645. The BEST Adhkaar For The First Ten Days Of Dhul Hijjah

By Asma bint Shameem 

1. One of the best adhkaar in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah is dhikr in general and the *Takbeeraat* specifically. 

Allaah says:

“and *MENTION the Name of Allaah on APPOINTED days”*

[al-Hajj 22:28]

That’s what the Sahaabah would do. 

 “Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah 

radhi Allaahu anhumaa used to go out to the market-place on first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people used to recite Takbeer because of their Takbeer.” 

(al-Bukhaari) 

Maymoon ibn Mihran (from amongst the Successors [Tabi’een]) said: 

“I remember a time when the people would perform their Takbeeraat so much during the ten days that I would compare it (the sound of their voices) to waves.”

2. And from the best dhikr is to say *Subhaan Allaah, Alhamdulillaah, Allaahu Akbar and laa ilaaha illallaah* a lot in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: 

"There are no days on which good deeds are greater or more beloved to Allaah than on these ten days, so recite much Tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah), Takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar) and Tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillaah)." 

(Ahmad 7/224; Saheeh by Ahmad Shaakir)

3. The best dhikr *specifically on the Day of Arafah* is:

‎لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ ، وهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The best of du’aa’ is du’aa’ on the day of ‘Arafah, and the best that I and the Prophets before me said is 

‎لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ ، وهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer”

“There is no god but Allaah alone, with no partner or associate; His is the dominion, to Him be praise, and He has power over all things.” 

(al-Tirmidhi-hasan by al-Albaani) 

Of course also do a lot of *Istighfaar*, other adhkaar and send salutations on the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam. 

And Allaah knows best

644. When The Day Of ‘Arafah Falls On A Friday

By Asma bint Shameem 

When Arafah falls on a Friday, does that mean it is “Hajj Akbar”? 

Is this Hajj more virtuous than others?

There is a common *misconception* among people. 

They think that if the 9th of Dhul Hijjah falls on a Friday, then it is called a “Hajj-e-Akbar” meaning greater Hajj. 

And that this hajj is more “special” and more “virtuous” than Hajj that falls on other days. 

Or that this hajj is equivalent to “seven” Hajj or seventy etc. 

But that is not true. 

There’s no proof of that from the authentic sources. 

Actually “Hajj Akbar” is Hajj itself and “Hajj Asghar” is Umrah, according to the majority of the scholars. 

Ibn Hajar said: 

“The scholars differed in opinion in regard to what is meant by the minor Hajj, and the majority of them are of the view that it is ‘Umrah. 

It was also said that the minor Hajj is the day of ‘Arafah and the greater Hajj is the day of Al-Adha [i.e. the day of ‘Eid] as on this day the remaining rituals (of Hajj) are completed…”

Although Hajj on a Friday is *just as virtuous* as Hajj falling on any other day, it is still something GOOD , and SPECIAL when the day of Arafah falls on a Friday,. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: 

“There is nothing narrated from the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam about there being any special virtue in the Day of ‘Arafah falling on a Friday, but the scholars said that if it happens to fall on a Friday, that is a *good thing*. 

As for the commonly-held view that Hajj on a Friday is equivalent to seventy Hajjs, that is not correct.” (Al-Liqa al-Shahriyyah, 34/question no. 18) 

Some special virtues of Arafah falling in a Friday:

Ibn al-Qayyim said:  

“The correct view is that Friday is the best day of the week and the day of ‘Arafah and the day of Sacrifice are the best days of the year, as are Laylat al-Qadr and the night before Friday. 

Hence if the day of ‘Arafah falls on a Friday, it is superior to all the other days in several ways: 

1. Coincidence of two days that are the best of days.

2. It is a day in which there is an hour when prayers are answered. Most (scholars) are of the view that it is the last hour after ‘Asr, and the people in the place of standing are all there to offer du’a and beseech Allaah.

3. It falls on the same day that the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam did Hajj.

4. People all over the world gather there to listen to the khutbah and pray Jumu’ah, and that coincides with the gathering of the people of ‘Arafah on the day of ‘Arafah in ‘Arafah.

So the Muslims’ gathering in their mosques and their standing to offer du’a and beseech Allaah coincide in a way that does not happen on any other day.

5. Friday is an ‘Eid, and the day of ‘Arafah is an ‘Eid for the people in ‘Arafah, hence it is makrooh for those who are in ‘Arafah to fast on this day.

Ibn Taymiyah said: 

The day of ‘Arafah is only an ‘Eid for those who are in ‘Arafah because they are “gathered” there, unlike the people in other regions, who only gather on the Day of Sacrifice. 

So it is an ‘Eid for them. 

What is meant is that if the day of ‘Arafah falls on a Friday, it is two ‘Eids in one.

