The Sacred Days Of Dhul Hijjah: Blessings, Forgiveness, And Ibrahim's Sacrifice

The Blessings of Dhul Hijjah and the Sacrifices of Ibrahim

الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على أشرف الأنبياء والمرسلين، وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين، أما بعد.

Allah tabarak wa ta'ala says in His glorious Book, after أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم، بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم:

Why We Cherish These Blessed Days

By Allah's grace, we have once again entered into the month of Dhul Hijjah. And we are experiencing the various barakāt and the various blessings of this month. Sometimes when we hear the fadā'il and the virtues of these days and months — even during Ramadan — a person may ask himself or herself: why is it that every year it comes, we are listening to the virtues of these months?

Every khutbah that precedes the month of Ramadan is going to be about Ramadan. Every khutbah that precedes the month of Dhul Hijjah will be about Dhul Hijjah. The ninth of Dhul Hijjah comes — Yawm al-Arafah — and we hear about the virtues of Yawm al-Arafah. And sometimes perhaps a person may feel that it's too redundant.

So I ask: if a person's birthday comes, you don't say every year, "Man, it's my birthday again." Nobody has that type of mentality. A couple — their anniversary comes — nobody says, "Man, this is so redundant. Again, this year my anniversary is here." Your child's birthday — nobody says, "My child is now another year older." Rather, we look forward to it. So every year when that time comes, we look forward to those days. Anniversary comes, we are looking forward. Birthday comes, people are looking forward to it. Special occasions in our life come, we are looking forward to it.

Why? Because those days hold a very special place in our heart. There are certain moments in our life that reflect something that we cherish. And so for that reason, when that day comes again, when that time comes again, we are looking forward to it. We don't complain about it; we don't consider it redundant.

So likewise, when these blessed days come for the believer, these are very great days that a believer cherishes. These months — Dhul Qa'dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram — these are known as the sacred months, al-Ashhur al-Hurum. In this particular month, the rites of Hajj are fulfilled. Those hujjāj that are there — may Allah make it easy for them and include us in their du'as as well. They are right now performing — they are there in the Haram — and insha'Allah they will be performing the various rites and manāsik of Hajj.

The Virtue of Yawm al-Arafah

These are great days. Regarding Yawm al-Arafah, the Prophet ﷺ says — I paraphrase — that a person who fasts on the day of Arafah, the sins of the following year will be forgiven, and in another narration, the sins of the previous year. I believe that the sins of the previous year will also be forgiven.

(Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Hadith 2603)

These are great, momentous occasions. For a believer, the opportunity for one's sins to be forgiven is something that he cherishes, he looks forward to — for these days and these moments. These are opportunities for us to gain and seek the forgiveness of Allah, to gain the pleasure of Allah. What could be greater than the acquisition of the pleasure of Allah?

That person who lives his life in a manner that Allah is pleased with him, and he dies in a state where Allah is pleased with him — he has gained success.

The believers have definitely gained success — those who in their prayer are humble. And the verses continue describing other features of the believers. But the idea is that the person who believes in Allah, the person who believes in the Day of Judgment, he honors these days, he considers these days respected, he cherishes them, and he does not waste those opportunities — he takes full advantage of them. If he's able to fast, he'll fast. If he's able to get up in the night for tahajjud, he'll get up. If he's able to do extra du'a, extra dhikr, extra tilāwat, he'll do so. Why? Because these days are beloved to Allah. Allah particularly assigned them for certain virtues and certain benefits that they hold in terms of the hereafter.

The Sacrifices of Ibrahim Khalilullah

And during these days we also remember the sacrifices of Ibrahim Khalilullah. Allah ta'ala mentioned in the Quran:

Allah, His Lord, tested Ibrahim, and Ibrahim completed and fulfilled every single test and he passed it. Whatever it may be. And we take a look at his life from the beginning — leaving his home, migrating for the sake of Allah. Leaving one's home is not easy. And it's not leaving one's home because you're getting a better opportunity, a better job, financial stability. In fact, you have no idea what type of stability you're going to be facing, what your financial state will be. But for the sake of Allah, to establish the deen of Allah, to be able to worship Allah:

"I'm going for the sake of my Lord. I'm going towards my Lord."

His parents were not in favor of what Ibrahim عليه السلام was saying — believing in Allah. Yet, look at the beautiful, respectful manner in which he addressed his father:

"Oh my beloved father, oh my beloved father." In Arabic, it's interesting — he didn't say يَا أَبِي, he said يَا أَبَتِ — "Oh my beloved father." Knowledge has come to me that has not come to you. Listen to me. Follow what I have to say. Oh my beloved father, don't follow Shaytan. Oh my beloved father, I fear a punishment from al-Rahman.

Which is interesting. When you usually think of the word al-Rahman — the Most Gracious — we normally don't associate punishment with al-Rahman. You say al-'Aziz, al-Jabbar, al-Qahhar — that's when you mention punishment. Here, Ibrahim عليه السلام is saying: إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يَمَسَّكَ عَذَابٌ مِّنَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ فَتَكُونَ لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَلِيًّا — "I fear punishment from al-Rahman." Perhaps indicating this idea that even though we know Allah is al-Rahman, that doesn't mean we take it for granted and say, "Allah is Ghafur Rahim, Allah is Rahman — okay, no problem, Allah is going to forgive us." No, that's not the attitude of the believer.

The Balance of Du'a and Action

Just like we recognize that there are certain asbāb — certain means — for the acquisition of worldly things, of material things, nobody buys a plot of land and just makes du'a: "Oh, insha'Allah, ya Allah, please build a house for me here." And he just sits there, goes there every day, looks at the plot of land, and remarks, "Ya Allah, build a house for me here." He doesn't do anything about it. No one does that.

We recognize: I need a house built, what am I going to do? Yes, as a believer, I will make du'a to Allah first. I will turn to Allah first. Then I will see what are the means that Allah has made available for me. Who can I contact? What are the contractors? Who do I know — architects, engineers? I'm going to contact them, ask them, get a quote for whatever I need done. And we'll find that Allah facilitates — as we're making du'a throughout the project, we find that Allah facilitates our work. And finally the house gets built, and we still say: "Ya Allah, You built this for me. It was not in my capacity. Ya Allah, it was not within me to be able to do this."

You see this beautiful masjid. You see the seminary here. You see this community here. It's not that a person only made du'a and that's it. We first turn to Allah. We make du'a to Allah. We rely on Allah. And we look at what are the asbāb — the means that are available to us, readily available to us, easily available to us — and we use those means, along with making du'a to Allah. So how do we expect to receive the mercy of Allah, and yet just sit back and not do anything about it?

Strive in the path of Allah. Strive for His sake.

Those who strive in Our ways, for Our sake, towards Us — We will definitely guide them.

Ibrahim's Greatest Tests

So the tests for Ibrahim عليه السلام were definitely very great. A normal individual, a human being like us, would not be able to fulfill that. It was according to his rank. Leaving his home. Then, at an elderly age, Allah bestows him with children. Then the time comes when Allah says — as He mentions in the Quran:

"My son, look — this is what I've seen in my dream." And the son, growing up in the household of Nubuwwah, being the son of a Nabi, being the son of Khalilur Rahman, also identifies that this is not just a dream. The dream of a Nabi is also a command — it's also a wahi. So he says:

He didn't say افْعَلْ مَا تَرَىٰ — he said افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ — "Do what you have been commanded, O my father. You'll find me among the patient ones, insha'Allah."

And when the time comes to build the Ka'bah, his son is right alongside him:

Ismail عليه السلام with him. May Allah grant us children that are obedient, that aid us in the path of Allah, and don't become a wabāl against us.

Du'a for Righteous Children and Family

In one of the du'as, the Prophet ﷺ taught us:

"Ya Allah, I seek Your protection from a child that will become a source of destruction for me, will become a calamity upon me."

We make du'a. It's one of the du'as Allah teaches in the Quran:

This is a du'a that we should make — just like we're making du'a:

We make du'a for our parents — at the same time, we should also make du'a for our children and our families:

"Ya Allah, grant us righteous, obedient families and children — those who will become the coolness of our eyes, those who will aid us in Your service, and allow us to get closer to You."

It is difficult, no doubt. Perhaps living in the era that we're living in, living in the time that we're living in, living in the place that we're living in. But you have to get all the help that you have available to you. And the best help are those who are closest to you — the family.

Mutually help one another. So the household — father, mother, children — they should be encouraging one another to worship Allah. Make the sacrifices that are needed to get close to Allah.

Our Sacrifices Today

Our sacrifices are not ones where we have to slaughter our children or anything like that. And if somebody gets a dream like that — for Allah's sake, your dream is not worthy. Our sacrifices are: you have to wake up for Fajr in the summer months. Fajr is very early — it's difficult. But you have to wake up. You have to wake your family up. Parents don't wake up? Children, in a nice manner, wake up: "Baba, wake up, it's time for Fajr. Ammi, wake up, it's time for Fajr." Children are waking up. Fathers: "Beta, time for Fajr — wake up." These are our sacrifices.

Isha time is late — say: "No, we're going to pray Isha, then we're going to go to sleep." Alhamdulillah, now Ramadan is getting closer to the winter months. When it was in the summer months, it was difficult. At one time, we were fasting during these days when it was very hot. People were worried — how are we going to be able to fast? Long hours in the summer, in the heat. But Allah makes it easy:

So our life is very limited. And these times that Allah gives — these are occasions and opportunities for us to get close to Allah. Sacrifice. Take small sacrifices — no problem. Take care of the farā'id.

Waking up for Fajr — I know, I understand, it's difficult. SubhanAllah, waking up at 4:00 a.m., 4:30 a.m. for the sake of Allah. Waking up the family for the Fajr prayer. Taking some time out, reciting the Kalam of Allah. Taking some time out, making du'a to Allah. Finding whatever means that Allah made for us to get close to Him.

The Danger of Wasted Time

And these devices that we have — these are a source of our destruction. Families are being destroyed. Children, young men, young women — not just the young, but even those who are older — lost in it. Hours and hours. Take some time, look at your screen time: 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 7, 8, 9 hours a day just on the cell phone. Doing what? This time is very precious.

This time — Allah takes an oath by it. So this time is very valuable. It's not going to come again. It is perhaps one of the most precious things that we have in this world — this time. Because once it goes away, there is nothing you can do to get it back. It's gone. Gather and amass as much wealth as you want to get it back — it's not coming back. Sacrifice whatever you want to get it back — it's not coming back. But this moment, this opportunity I have — don't let it go.

Action Points for These Blessed Days

So when we leave from the masjid today, have that in mind. What can I do to make my time most productive? What can I do to make those small sacrifices?

Some of us don't have the habit of sitting and making long du'as. Okay — let's start with five minutes of du'a, considering all that's happening. Five minutes of du'a we can take time out for. Ten minutes of reciting the Quran. A little bit of dhikr. And with Yawm al-Arafah coming — if we're able to, on Sunday, try to fast. Try to fast. On the day of Eid, if we're able to actually go and make a sacrifice, then do so. It's a great ni'mah. It's a great reward from Allah.

In the hadith it comes that before the blood of the animal falls on the ground, the person is forgiven.

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1493; Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3126)

So if a person is able to, we should try our best. These are our little sacrifices. We do a little bit and we say: "Ya Allah, we are very weak. Ya Allah, please accept it from us. Ya Allah, please accept from us."

May Allah grant us that 'ilm. May Allah grant us tawfīq. May Allah allow us to acquire His pleasure. Allow us to live our lives in a state that He is pleased with us, and die in a state that He is pleased with us.

Announcements

Please move forward and fill any empty spaces. We'll pray the sunnah prayers insha'Allah. Please pass the donation box from left to right.

Eid al-Adha prayer will be Monday here at Dar-ul-Salam — Monday, June 17th. The first prayer: Fajr iqamah is at 4:45, the Eid address will be at 5:00 a.m., and the Eid prayer will be at 5:30. The second prayer: the sermon will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the Eid prayer will be at 9:30.

Ikna Relief is honored to announce its Qurbani campaign, which ensures all livestock is certified and hand-slaughtered by local Muslims at Muslim slaughterhouses in Illinois, meeting all Islamic requirements. This year, the Qurbani — which costs about $350 per goat, sheep, or cow share — will be performed on the second or third day of Eid, aligning with moon sighting. Donors can give at iknarelief.org. Your participation supports Muslim neighbors in need, primarily refugees, to help them participate in the blessings and joy of Eid. There is also a booth outside insha'Allah for anyone who is interested.

We have our summer programs for the entire family. For those who are eager to taste the sweetness of Islamic knowledge but do not have the opportunity to do so on a full-time basis, we have a Tamheed Summer Intensive and Arabic Essentials — for young adults, brothers and sisters 14 and older. We have a Quran and Islamic Studies Sports Camp for boys and girls ages 6 to 13. And then we have Tarbiyah for Tots for boys and girls ages 4 and 5. For information regarding any of these programs and registration, visit majdds.org/summer.

We also have our program Mini-Muslims, conducted every Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for ages up to 5, held in the Sisters' Banquet Hall.

Join us for our weekly programs. Team Fajr resumes tomorrow — Fajr iqamah is at 4:45. Tuesday Tafsir will continue after Maghrib prayer. And our weekly salawat and khatirah is Thursdays after Maghrib.

Again, please remember the Muslim Ummah in your du'as, especially our brothers and sisters in Palestine.