Today is the first day
of Shawwal. As some of our brothers and sisters may not be aware, Shawwal is
the first of the three months named as “Ashhur al-Hajj” (i.e. the months of Hajj).
Although
the major acts of Hajj are normally performed in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah,
yet the whole period starting from the first of Shawwal (i.e. Eid-ul-Fitr)
up to the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah (i.e. Eid-ul-Adha) is deemed
to be the period of Hajj because some acts of Hajj can be performed any time
during this period.
For
example, the Tawaf-ul-Qudum (i.e. the Tawaf which is
usually performed by those who reside outside Makkah), followed by the
Sai’ of Hajj (i.e. the quick
seven times walks between the hills of Safa and Marwa) cannot be
performed before Shawwal, while it can be performed any day after the beginning
of Shawwal. Likewise, an ‘Umrah performed before Shawwal cannot be
treated as the ‘Umrah of Tamattu, while the ‘Umrah performed
in Shawwal can be affiliated to the Hajj, making it a Hajj-e-Tamattu. Tamattu literally means to enjoy or take advantage of a
facility. A pilgrim who performs the Hajj of Tamattu combines
both ‘Umrah and Hajj.
Moreover,
the ihram of Hajj should not be started before
Shawwal, because it is a disliked
practice (Makruh). For these reasons these three
months have been named as the ‘months of Hajj’ and the month of Shawwal
has the distinction of being the first of these. Alhamdulillah.
The Eid-ul-Fitr
is a thanksgiving day where we - Muslims - assemble in a brotherly and joyful
atmosphere as one united congregation to offer our gratitude to Allah for
helping us to fulfil our spiritual obligations as ordained by Him prior to the
Eid. It is also a day of Victory for those who have been able to keep every
satanic thoughts and acts at bay during the holy month of Ramadan and have
enjoyed the performance of all good deeds to please Allah. Indeed, if the acts
of worship (Ibadat) and good deeds of this Ramadan are finished and
the Eid prayer is now completed, but the Ibadat of the Muslim believer
will never finish until death. The believers are required to ever keep the good
values and acts which they have learnt to maintain during the blessed month of
Ramadan and to keep them alive for the rest of the year until the next Ramadan
and so on till their death. Thus, Ramadan comes as a training for the believers
to keep them ever on the right path and thus remain in the sight of Allah, ever
pleasing and happy.