6. It coincides with the day when Allaah perfected His religion for His believing slaves and completed His Favor upon them, as it is proven in Saheeh al-Bukhaari that Tariq ibn Shihab said: 

“A Jew came to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab and said: 

O Amir al-Muminin, there is an Aayah which you read in your Book; if it had been revealed to us Jews and we knew the day on which it was revealed, we would have taken it as a festival. 

He said: Which verse is that? 

He said: “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” [al-Maidah 5:3]. 

‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said: 

“I know the day which it was revealed, and the place in which it was revealed. 

It was revealed to the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam in ‘Arafah, on a Friday, when we were standing with him in ‘Arafah.

7. It coincides with the day of the greatest gathering and the great standing of the Day of Resurrection, for the Day of Resurrection will take place on a Friday as the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: 

“The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise, on it he was expelled therefrom, and on it the Hour will begin. 

On that day there is an hour when no Muslim slave asks Allaah for something good but He will grant it to him.” 

8. It coincides with the day when Allaah gives people “more” in Paradise, which is a Friday. 

So if ‘Arafah falls on that day, it is extra special and enjoys a virtue that is not shared by any other day.

For these reasons and others, Friday is superior to other days. 

But as for that which is commonly spoken of among the common folk, that it is equivalent to seventy-two Hajjs, this is false and there is no basis for it (in any report) from the Messenger of Allaah or from any of the Sahabah or Tabi’een. 

And Allah knows best.”

(Zaad al-Ma’ad, 1/60-65) 

So today is a SPECIAL day. 

Let us take advantage of this special day.

Let us make the most of it. 

And Allaah knows best

643. Making Duaa For Children, Especially On The 7th To 10th Of Dhul Hijjah PROVEN From The Sharee’ah?

By Asma bint Shameem

Unfortunately, this is a very common bid’ah that has spread among the people, especially from the Subcontinent. 

Surely we all want to make duaa for our children, their health, guidance, wellbeing etc. 

But there’s *NO PROOF* from the Sharee’ah that duaa should be made for children, *especially* on the 7th to 10th of dhul Hijjah, or that it is more likely to be accepted just because ibraaheem Alayhis Salaam made duaa for his children.

You see, all acts of ibaadah are “*tawqeefi*”. 

What that means is that we MUST have “*evidence*” for that in order for us to practice it. 

If there’s evidence for it, we do it. 

And if there’s no evidence for it, we don’t do it. 

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala says:

“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”

[al-Maa’idah 5:3].

And the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: 

“There is nothing by means of which one may draw close to Jannah and move far away from Hell but it has been explained to you.”

(at-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer 1647; saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Saheehah, 1803)

That means that Allaah has *completed* the religion for us; whatever is not prescribed in the Sharee’ah is NOT part of Islaam.

Our Deen is *complete*. 

Nothing can be added to it. 

Nothing can be deleted from it. 

No one can come up with a “new” way of ibaadah. 

Or do something that is different from what the Sharee’ah of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam teaches us. 

When we look at the practice of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam, we will see that the Prophet ﷺ did *NOT* specifically pick out these days of Dhul Hijjah to make duaa for his children. 

Nor did he tell the sahaabah to do it. 

If making duaa on these specific days was something good, or “special”, wouldn’t the Prophet ﷺ or the Sahaabah have made duaa for their children?

Weren’t they the keenest for their children’s guidance and Aakhirah?

Yes, these are blessed days, but the blessed days are the first *TEN* days of Dhul Hijjah. 

And we can make duaa in these days….

ANY duaa.

Regarding ANY thing. 

For ANYbody. 

Not just specifically for our children.

There is no hadeeth that tells us that these days should be picked or that there’s any “special virtue” in these days for specifically making duaa for kids.

If it was good, surely the Prophet ﷺ would have told us about it. 

But there’s no evidence of that. 

Shaykh Sa’d Al-Humayd said:

“It is important to note that duaa’ is an act of worship, and every act of worship should only be done on the basis of evidence (daleel).”

Acts of ibaadah are not subject to anyone’s personal opinion and it is not permissible to do any acts of worship except those which are approved by the Sharee'ah. 

If we do any such Ibaadah that’s not proven from the authentic practice or teachings of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam, it would NOT be accepted by Allaah; instead it would be *rejected* and *thrown back at us* and thus would be of no use. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

"Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours (i.e., Islaam), that is not part of it, will have it rejected." 

(al-Bukhaari).

 *Bottom Line:*

There’s *no evidence* of making duaa for our children specifically on the 7th to 10th of Dhul Hijjah. 

We don’t have to pick just these specific times or days for making duaa for our kids. 

Rather we can and “should” make duaa for them any time and any place. 

