✨Reflections on Dhul Hijjah

Be conscious of Allah and obey Him. The ten days of Dhul Hijjah and what they contained of worships, such as Hajj, udhiyah remembrance and fasting, was a school that taught us how to adhere to the commands of Allah. So it must be a lesson for us going forward in accounting ourselves in every command and prohibition of Allah so that we attain consciousness of Allah.

Starting with Hajj, we note the limited number of pilgrims performing Hajj this year due to the pandemic. Millions yearned to perform Hajj but were unable to do so. But whoever sincerely intends to perform a deed and is prevented will be rewarded wholly by Allah. Also, Allah selects from His servants whom He wills. And that the bounty is in the Hands of Allah and He bestows it upon whom He wills and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.

At the same time, whoever performed Hajj this year should be cautious of self-admiration and pride. For Allah Almighty is knowledgeable of the pious.

Even though the number of pilgrims was limited there was so much diversity within them…in their nationalities, in spoken language etc…We realize that it is only the religion of Allah that united them. For the pilgrims are like one body. Wearing the same clothing. They were united in the talbiyah exchanging it for any patriotic chant. Without pride in lineage or status. There is one gauge as Allah said:
Al Hujarat 13: Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.

And as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
Indeed your Lord is One, and indeed your father is one, and your religion is one and your prophet is one. And there is no virtue of an Arab over a non-Arab. And not for a non-Arab over an Arab. And not for red complexion over black complexion and not for black complexion over red complexion except through taqwa (consciousness of Allah).

Next, let us consider the udhiyah. The udyihiyah taught us the meaning of sacrifice and submission to Allah. It taught us the importance of spending of what we love for Allah Almighty. For Allah is Good and accepts only that which is good. And you will not attain piety until you spend of what you love. The udhiyah taught us that every act of worship is performed only for the sake of Allah.

Al Kawthar (108) 2: So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice [to Him alone].

The ten days of Dhul Hijjah taught us to follow a righteous deed with another righteous deed. Shaikh As Saadi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: And this is what a servant should do. Any time he completes an act of worship, he should seek forgiveness from Allah for shortcomings. And thank Him for the success. Not like the one who thinks that they have perfected the act of worship. And that he did a favor to Allah. And that it gave him a high station. For this is truly an abhorrent and repulsive action.

In the blessed ten days, we adhered to making remembrance of Allah, so we must continue making remembrance. The Prophet ﷺ said:
The similitude of the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not is like that of the living and the dead.

And our Lord described the believers as:
Al Imran (3) 191: Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

Remembrance of Allah is a wide sphere. For the Muslim wakes up and sleeps and comes and goes while he is making remembrance of Allah Almighty.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said in describing the virtue of remembrance of Allah:
Should I not inform you of the best of your deeds, and the purest of them with your Master, and the highest of them in your ranks, and what is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks, and they strike your necks?” They said: “Of course.” He said, “The remembrance of Allah [Most High].”

In the blessed ten days, we drew nearer to Allah through different types of good deeds. Through remembrance of Allah, by fasting on the day of Arafah and by sacrificing udhiyah. So what is our expectation of Allah? We should have good expectations that Allah will not turn us away disappointed.

Allah Almighty said:
I am as My servant thinks I am

May Allah accept from us and you the righteous deeds performed in the blessed ten days. Oh Allah make us among those who remember You while standing and sitting and while on our sides. Oh Allah make us among those who follow a good deed with another good deed. Indeed You are All Hearing, Answering.

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