Hajj Rites And The Merits In The First Ten Days Of Zhul-Hijjah | Dr Adekunle Mikail

May the benediction of the Lord continue to rain on the grave of the prophet (saw) in Medina.

Believers, I’m imploring you to fear Allah and move away from all that He warns you of, while you abandon not the head of all good,i.e, praying the five canonical daily prayers as and, when due.

Remember and remember well that as believers we have passed the two months ( Shawwal and Zhul-Qada) out of the three months of Hajj which are a preclude to the blessed Month of Hajj in which the father of the faith and the progenitor of prophet Muhammad, (SAW) prophet Ibrahim ( Alehi Salam) is celebrated through a series of activities at the Holy land of Makkah!

Indeed, three months of the twelve Islamic months are dedicated for Hajj at the holy site in Makkah. These three months are Shawwal, Zhul-Qadah and Zul-Hijjah!

Apparently the first two months are for Hajj preparations while the month of Zhul-Hijjah denotes the real time for Hajj rites and rituals.

Islam as a religion of preparation calls the believers to get ready and fix all that are fixable before embarking on a project or executing a plan.

In that instance, the host which is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been using the two forgone months of Shawwal and Zhul- Qada to prepare, fix, repair and refurbish Hajj cites, spots, objects etc, while the intending visitors from the near and the far of the earth will use this occasion to rejig their faith in God, prepare means of sustenance for themselves and the families they would leave at their countries of domiciliary!

Muslims that are intending to perform the pilgrimage at Makkah are enjoying to prepare the piety beforehand as it is the best of preparations one can think of.

The pilgrimage to Makkah
The institution of Hajj was established in the 9th year of Hijrah but before then prophet Ibrahim ( Alehi Salam) had been ordained to proclaim the pilgrimage after he and his beloved sincere and patient son; Ismaheel had raised high the roof and building of the kabbah!

Kabbah, the first house of God on earth had been built firstly by prophet Adam until the deluge of rain occasioned by the recalcitrance of prophet Nuhu’ s people!

It was said that when prophet Ibrahim (A S) was asked to rebuild the Kabbah, he was looking for its foundation for many times till Allah pointed it to him.

This is contained in the verse of the glorious Qur’an thus:

“And when we pointed the spot of the House(of God) to Ibrahim ,so that he will not be associated partner with me(God),and so that he will prepare my house for those that seek retreat therein;for those that stand there (for prayer) and for those who prostrate therein”! _ Qur’an 22 :26

Attending pilgrimage is once in the life time of a Muslim as pointed out by the prophet (saw) in this Hadith:

“Pilgrimage is mandatory once in the life of a Muslim but he who increases it, should know that it is supererogatory !”

Five conditions are to be fulfilled before one can embark on pilgrimage to the house of God and they are:

Being Muslim– anybody that will desire the journey to the house of God in Makkah must first for all be a muslim.

A non-Muslim therefore is not to embark on journey to Makkah with the intention of performing Hajj as his faithlessness in the oneness of God had disqualified him!

Sanity: an insane person should not embark on pilgrimage to Makkah until his or her sanity is restored.

Maturity: an intending pilgrimage must have attained the age of maturity for the exercise of Hajj needs the sanity of one’s soul as well as the physicality of one’s body!

This is the reason why a non-adult ,may be a baby or a child who has not come of age who is fortunate to attend Hajj at his formative years, is advised to repeat it when he has come of age and matured properly for it for proper rewards!

Economicability – an intending pilgrim must be capable physically and economically so that he will have all what he needs in Makkah for his sustenance.

Also he must have made provision for his households for the period he would spend in Makkah. He must not leave them to themselves so that they will not go a begging when he is at Makkah performing Hajj!

An intending pilgrim must have his or her means to embark on Hajj from Halal and legal ends. As noted by an Arabic poet, ” he who embarks on Hajj with a means which source is prohibitive has not performed Hajj but his camel and now, his aeroplane has in actuality performed the Hajj!”