And we should choose times when duaa is most likely to be accepted such as 

-the middle of the night 

-in our salaah, during sujood and in tashahhud before Tasleem

-at the time of breaking the fast

-during laylatul qadr

-in between adhaan and iqaamah

-when it rains etc 

But to pick a specific time or day or place to especially make duaa for children or for “ANY” act of ibaadah, that requires EVIDENCE from the practice/teachings of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam.

And regarding this matter, there is NONE.

And Allaah knows best.

642. How To Throw The Pebbles At The Jamaraat Safely And Easily

By Asma bint Shameem 

1. First of all, please remember that the Jamaraat are NOT ‘Shaytaan’. 

That’s a misconception. 

They’re called “Jamaraat”. (Singular- jamarah)

2. The pebble does not HAVE to hit the wall itself. As long as it falls in the ‘well’, within the boundary, it should be fine 

But I advise, especially my sisters, not to throw the pebbles from far. 

The pelting of the stones has become such an EASY process for the last ten years or so. Otherwise it USED to be a nightmare 

But now with the building of the Jamaraat complex, there are multiple levels from where we can pelt the Jamaraat, the narrow ‘pillar’ has been replaced by a HUGE rectangular WALL, and the way to enter the area is different from the way to exit. 

This makes is SO MUCH SAFER than the horror it USED to be. 

Alhamdulillaah. 

In fact it is so safe that I’ve seen young kids, and old frail people, and people in wheelchairs and on crutches, doing it themselves. 

See the picture 1 below. 

This is how Jamaraat USED to be.

Look at the Jamaraat NOW

See picture 2 below. 

So how to do it ?

Follow the directions below to pelt the Jamaraat safely and EASILY. 

When you’re walking towards the Jamaraat, you’ll see a lot of people gathered at the beginning of the jamarah wall. 

See picture 3 below. 

(Imagine the black line is the wall as if you’re looking at it from the top as an aerial view. 

And the red dots are the people)

So instead of you doing the same, please BE PATIENT and KEEP WALKING till you get to the OTHER END of the Jamarah wall. 

Once you get to the other end of the Jamarah wall, walk SWIFTLY BUT CALMLY when the coast is clear, come ALL the way right UP TO the wall, then pelt the stones, one by one saying Allaahu Akbar with each stone.  

See picture 4 below

This way you can make throw your pebbles DIRECTLY at the Jamarah and you also can make sure your pebbles are not falling outside the ‘well’.

And there’s no shoving, pushing, or danger of falling etc. as well. 

Alhamdulillaah for everything. 

My drawings are not that great but I hope they’ll be enough to give you a general idea of what to do and what to expect when you pelt the stones In shaa’ Allaah. 

And Allaah knows best

641. Looking at the Ka’bah

By Asma bint Shameem 

QUESTION #1

*Is looking at the Ka’bah an act of ibaadah?*

*Am I rewarded for that?*

ANSWER

Just sitting there ‘looking’ at the Ka’bah is NOT an act of ibaadah by itself. 

Those who claim that it’s ibaadah for which you’ll be rewarded, have to bring PROOF of that from the Sharee’ah. 

However, if you’re looking at it, just admiring its Beauty, its Grandeur and Awe, then there’s nothing wrong with that 

Looking at the Ka’bah reminds us of the Majesty of Allaah, His Power, His Signs on this Earth. 

And if that helps you fear Allaah more and if it instills His Love in your heart, and encourages you to OBEY Him, then it’s *good* to look at it. 

One day Ibn Umar radhi Allaahu anhu looked at the Ka‘bah and said:

 “How great you are and how great your sanctity, but the sanctity of the believer is greater before Allah than you.” (at-Tirmidhi -saheeh by al-Albaani)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: 

“Looking at the Ka‘bah is not an act of worship. 

Rather if, when looking at the Ka‘bah, the individual intends to reflect upon this venerated structure to which Allaah has commanded His slaves to make pilgrimage, and increases in faith as a result of this reflection, then this is what is required in this regard. 

As for merely looking at it, that is not an act of worship.

(Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il al-‘Uthaymeen 24/18) 

So looking at the Ka’bah to inspire you and motivate you etc is good.  

But to claim that ‘looking at the Ka’bah is an act of worship’ is not correct. 

Any of the ahaadeeth regarding this matter are graded as “weak” or “dha’eef” by scholars such as Shaykh al-Albaani. 

QUESTION #2

* Can I look at the Ka’bah during Tawaaf*?

ANSWER

Yes you may do that. 

There’s nothing wrong with looking at the Ka’bah while making Tawaaf. 

In fact, looking at the Ka’bah might even be *recommended* during Tawaaf, if by doing so, it gives you more khushoo and a better concentration in your duaas and ibaadah. 

Again, those who say it’s not allowed to look at the Ka’bah during Tawaaf have to bring PROOF of what they’re claiming, from the Qur’aan and/or authentic ahaadeeth. 

And Allaah knows best.