Dhul-Qa’da Reflections: Preparing for the Blessed Month of Dhul-Hijja – Interpreter’s Path
Dhul-Qa’da Reflections: Preparing for the Blessed Month of Dhul-Hijja – Interpreter’s Path
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
The following is a summary of some of the points mentioned by Sayyidi al-Habib `Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah preserve him) on 17th Dhu’l-Qa`ida with some additions for extra clarity and benefit:
He reminded us of the greatness of attaining the knowledge of Allah, knowledge of the Creator. What knowledge is more noble or more pure than this? Where will other knowledge take you? Does other knowledge inform you of your own creation and of your Creator? Does other knowledge bring you to closer to Allah?
He mentioned the fast approaching time of Hajj, when the delegations come to Allah and His House, to the places made sacred by their connection to Him and His Beloved; Allah bless him and grant him peace, Allah made the Ka`ba, the Sacred House, and the Sacred Months as a source of support for people[1] – through it people’s affairs are rectified.
In spite of the great oppression and disbelief prevalent in the world the existence of hearts that realise the greatness of Allah prevents punishment from descending. These sacred symbols are in place “so that you may know that Allah knows all that is in the heavens and the earth and has knowledge of every thing“.[2]But the greatest of things sacred is Muhammad; Allah bless him and grant him peace, the Messenger of Allah, the one whom Allah sent for us to be guided, for us to be saved. Those visiting Tayba (Medina) would witness the effects of the light and love of the Prophet; Allah bless him and grant him peace, even upon animals and inanimate objects. He said; Allah bless him and grant him peace, of Uhud: “It is a mountain which loves us and we love it.” Because of its love, this rocky mountain will be one of the mountains of Paradise.
How hard are our hearts in comparison to this mountain! May Allah soften and purify our hearts! Feed our hearts and let them taste the sweetness of faith. “All of you are hungry except the one I feed, so ask Me and I will feed you.”[3]
His Hawd (pool); Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the widest and purest of the pools of the Prophets and we can drink from it in this life before drinking from it in the next by following his example and strengthening our connection to Allah, our witnessing of Allah, our humility and presence of heart in front of Allah, and by remembering and seeking to honour the covenant that we took with Allah in the spiritual realm[4] especially at these blessed times.
Protect us all from the tribulations of this Dunya; the only ones protected are those You have given to drink from la ilaha ill’Allah Muhammad Rasulullah; don’t give those with darkness in their hearts power over us!
In spite of the lowliness of our state Allah shows compassion to those who seek and ask Him: Say: “My Lord would not have cared about you had it not been for your supplication.”[5]
If the Hajj has not been made possible for you, join with those making Hajj and share in their reward: by spending your wealth for the sake of Allah on your relatives, on the needy, by turning to Allah with your whole being. Make numerous your footsteps to the places of good, especially at the time of Fajr, and you will receive glad tidings from him; Allah bless him and grant him peace: “Give glad tidings of complete light on the Day of Judgement to those who walk constantly to the mosque in the darkness.” Those whose light is complete will no doubt be in his company; Allah bless him and grant him peace, “on the day on which Allah does not disgrace the Prophet and those who believe along with him. Their light stretches out in front of them and upon their right sides”.[6]
Share in their reward by worshipping and remembering Allah between Maghrib and Isha, and from Fajr until sunrise.[7] Attend the prayer in congregation, attend the gatherings of knowledge. He said; Allah bless him and grant him peace: “The one who goes out to the mosque wanting only to learn good or teach it has the reward of a complete Hajj.”[8] Just as those performing Hajj respond to the call of Allah by saying “labbayk” we must be swift to respond to the call of Allah in performing that which is obligatory and avoiding that which is prohibited. Ask to be present with them, and thank Allah for allowing our spirits to be with them. So many hearts whether they be in the far East or the far West receive the gifts of Arafat and Mina because of their truthfulness with Allah.
The first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijja are approaching. He informed us; Allah bless him and grant him peace, that there are no days in which righteous actions are more beloved to Allah than these days. Fasting one day is equal to fasting for a year and praying on one night is equal to praying on Laylat al-Qadr. Fasting on the Day of Arafat is equal to fasting a thousand days and it wipes out the sins of the previous year and the year to come.
Let us end this month with tawba so we enter those sacred times and places in a state of purity.
[1] See Surat al-Ma’ida 5:97 [2] See Surat al-Ma’ida 5:97 [3] Hadith Qudsi narrated by [4] Where every soul bore witness to the lordship of Allah. See Al-A`raf 7.172 [5] Al-Furqan 25.77 [6]Al-Tahrim 66.8 [7] The hadith mention that the one who prays Fajr in congregation and then sits remembering Allah until sunrise and then prays two rakats will receive the complete reward of a hajj and an umra and all his sins will be forgiven (Tirmidhi, Tabarani, Ahmad and others). [8] Narrated by Tabarani on the authority of Abu Umama
– Transcribed and translated by Ustadh Amin Buxton (Allah preserve and increase him and his teachers)
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