude. Allah could have said “Fushkur lirabika” thank your Lord, but He said Pray to your Lord because Salah encompasses all forms of gratitude and is in fact the best act of gratitude.
الصلاة خير موضوع، فمن شاء استقل ومن شاء استكثر
“Salah is the best act of worship that Allah has ordained, so whoever can perform much of it, let him do so” and then “sacrifice” وَٱنۡحَرۡ means to sacrifice the animal on the day of Eid-ul Adha. The sunnah of the Qur’an is salah first and charity or sacrifice second. Remember the Quraish were a nation who used to sacrifice and pray before idols. Hence the importance of enslaving ourselves to our Master who has honoured us above all through Islam, so that when we sacrifice, we sacrifice only for the sake of seeing His pleasure. Now we can more fully comprehend the wisdom behind the words of our beloved prophet ﷺ when said:
إِذَا دَخَلَتِ الْعَشْرُ وَأَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُضَحِّيَ فَلْيُمْسِكْ عَنْ شَعْرِهِ وَأَظْفَارِهِ
“When you see the new moon of Dhul-Hijjah, and one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him refrain from (cutting) his hair and nails. Abstaining from cutting hair and nails serves as a reminder of the significance of the upcoming act of sacrifice, helping us to process and foster a deeper sense of ikhlaas and mindfulness. This act of refraining from altering our appearance demonstrates submission and humility before Allah. As if we are in a constant state of worship and sacrifice from the first day until the tenth day. Some scholars suggest that by not cutting hair and nails, the one who sacrifices presents themselves in a more complete state for the sacrifice, symbolizing their entire being’s involvement in submission to Allah.
Ibn Ajeebah comments on this Ayah by stating the following: “So, pray to your Lord the prayer of the hearts and sacrifice yourself and desires. Indeed, your hater and enemy is the one cut off, but your remembrance will endure, and your life will not be interrupted. For the death of the pious is a life that does not end.”
Ya Allah, make us among those who receive Your Mercy, Bounty and Forgiveness during these extraordinary ten days, and grant us success in performing deeds pleasing to You. Rabana, accept from us, forgive us, and admit us by Your Mercy among Your righteous servants. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the Near, and the Responsive.
إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُهَا الذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ، وعن أم المؤمنين عائشة التي أمرنا الله أن ندافع عنها، وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، خُصُوصاً اِلأَنْصَارَ مِنْهُمْ وَالمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَعَنِ التَّابِعِينَ وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ وُلَاةَ أُمُورِ المُسْلِمِينَ لِمَا يُرْضِيكَ وَلِاتِّبَاعِ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُسْتَقِيمِ، وَأَصْلِحْهُمْ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى شُيُوخِنَا، وَعَلَى رئيسنا، وَعَلَى أَمِيرِنَا، وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ أُمَرَاءِ وَزُعَمَاءِ المُسْلِمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى المُسْلِمِينَ فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا تُحِبُّهُ وَتَرْضَاهُ يَا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلَامَ وَالمُسِْلمِينَ، اللهم ألف بين قلوبنا، ووحد صفوفنا، واجعلنا يا رب العالمين من عبادك الصالحين. رَبَّنَا ءَاتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقَِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.
إِنَّ اللهَ يَامُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى، وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَّكَّرُونَ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ. وَقُومُواْ إِلَى صَلاتِكُمْ يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللهُ.