Dhu al-Hijjah (Arabic: ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة, Ḏū al-Ḥijjah, IPA: [ðu‿l.ħid͡ʒ.d͡ʒah]), also spelled Dhu al-Hijja or Zu al-Hijja(h), is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. It is a very sacred month in the Islamic calendar, one in which the Ḥajj (Pilgrimage) takes place as well as the Festival of the Sacrifice.
"Dhu al-Hijjah" literally means "Possessor of the Pilgrimage" or "The Month of the Pilgrimage". During this month Muslim pilgrims from all around the world congregate at Mecca to visit the Kaaba. The Hajj is performed on the eighth, ninth and the tenth of this month. 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.
In the Ottoman Empire times, the name in Ottoman Turkish was Zī-'l-Hìjjé[1] or Zil-hig̃g̃e.[2] In modern Turkish, the name is Zilhicce. In Urdu, the month is commonly referred to as Zilhaj or Zilhij.
Hadiths
According to Islamic traditions, the first 10 days of Dhu al-Hijjah are the most blessed days in which to do good deeds according to Imam Ali: "9-10 Dhu al Hajjah are the best days for nikah relations."
Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhu al-Hijja)." Then some companions of the Prophet said, "Not even Jihad?" He replied, "Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah's sake) and does not return with any of those things." (Reported by Tirmidhi)
Muhammad used to fast the first nine days of this month, owing to their perceived virtue.
One of the wives[vague] of Muhammad said: "Allah's Messenger used to fast the [first] nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of 'Ashurah, and three days of each month." (Reported by Abu Dawud)[3]
Timing
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Dhu al-Hijjah migrates throughout the seasons. The estimated start and end dates for Dhu al-Hijjah, based on the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia, are:[4]
On the days of Qurbani, i.e. 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the greatest action is the spilling of blood of a sacrificial animal (Qurbani).
Reward for fasting and Tahajjud
According to the hadith, great rewards have been mentioned for fasting the first nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah and standing in worship (Tahajjud) in the first 10 nights of Dhu al-Hijjah:
The Prophet of Allah said: There are no days more beloved to Allah that he be worshipped in them than the ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah, fasting every day of them is equivalent to fasting a year; and standing every night of them (in Salaah) is equivalent to standing on the Night of Qadr.
This hadith has been classed as a daeef(weak) hadith by many scholars,
Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (no. 758); al-Bazzaar (no. 7816) and Ibn Maajah (1728) via Abu Bakr ibn Naafi‘ al-Basri, who said: Mas‘ood ibn Waasil told us, from Nahhaas ibn Qaham, from Qataadah, from Sa‘eed ibn al-Musayyab, from Abu Hurayrah.
This is a da‘eef isnaad because of an-Nahhaas ibn Qaham and Mas‘ood ibn Waasil. Hence the scholars of hadith unanimously agreed that it is to be classed as da‘eef.
At-Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
This is a ghareeb hadith, which we know only from the hadith of Mas‘ood ibn Waasil, from an-Nahhaas.
I asked Muhammad – i.e., al-Bukhaari – about this hadith and he did not know it except via this isnaad.
Some of this was also narrated from Qataadah, from Sa‘eed ibn al-Musayyab, from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in a mursal report. Yahya ibn Sa‘eed criticised Nahhaas ibn Qaham with regard to his memory. End quote.
Al-Baghawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Its isnaad is da‘eef (end quote)
Sharh as-Sunnah (2/624)
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
There is some weakness in it. End quote
Sharh al-‘Umdah (2/555)
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Its isnaad is da‘eef. End quote.
Fath al-Baari (2/534)
It was classed as da‘eef by Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him) in as-Silsilah ad-Da‘eefah (no. 5142).
The reason for the 10 days being distinguished is due to the combination of worship in this period of prayer, fasting, charity, Takbir and Hajj.
From the first nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah, it is particularly recommended to fast the Day of Arafah (9 Dhu al-Hijjah) as expiation of the sin of two years:
Abu Qatada narrates that Muhammad was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah. He said: as for the fasting on the Day of Arafah, I anticipate that Allah will forgive the year (i.e. the sins of the year) after it and the year before it.
10-13 Dhu al-Hijjah, Eid al-Adha is observed by Muslims on the hajj and around the world in commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Isma'il (Ishmael) for Allah.
24 Dhu al-Hijjah, some historians mention that the Hadith, Ahl al-Kisa', event was also on the same day prior to Muhammad setting out for Mubahila.
24 Dhu al-Hijjah, supplication day and giving of alms with the ring by Ali. In reply verse, "Verily your Walee is Allah; and His Messenger and those who establish Salaat, and pay Zakaat while they be in Rukooʿ. (Maa-Idah: 55)" was revealed.
25 Dhu al-Hijjah, SuraAl-Insan or Hal Ata, or Dahar, which records the giving of alms to orphans, the destitute and travellers by Fatimah Hasan and Husain was revealed.
25 Dhu al-Hijjah, Ali becomes the Caliph of Islam – AH 35[citation needed].