The Etiquettes of the first ten Nights/days of Zhul-Hijjah continue

By the ten Nights-The glorious Qur’an 89 vs 3

The ten Nights are usually understood as the first ten nights of Zhul-Hijjah, the season of pilgrimage. These ten days and nights are so important to the spiritual, social and moral growth of the believers that Allah swore by them in the verse above!

From the ancient times, Makkah was the centre of Arab pilgrimage and this Makkah is intimately connected with the story of Ibrahim or Abraham who was ordered by Allah to call people to pilgrimage at the time the population of those in earth was few!

Abraham wondered where his voice would reach if he called people to pilgrimage and complained to God about it.

God who is powerful all time, informed him that he just need to obey the commandment to call people to pilgrimage and the power to make other hear whether they are present or far lied only with him,the all-encompassing creator of all things!

After this, Ibrahim (A.S) mounted the Mount of Abi-Qubais in Makkah and announced that: “Allah Has commanded you to come for pilgrimage in Makkah,then obey him!”

Then God who makes everybody to see or hear what He wants allowed those that He who destined to grace the Hajj for all the time to answer Ibrahim’s calling.

It was said that from that material time till now, people will grace Hajj based on the number of times they were allowed to answer Ibrahim’s calling!

The above explains why some will attend pilgrimage once in his life and others many times in their lifetime, though, pilgrimage is compulsory once in the lifetime of a Muslim as said by the prophet in the Hadith:

“Pilgrimage is compulsory once in a lifetime, but he would grace it many times has done so as a superrogatory act”.

The ten days especially devoted to the Hajj introduce a striking contrast in the life of Makkah and of the pilgrims.

Makkah from being a quiet secluded city ,is then thronged by thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the world.

At Makkah, the pilgrims will discard their ordinary dresses which represent every kind of costume to the simple and ordinary ihram.

They will also refrain from every kind of fighting and quarrel, abstain from every kind of luxury and self-indulgence while they will spend all nights and days in prayer and meditation.

One of the rule for dwelling in the grace of these ten nights for both the pilgrims and the non pilgrims who are not in Makkah is to seek effusively, the forgiveness of Allah on their sins because, the ten days signify a time of Allah’s abundance in term of mercy and forgiveness.

It was said that prophet Adam was pardoned of his sin at this august time!

O You believers seek the grace of God at these ten days of Zhul-Hijjah, by seeking the forgiveness of Allah.

Sentences such as Lailaha illa llahu, wadahu lasarikalahu lahuli-mulku, wa lahuli-amdu, wahuwa alakulisaehin qodirun, and its like are to be recited at this time!

It is reported that Abu-Hurrairah and Ibn Mashud would be parading the nook and cranny of Madinna city, chanting the above sentence at every first ten days of Zul-Hijjah.The prophet also said:The best of prayer is the one done at first ten days of Zul-Hijjah!

Animals To Be Slaughtered (Dedicated ) During Hajj And Eid

Muslims are allowed to slaughter their four-legged animals (Camel, Cow,Ram and goat) for four days;the Day of I’d and the three days after. But the I’d day is the best to slaughter one’s animal.

In the same vein, a person who wants to slaughter the animal will do so by facing the Qibla, place his left leg in the animal’s head and use a sharpened knife and slaughter the animal at once without dragging the knife unnecessarily for long.

When doing this, three areas of the animal’s neck are targeted and cut_the oeshopagus, and the two veins joining the head with the neck!

Before slaughtering the animal, when the animal has been set towards the Qibla, the slaughterer will say:

“Bismillah Allahu-Akbar, Allahuma Hasa minka wa ileka”.

Some traditions of the prophet have it that the prophet used to include his name and that of his households on the animal.

Besides, the prophet used to slaughter two rams; one for himself and households and the other for his Ummah(the entire community)!

A critical look of the prophet’s action above shows his love and caring for his community!

Many of us slaughter more than 4-5animals while our households and community did not, but none of us will do as the prophet had done, not to talk of sharing the meat of the animal with the communities.

Essentially, the animal slaughter on Eid days are to be divided into three;one for the owner’s immediate family, one for the relatives who are unable to slaughter any animal and the other for the visitors I.e friends who come to rejoice with us.

