Dhul Hijjah, Honoring The Self and Glorifying The Lord

Just take a pause to think about the very essence of life and existence, the present and future, the pre-eternity and eternity, your position in this mega cosmos and your destiny unto the eternity … The first words a believer would utter after a deep dive into his/her thoughts on this matter would be: “AlHamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) the One Who has guided me to know that He (swt) is my Lord, the Originator and Creator of the universe, the Owner of death, life and resurrection. To Him, the Merciful, the Loving Kind, is the final return.” A righteous predecessor was asked, “How did you come to know Allah, your Rabb (Lord)?” He replied, “I came to know my Lord by my Lord, and if it were not for my Lord, I would not have known my Lord.”

Imagine the case of a lost soul who has transgressed and exceeded the limits against his/her own self, feeling the earth, with all its spaciousness, becoming constrained on him/her, and his/her own being torn in anguish. Desperately seeking a refuge, seeking to be forgiven, seeking to be given an opportunity to sincerely regret and repent. Is there anyone who can help him/her? Who can erase sins, accept repentance, bring satisfaction to the heart, give hope and also reward immensely and mercifully in this life and after death?

None can, except Allah (swt), the Merciful, Who, out of His Infinite Bounty, sent His revelation to proclaim His glad tidings to us, telling us: “The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Knowing, the Forgiver of sin and Accepter of repentance, the Severe in punishment, and Infinite in bounty. There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. To Him ˹alone˺ is the final return” (40:2-3). Just these two short Ayat, are enough to define the meaning of the ultimate truth and set clear the purpose of life. Reading them with an attentive heart makes hope shine throughout all one’s being – reviving the soul, liberating the heart, dispelling dreary, gloomy feelings of grief and the suffocating feelings of being lost. Thus is Allah’s guidance ... “And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve” (2:38). “But whoever turns away from My Reminder will certainly have a miserable, depressed life, then We will raise them up blind on the Day of Judgment” (20:124).

The blessed days of Dhul Hijjah have been chosen by Allah to celebrate the guidance and glorify the Guide, Allah (swt) – a glorification that cannot be celebrated in other days like the way is celebrated in the blessed days of Dhul Hijjah. In fact, only in these days can Hajj be performed and Arafa observed. Only in these days a completion of submission is observed as all the noble acts of worship are gathered in these days. “And ˹remember˺ when We assigned to Abraham the site of the House, ˹saying,˺ ‘Do not associate anything with Me ˹in worship˺ and purify My House for those who circle ˹the Ka’bah˺, stand ˹in prayer˺, and bow and prostrate themselves. Call ˹all˺ people to the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant path’” (22:26-27). “Allah has made the Ka’bah – the Sacred House – a sanctuary of well-being for all people, along with the sacred months, the sacrificial animals, and the ˹offerings decorated with˺ garlands. All this so you may know that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and that He has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of everything” (5:97).

In these blessed days, one should hasten to take part in a race of contemplating deeply the greatness of Allah (swt) and His infinite bounty, by observing complete submission and utter abundant “Hamd” (praises) for Allah, being Allah. 

Be a pilgrim with the heart, celebrating the amazing, blessed days of Dhul Hijjah. Say as the Hajji (pilgrim) says, “Labbayka Allahumma Labayk” (Here I am, O Allah, answering Your call to submit to You in humility). Keep your tongue soft with the duaa the Prophet (pbuh) described as being the best Duaa of Arafa, “Laa ilaaha ill-allaahu waḥdahu laa shareeka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu wa huwa ‛alaa kulli shay’in qadeer” (None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent).

Hasten to a race in honoring the self by accumulating many good deeds in these days, deeds with which one expresses the glorification of Allah (swt) and gratitude to Him. Indeed, the deeds in these days are not like any other days. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is no day wherein any good action is more beloved to Allah (swt) than in these ten days (the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).” The companions (may Allah be pleased with them) inquired: “Not even striving on the path of Allah?” he replied (peace be upon Him), “Not even striving in the path of Allah, with the exception of that person who left with his life and wealth (in the path of Allah) and did not return with any of it (i.e., is martyred).” Adding to all these blessings, what about fasting on the day of Arafa and the expiation of two years of sins? The Prophet (pbuh) said: “For the fasting of the day of Arafa, I am counting on Allah to reward it with the expiation of sins of a year before it and a year after it.” 

It is truly a season of blessings, the actions in it are a firm step toward the supreme success. For such an honor, should not all work hard and strive?