Dhu al-Hijjah

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-Hijja, based on the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia, are:

Special days

• 8th–13th days of Dhu al-Hijjah are the days of the Hajj
• The 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah is the Day of Arafah
• Eid al-Adha on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah
• Eid al-Ghadeer on the 18th Dhu al-Hijjah

Best 10 Days of the Year

The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are known as best 10 days of the year. As Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari

Charity among these 10 days sacred days is most important and blessed deed to do like Ramadan and its second chance of forgiveness by Allah SWT.[[File:Pilgrims cover Arafat's roads, plains and mountain - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Arafat]] during [[Hajj]]]]

Mention in Hadith

According to Hadith, great rewards have been mentioned for performing certain Islamic rituals on specific days of Dhu al-Hijja:

One of the wives 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."

The Prophet 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 the equivalent of fasting a year, and standing every night of them (in prayer) is the equivalent of standing on the Night of Qadr."

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.

General events

Sunni

• 18 Dhu al-Hijja, assassination of Uthman, the prominent companion and son-in-law of Muhammad and Khadija. Husband of Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum.

Shi'ite

• 01 Dhu al-Hijjah, Nikah (marriage) of Ali and Fatimah – AH 2 (24 February AD 624).
• 07 Dhu al-Hijjah, martyrdom of Twelver and Ismāʿīlī Shīʿite Imām, Muhammad al-Bāqir ‐ AH 114.
• 08 Dhu al-Hijjah, Husayn ibn ʿAlī began his journey to Karbalāʾ from Mecca.
• 09 Dhu al-Hijjah, martyrdom of Muslim ibn ʿAqīl and Hani ibn Urwah in Kufah. It is also a day of supererogatory fasting – AH 60.
• 12 Dhu al-Hijjah or 18 Dhu al-Hijjah, assassination of Uthman
• 15 Dhu al-Hijjah, birth of Twelver Imām, ʿAlī al-Naqī – AH 214 [Disputed date].
• 18 Dhu al-Hijjah, Shīʿite Muslims celebrate the event of Ghadir Khumm – AH 10.
• 19 Dhu al-Hijjah, Fatimah went to Ali's house after their marriage.
• 23 Dhu al-Hijjah, martyrdom of Meesam Tammar, friend of Ali – AH 60.
• 23 Dhu al-Hijjah, martyrdom of two sons of Muslim ibn ʿAqīl in Kufa – AH 60.
• 24 Dhu al-Hijjah, event of al-Mubahalah took place ('Eid al-Mubahilah).
• 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, Sura Al-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.

Notes

References

References

1. (2013). "ZİLHİCCE".
2. [https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~gent0113/islam/ummalqura.htm Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia]
3. "My Best 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah – Hajj, Eid Al Adha, and Qurbani".
4. "Ten Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah | Soul". Central-mosque.com.
5. "Jami' at-Tirmidhi 758 – The Book on Fasting – كتاب الصوم عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم – Sunnah.com – Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)".
6. "Sahih Muslim 1162b – The Book of Fasting – كتاب الصيام – Sunnah.com – Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)".