As known to us, many of us cannot slaughter the animal by themselves but will need to employ the slaughterer which most Islamic clergies are willingly do in this part of the world.

What to be noticed here is that most scholars of jurisprudence believe that wages I.e some tokens are to be given to the slaughterers rather than giving them some parts of the Ram.

And unless, the slaughterer is a poverty-striken man,giving him money is desirable than giving him a part of the animal.

Notedly, ten people can pool money together and buy a cow or a camel to be shared on the day of the Eid.

And I think it is more cheaper, easier and economic than buying rams at this material time when the price of rams nearly equaled the price of cows! And to the notion that those who slaughtered ram will be more rewarded than those who kill other four-legged animals especially cow and goat, the matter is not like that.

Everybody who slaughters any of the four-legged animal with the intention of worshiping God, will be rewarded according to his or her intention. The Almighty says in the Qur’an on this thus:

Another matter of importance here is to warn the women folks, that sacrificing of a four-legged animal to God in commemoration of Eid day is not a prerogative of the men alone.

Any woman that has means of procuring the animal is also commanded to sacrifice one to God as men are.

Likewise, some males believe that if they have not married or gone to Hajj, they are not ripe for Ileya in Yoruba parlance ,i.e they are not riped to dedicate an animal to God at Eid.

l can authoritatively tell you that, the matter is not like that but has to do with having the means, the capabilities and wherewhitals to do so!

Anas Ibn Malik, the prophet’s maid, observed that the prophet spent ten years of his prophethood in Madinna and slaughter rams on every Eid days there!

Prohibited Animals On Eid Days

Some animals are banned, condemned and discouraged to be used as sacrifice on all the four days of Tasriq ( Days of animal dedication during the Eid).

Hassib bn Barrau said that the prophet (peace and mercy of God shall be on him) stood among us and said:

“Four animals are not recommended for sacrifice on the Eid days; animal with eye defect and which defect is glaring, sickly animal and which sickness manifests, animal with crooked legs which crookedness is noticeable and animal with broken horns which brokenness manifests!”

Notably, while the factors that predisposed the defects of the first three types of animal are mostly natural, the factor that lead to the defect of the last animal mentioned i.e the animal with broken horns, is largely caused by human being!.It is a common knowledge that there are some foolish elements among us in the Southwest region of this country that set two rams against each other with a view to knowing the more powerful between the duo animals.

This act in the beginning, started like any other game without attaching a string, be it monetary or penal.

But as time goes on and human being progress in evil-laden thoughts, bets are imposed on the two duelling animals!

The Act Or Arts Of Setting Rams Against One Another Is Alien To Islam

But to say the truth, the act of setting animals against one another or betting on animals are outrightly condemned and banned in Islam. It is a culture which is alien to the Islamic spirit in all its forms.

Supposed Allah did not intervene in the matter of Ibrahim and his son and supposing Ibrahim succeeded in sacrificing his elderly son, Ismail to God, and afterwards, man was commanded to sacrifice his first son in worship to God henceforth, are you going to set your son and other man’s son against one another to duel?

It is high time we abandoned evil acts like this and embraced Islam in its entirety.

As for the animals that involved in the fighting, on the Day of ressurection, the winner among the two animals will be paid back when Allah will order the loser to kick back the winner on the same kicks, the winner gave the looser before it was declared a winner!

In the mean time, kindness is enjoined in dealing with the four-legged animals that are to be slaughtered on the Day of I’d and the 3 Days after it.

They are to be fed well, housed in secured place and should not be killed in the present of other animals.

On the Days of sacrifice, they are to be killed with kindness, with sharpened knife in case of Cow ram and goat and with pointed arrow in case of Camel!

Besides, after the animal has been slaughtered, we are enjoined to leave it for a while to rest before it is prepared, whether by removing its hair using blade or by burning. In Islamic jurisprudence, removing the hair without burning it is preferred. Abu Yahlah Saddad bn Awsi, said that the prophet said:

“Indeed, Allah has ordained kindness in everything. Then when you want to kill something, do so with kindness, and when slaughtering something, do it with kindness, and everyone of you (who intends to slaughter animal) must sharpen his knives and rest his animal after the slaughtering”