Read the Friday Sermon Below:
The first ten days of the Islamic month Zil Hajj [Dhul-Hijjah] is among those special moments for the worship of Allah. Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sa) has said:
'No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).' Then some companions of the Prophet said, 'Not even Jihad?' He replied, 'Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.'
This Hadith
and others indicate that these ten days holds more value than other days of the
year. Thus, we can deduce from virtues of these ten nights according to a
number of factors:
1. The
Messenger of Allah (sa) encouraged Muslims to do more and better deeds during
these ten days.
2. The
Messenger of Allah (sa) ordered Muslims to recite excessively the Tasbeeh
(Subhan-Allah), Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah) and Takbeer (Allah-u-Akbar) during this
period.
3. During
these ten days there is the Day of Arafah, during which the verse which express
the perfection of Islam was revealed: “This day have I perfected your
religion for you and completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam
as religion.” (Chapter 5, Verse 4)
4. The
reward for fasting during this day (Day of Arafah) is two years forgiveness for
sins, like several Hadiths indicate. The Messenger of Allah (sa) qualified this day also as the best of the year.
5. Jabir (sa) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sa) has said: 'No other day of the year in the eyes of Allah holds more value than the Day of Arafah.'
6. Yawm al’
Nahar (Day of Sacrifice) which forms part of the most important moments of the
year and of the Hajj is included in these ten days.
Some
actions to do during these ten days: Seeking forgiveness for sins and
remembering Allah often (through Remembrance of Allah and other acts of
worship).
It is
Sunnah to observe a fast on the ninth Zil Hajj for this act is most appreciated
by Allah like mentioned in a Hadith Qudsi: “Allah says: 'All deeds of man is
for him except for fasting which is for Me. I shall reward him personally for
this deed.' (Bukhari)
We must
recall: It is strictly forbidden to fast during five days of the year: the
10-13 Zil Hajj and the first day of Shawwal (Eid-ul-Fitr Day)
Many Hadiths also shows also the virtues of worship during the first ten days of Zil Hajj. The Messenger of Allah (sa) said: 'One who stays awake during the nights of both Eid hoping for rewards, his heart will not die on the day when hearts will die.'
The importance of the Day of Arafah
There is a lot of goodness in keeping a fast
on this day. It is also reported that this day sinners are liberated from hell.
As for the merits of this fast, Abu Qatadah narrated that the Messenger of
Allah (sa) has said: 'I hope that the fast on the Day of Arafah
compensate for the sins of the past year and that of the year to come.' (Muslim)
The
Messenger of Allah (sa) used to keep a fast on the ninth of Zil
Hajj. Hunaydah Ibn Khatid (ra) reported from his
wife that some wives of the Messenger of Allah (sa) have said:
'The
Messenger of Allah (sa) used to keep a fast on the ninth of Zil
Hajj, the Day of Ash-Shura, three days in each month, and also the first two
Mondays and Thursdays of each month.” (Nasai, Abu Dawud)
In another
Hadith, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) has said that the fast on
the Day of Arafah is equivalent to a thousand fasts. (Baihaqi, Tibrani)
It was on
this day (Day of Arafah) that Allah forgave Adam (as) and on this
itself that Allah talked to Prophet Moses (as). The sacrifice of
Prophet Ismael and Ibrahim (as) was compensated with a ram. And
most important, it was on this day that Allah perfected the mission of the Holy
Prophet Muhammad (sa).
“Allah O Akbar
Allah O Akbar
Laa Ilaaha Illallaahou
Allah O Akbar
Allah Akbar wa lillahi Hamd.”
The origin
of Takbir and Tashreek goes back to the time of Prophet Ibrahim (as), when he made his son Ismail lie down to sacrifice him. When he did so,
Allah sent His angel Jibrail (as) to make him stop and thus to
compensate this human sacrifice with the slaughtering of an animal. The
archangel Jibrail (as) was afraid lest Prophet Ibrahim (as) really sacrifice his son. Thus he began to read: 'Allah O Akbar, Allah O
Akbar.'
When Prophet
Ibrahim (as) heard the voice of the angel, he took it as a good
news and thus in return began saying: “Laa Ilaaha Illallah Allah O Akbar” and
on this Prophet Ismail (as) understood that Allah has already
accepted their sacrifice, began to read the following invocations by singing
the praises of Allah and by thanking Him as thus: “Allah O Akbar wa lillahil
Hamd.”
1. It is
Waajib: to recite the Takbir from the ninth after Fajr prayers up till the
thirteenth after Asr prayer of the month of Zil Hajj.
2. To
recite Takbir after Eid prayers.
3. To
recite Takbir loudly after Salaat in Jamaah – The ladies must do so in a lower
tone.
4. Even if
Prayer is not done in Jamaah, one must recite Takbir.
5. It is
also Waajib for the 'One who is in Salaat in Jamaah and who is replacing missed
Rakaat.'
