Increase Your Good Deeds To Reap The Benefits Of Month Of Zulhijjah – Cleric Tells Muslims Faithful
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, North-West, Nigeria
Muslims have been called upon to strive hard in exhibiting good deeds in order that they can reap the benefits in the month of Zulhijjah.
This call was made while delivering a sermon during the last Jummat prayer held at NASFAT Kaduna Mosque.
Ustadh Abdullahi Raji of NASFAT Kaduna Mission Board described the month as an opportunity for Muslim faithful to seek blessings from their creator as Allah has set aside these days to favor his servants and should not be allowed to go in vain.
Zulhijjah sometimes spelt Dhu al-Hijjah is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar.
Just as we have the English calendar,
the Islamic calendar (Arabic: ٱلتَّقْوِيم ٱلْهِجْرِيّ at-taqwīm al-hijrīy), also known as the Hijri, Lunar Hijri, Muslim or Arabic calendar, is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days.
It is used to determine the proper days of Islamic holidays and rituals, such as the annual period of fasting and the proper time for the Hajj.
The litetary meaning of Dhu al-Hijjah”, “Possessor of the Pilgrimage” or “The Month of the Pilgrimage”, is
a period when all Muslims pilgrims from all over the world congregate at Mecca to visit the Kaaba. The cleric explained.
Explaining further, Austadh Abdullahi described the month as very sacred in the Islamic calendar as it is the month in which the Ḥajj (Pilgrimage) takes place as well as the Festival of the Sacrifice.
This month is such important that no supplication one offers goes unanswered. He stressed.
Hajj is performed on the eighth, ninth and the tenth of this month. He continued.
While the day of Arafah takes place on the ninth of the month. Eid al-Adha, the “Festival of the Sacrifice”, begins on the tenth day and ends on sunset of the 13th day.
Why the first 10 days of this month is being regarded as special is due to the combination of worship in this period of prayer, fasting, charity, Takbir and Hajj.
Stressing on the importance of these ten days, he said.
“These ten days of Zulhijjah attracts a lot of reward. In fact, Allah honours these ten days and whatever good deeds one does within these ten days is highly regardless in the sight of Allah.”
“The Holy Prophet Muhammed (SAW) said we should try as much as possible to increase our glorification of Allah. Recite much Tahleel uttering such words like, Takbeer, ( saying of Allah Akbar) Also, ‘Laillah lllalah, Subhanalaah, Alhamdullilah, Astangafurllah, Lahillah illalah Wahadahu Lasharikalah, Lahul Mulku Walahulhamdu, Wahuwa Allah Kulishein Kodir.
“The Prophet said, whoever says this 100times during this period, Allah would grant him/her hundred of goodness and reward as well as erase the person’s sins 100 times.”
Certain deeds are expected from a good Muslim who wants to earn the favor of Allah. He continued.
Among the things expected of one to be exhibited within these 10days is that of increase in the prescribed act of worship; while it is encouraged that one gives
extra charity (Sadaqah) in these 10 days, it is also advised that one increases his/her salat (prayer) in these 10days.
This includes performing voluntary Nafl prayers, engaging in the recitation of the Holy Quran with an effort in memorizing it for accrued benefits.
The Ustadh also urged that lot of Dhikr be done at this period.
For those who can fast for the whole ten days, more rewards he said awaits such but where one cannot, it would be good to strive and fast on the day of Arafat for one who does, Allah promises to erase one’s sins.
“The Prophet (SAW) used to fast on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijja and he said: “Fasting the Day of ‘Arafah (ninth Dhul-Hijja) is an expiation for (all the sins of) the previous year and expiation for (all the sins of) the coming year.” (Muslim)
