1st Of Dhul-Hijjah

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatu’ Allahi Wa barakatuhu brothers & sisters,

Alhamdulillah, the sighting of the new moon has been confirmed and with it the beginning of the sacred month of Dhul-Hijjah starts insha Allah tomorrow 6th October 2013. As you have learned from the lecture today at the masjid, Dhul-Hijjah is a very special month in the Islamic calendar marking the end of the year and it is in this month in which the pilgrimage takes place. It is during this month that millions of pilgrims from all corners of the world congregate in Mecca to visit the holy shrines in order to fulfill one the pillars of Islam, the Hajj.

“Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause (of Allah), and came back with nothing.” (Bukhari 2/457)

The above Hadith confirms that the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah possess tremendous blessings and excellence. The scholars have stressed that these special and blessed days and nights should be spent in intensive worship and virtuous acts as well as contemplation. Therefore we should all strive insha Allah to ensure that we make the best of these blessed 10 days. We cannot afford to miss out on such immense rewards at any cost!

Taqabal Allah mina wa minkum ajma’in (May Allah accept all our good deeds),