The best ten days of the year are here: we have just entered the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah! What do you know about this Hijri month? Read on to check your knowledge and keep learning insha’Allah!

Meaning of Dhul Hijjah

Dhul Hijjah (in Arabic ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة) literally means “the possessor of pilgrimage” (i.e. “the month of pilgrimage”). This month marks the Hajj (pilgrimage), one of the five pillars of Islam.

The month of Dhul Hijjah is among the four sacred months in which fighting and war were prohibited unless the enemy initiated the fight. The four sacred months are Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab.

Chronological order in the Hijri calendar

Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and the last month of the Islamic calendar. This month comes after Dhul Qa’dah and before Muharram.

When will Dhul Hijjah take place this year?

In 2022, Dhul Hijjah is expected to begin on the evening of June 29th, 2022 insha’Allah.

Eid Al Adha:

Most likely to start on July 9 this year (2022), this Eid is celebrated on the 10th, 11th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah.

Aishah رضی اللہ عنھا narrated: Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “(‘Eid) al-Fitr is the day on which the people break the fast, and (‘Eid) al-Adha is the day the people offer sacrifices.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhi)

Day of Arafah:

Most likely to fall on July 8 this year (2022).

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “There is no day on which Allah sets free more slaves from Hell than He does on the Day of ‘Arafah.” (Riyad as-Salihin 1277)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There is no day on which Allah ransoms more slaves from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafah. He draws closer and closer, then He boasts about them before the angels and says: ‘What do these people want?'” (Sunan Ibn Majah 3014)

Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the observance of Saum (fasting) on the day of ‘Arafah. He said, “It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year.” (Riyad as-Salihin 1250)

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Significance of Dhul Hijjah in the Quran

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ

“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred…” (Quran, 9:36)

Significance of Dhul Hijjah in Hadith

Ibn `Abbas رضي الله عنه Narrated: The Prophet ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 969)

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Time has come back to its original state which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth; the year is twelve months, four of which are sacred. Three of them are in succession; Dhul-Qa’da, Dhul-Hijjah and Al-Muharram, and (the fourth being) Rajab Mudar (named after the tribe of Mudar as they used to respect this month) which stands between Jumada (ath-thani) and Sha’ban.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 4662)

Significance of Dhul Hijjah in Islamic History

Farewell Pilgrimage (حِجَّة ٱلْوَدَاع) in 10 AH was the last, and only Hajj performed by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The farewell sermon delivered by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was as follows:

“O people! Listen to what I say. I do not know whether I will ever meet you at this place after this year. Your blood, your property, and your honor are as sacred as this day, this month, and this city (i.e., Makkah and the surrounding areas).”

“Behold! All practices of paganism and ignorance are now under my feet. The blood-revenge of the days of ignorance (pre-Islamic time) is remitted. The first claim on blood I abolish is that of Ibn Rabi’ah bin Harith who was being nursed in the tribe of Sa’d and whom Hudhail killed. Usury is forbidden, and I make a beginning of remitting the amount of interest which Abbas bin Abdul-Muttalib has to receive. Verily, it is remitted entirely.”

“O people! Fear Allah concerning women. Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah and have made their persons lawful unto you by Words of Allah! It is incumbent upon them to honor their conjugal rights and, not to commit acts of impropriety which, if they do, you have authority to chastise them, yet not severely. If your wives refrain from impropriety and are faithful to you, clothe and feed them suitably.”

“Verily, I have left among you the Book of Allah, if you hold fast to it, you shall never go astray.”

“O people, I am not succeeded by a Prophet and you are not succeeded by any nation. So, I exhort you to worship your Lord, to pray the five prayers, to fast Ramadan, and to give the Zakat of your provision willingly. I exhort you to perform the pilgrimage to the Sacred House of your Lord and to obey those who are in charge of you, then you will be rewarded by entering the Paradise of your Lord.”

“And you will be asked about me, what are you going to say?”

They replied:

“We bear witness that you have conveyed the Message and fulfilled your mission.”

He ﷺ then raised his forefinger skywards and then moved it down towards people while saying:

“O Allah! Bear witness.”

(Reference: The Sealed Nectar, الرّحيق المختوم)

Learn about other Hijri months here!