6. If it
happens that the Imam forgets to recite Takbir after Salaat, it is the duty of
the Mouqtadis to proceed to recite it.
Importance
of the nights of 8-10 Zil Hajj:
The Messenger of Allah (sa) said: 'The one who stays awake and prays during the night of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha will not have his heart die, on the day when hearts will die.'
Muaz Ibn
Jabal narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sa) has said that
Jannat is Waajib for the one who performs lots of worship during the nights of
fifteenth of Shabaan, Eid-ul-Fitr, and 8-10 Zil Hajj. It is reported that
invocations are best accepted during the following nights: The night of Jummah
(Thursday night to early morning of Friday), first of Rajab, the night of
Eid-ul-Fitr and the night of Eid-ul-Adha.
Rules of Qurbani
Animals
which can be offered in sacrifice are: goats and she-goats (aged one year),
cows and oxen (aged two years), camels (aged five years), sheep. If the years
are inferior to that mentioned, the sacrifice is invalid. To have a sacrifice
accepted, a sheep or a goat counts as a part and cattle must be divided into
seven parts each (per animal).
The animal
chosen for sacrifice must be in good health, beautiful and without defects.
Animals which are deformed or handicapped or have any other problems are not
valid for sacrifice.
Sacrifice of an animal is obligatory on all Muslims who are healthy mentally and who are adults. There is a Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira (ra) in which the Holy Prophet (sa) has said: 'One who has the means to participate in the slaughtering (on the days of Eid-ul-Adha) and who does not do so, must not approach the Eid Gah.'
The poor and the travellers are not made obligatory to participate in the slaughtering. It has been narrated the Messenger of Allah (sa) has said: 'When you see the moon of Zil Hajj, the one who has the intention to participate in the slaughtering (for Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha) must not cut one’s hair or nails.'
The one on
whom slaughtering of an animal is obligatory, and he loses the animal, it
becomes obligatory on him to buy another one alike and to do the slaughtering.
And one on
whom the slaughtering of an animal is obligatory and who has bought an animal,
but for some reasons has not been able to offer the sacrifice in the fixed day;
it becomes obligatory for him to do the sacrifice of the animal and to
distribute the meat to the poor. In this case, it is not permitted for him to
eat that meat.
For the one
on whom slaughtering of an animal is obligatory, but through negligence has not
done so, it becomes obligatory for him to give the value of it in charity.
After the
Eid prayer, the slaughtering of the animal for sacrifice begins (that is, on
the tenth Zil Hajj) and it ends with the sunset on the twelfth Zil Hajj. But it
is advised to do the slaughtering on the first day itself, just after Eid
prayers.
If a Muslim
knows how to do the slaughter well, it is wished that he does so with his own
hands. If one cannot do so, it is best if he makes another Muslim who well
versed in the principles of Islam, to do the slaughtering. If it is possible, a
Muslim woman must do her own slaughtering of animal. In every case, it is
wished that the participants in sacrifice of animal do their slaughtering
themselves or they must be present during the slaughtering.
Slaughtering
of an animal in Islam means that the animal must be sacrificed in such a way
that its two jugular veins and air tube is cut quickly and properly with a
sharp knife, and this act must be accompanied by the words: “Bismillah
Allah O Akbar”.
At the time
of slaughtering, the animal’s throat must be placed towards the Qibla and
before slaughtering one must read:
'I have turned myself sincerely towards the One who has created the heavens and earth. And I am not among the idol-worshippers. Verily, my prayer, sacrifice, life and death belong to Allah. He has no partner. And thus like prescribed I submit it to Allah. O Allah thi is for You and from You.'
After the
slaughter, one must read:
'O Allah!
Accept this from me like you accepted the one of Your dear friend Prophet
Ibrahim (as) and the one of Your beloved Prophet Muhammad (sa).'
If someone
does not know these invocations by heart, it is accepted that he does the
slaughter with only the intention of sacrifice and the recitation of: 'Bismillah Allah O Akbar'.
The one who
has participated in the slaughtering of an animal (on Eid-ul-Adha) cannot pay
for it from its meat or its skin. One must do another provision for its
payment.
The skin of the animal for sacrifice can be stored for future use. One can later on work on its skin to transform it into prayer mat, water bottle or other use. If he happens to sell the skin, he cannot use the money and thus it is obligatory for him to give it in charity (as Sadqua).
If there are seven parts, the meat must
be equally distributed – quantity and quality - and (not based on estimation
but on weight).
After each
participant has got his share of meat, it is preferable that he distribute it
in his turn in three parts:
1. One part
for the family in his house.
2. One part
for friends and relatives.
3. One part
for the poor and those in difficulties.
It must be
borne in mind that it is absolutely forbidden to sell the meat of sacrifice.
If Allah
wills, next week I will continue on the same subject, still in the light of
Eid-ul-Adha. May Allah help us to understand all these and guide us on the
right path and accept our sacrifice. Ameen.