REFLECTIONS: The Month of Thul-Hijjah

We are approaching the best ten days of the year - the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah. It is an occasion for many to perform Hajj and, for those not partaking in this act of worship, there are extra rewards for deeds performed during this time. We should take the opportunity during these days to reflect on the rewards that can be earned and derive lessons to implement in our lives.

The first ten days

Allah (swt) revealed: 

“By the dawn, and by the ten nights…” [89:1-2]

When Allah (swt) swears an oath in the Qur’an, it is not to indicate truthfulness – as Allah (swt) is necessarily truthful – rather it is indicative of the importance of the topic. Ibn Abbas, Ibn Az-Zubayr, Mujahid, and others from the earlier and later generations held the opinion that this verse is referring to the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah. 

The Prophet (saw) said: ' There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time say Tahlil (SubhanAllah), Takbir (Allahu Akbar), and Tahmid (Alhamdulillah) as much as possible.' [Ahmad]  

Hajj: The fifth pillar of Islam

Hajj is an obligation for those capable, and its reward was described by the Messenger of Allah (saw): 'Whoever performs Hajj for Allah's sake, and does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or sin, then he will return as if he were born anew.' [Al-Bukhari]

One of the most astonishing things about Hajj, even to non-Muslims, is that people from all races – whether black, white, Arab, or Asian – and people from all political divisions – whether from Nigeria, Canada, Pakistan, Europe, Egypt, or Indonesia – and people from all ages – whether 14, 34, or 74 – are all united in the worship of Allah (swt), and are all standing as equals to one another before Him (swt).

'There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors – from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white.' – Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)

The Hajj symbolizes and embodies the concept of One Ummah in Islam. Muslims from all parts of the world collectively perform the various obligatory acts together, such as wearing the Ihram, performing Tawaaf around the Ka'ba, running between Al-Safa and Al-Marwa, standing at Arafah, and stoning of the Jamaraat. Indeed, the concept of a single, united Ummah, with no distinction between any race, and no regard for any nationalistic divisions, is a fundamental concept in Islam. Allah (swt) has says:

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (the Quran and Sunnah), and do not be divided among yourselves; and remember Allah's Favor upon you, if you were enemies to one another and He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brothers (in Islam), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat clear to you, that you may be guided.” [3:103]

And the Prophet (saw) said: 'A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts enforce each other.' The Prophet then clasped his hands with his fingers interlaced (while saying that). [Al-Bukhari]

The trip home

But unfortunately, as soon as the Hajj is over, Muslims will return to lands where they are once again divided by false borders, and dominated by man-made laws.

The creation of these false borders was not a mere coincidence. The Sykes-Picot Agreement is the foundation of the nationalistic borders that divide Muslims today. These divisions are a result of decades of hard work by European colonialists to instill nationalism within the hearts of the Muslims, in order to divide and conquer the Khilafah that united the Muslims for over 1300 years. They sought to take control of the wealthy and powerful Islamic lands, and divide them in a manner that would make unity for Muslims nearly impossible ever again.

Nationalism and patriotism are concepts forbidden in Islam and alien to it. Nationalism teaches people to believe that their common cultural habits and languages are superior to others – even if they conflict with Islam – so people separate themselves from those who they see as different than them in this sense. Patriotism, on the other hand, teaches people to believe that the land within their fabricated borders is superior to the land within other people’s fabricated borders, and so they separate themselves from – even hate – others outside of these borders. Islam teaches people that the only bond that must bind people together in life is the bond of their purpose in life (the Aqeedah of Islam) and the laws that revolve around that purpose (the Ahkam of Islam).

The Prophet (saw) said: 'Whoever calls for ‘Asabiyyah, (tribalism, nationalism, patriotism), or fights for ‘Asabiyyah, or dies for ‘Asabiyyah, is not one of us.' [Abu Dawud]

Islam forbids us from dividing the Islamic lands as they are divided today. When we wish to perform Hajj every year, why must we require visa? Why is this visa restricted to specific areas only, and free travel through the birthland of Islam is forbidden? Why are non-“Saudis” expelled from these lands once this “visa” expires? Did Muslims ever need a visa under the Khilafah, which ruled for over 1300 years? Did these travel rules come from the Qur’an and Sunnah, or did they come from man-made tribal laws based on nothing more than ‘Asabiyyah to a clan?

The adherence of Ibrahim (as) to the Wahi of Allah

We should take a lesson from the well-known story of Ibrahim (as) and his test with his son Isma’il (as), as Eid ul-Adha is a representation of this incredible story. Allah (swt) tells us:

“So We gave him glad tidings of a forbearing boy. And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: ‘O my son, I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offering you in sacrifice to Allah), so look what you think.’ He said: ‘O my father, do that which you are commanded, and Insha'Allah you shall find me patient.’ Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the Will of Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead, We called out to him: ‘O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the vision.’ Verily, thus do We reward the righteous.” [37:100-105]

If we ponder over the story of Ibrahim (as) carefully, we find that Allah (swt) ordered His believing slave to slaughter his own beloved son! Both the father and the son fully submitted to the order of Allah (swt) without questioning it. Ibrahim (as) did not ask for a reason for the command that Allah (swt) gave him, nor did Ismail (as) ask for a reason – even though he was the one to be sacrificed; rather they both willingly accepted the decision of Allah (swt), because they knew that Allah (swt) is the Creator of all that exists, and their purpose was to obey Him. We learn from this that we must submit to the orders of Allah (swt), whether Allah (swt) has given us a reason for His commands or not.

We know that Allah (swt) revealed judgments on many of the realities before us today, such as the prohibition of dealing with Riba (interest) mortgages, and the prohibition of pre-marital relations, and the prohibition of supporting political parties that legislate laws in the place of Allah (swt). We must submit to the commands and prohibitions of Allah (swt) completely, without attempting to justify compromising on them based on our own limited reasoning.

Eid ul-Adha

Indeed, Eid ul-Adha is a time of celebration for over 1.5 billion people around the globe, and although we will perform the slaughter of the lambs, pray the Eid Salat, and play with our children on this day, our hearts and our minds will not be at ease, as the suffering of our brothers and sisters around the world is ongoing.

As we eat on this day, we should remember the Muslims dying of hunger in East Africa, Gaza, Chechnya, Kashmir, Syria, and all over the world. As we slaughter the lambs as an act of worship to Allah (swt), we should think about the puppet rulers over our lands who allow – even facilitate – the continuous slaughter of the Muslims in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Pakistan, Somalia, Chechnya, and so on. On this occasion of Eid, when we spend the days with our family and friends, let us make sure that we do not forget the problems of the Muslims worldwide. Let us work toward pleasing Allah (swt), so that we may follow in the footsteps of Ibrahim (as) and Isma’il (as), and be among the righteous.

“Verily, along with hardship is relief; verily, along with hardship is relief. So when you have finished (from your tasks), devote yourself for Allah's worship. And to your Lord turn your intentions and hopes.” [94:4-8]