Eid al Adha ist nicht Eid al Hhadsch

Hhadsch / Pilgerfahrt [

The pilgrimage to Mecca is obligatory for Muslim men and women only once during a lifetime. It is a form of worship as well allowing Muslims from all over the world to get together in brotherhood. The Hajj takes place during the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month. The actual rituals do not take more than five days. The Hajj is required only for those who can afford it and are in good health. Many save the trip toward the end of their lives. Every Muslim must wear a simple white gown to Mecca. Women wear different clothes that cover them from head-to-ankles and their faces are uncovered. Several rites are performed during this pilgrimage. Each pilgrim must circle the Ka'ba seven times. The Ka'ba was built by Abraham for the purpose of worshipping one God. Another rite is to visit the Plain of Arafat which is six miles from Mecca. Here the pilgrims come to pray. After that they visit Muzadalifah and then stay at Mina to sacrifice an animal. Pilgrims must also throw pebbles at the three pillars. They represent the three spots at which Satan tempted Abraham not to carry out the will of God. The pilgrims then walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa in memory of Hagar and her search for water for Abraham and his son. Finally, the hair must be shaved or trimmed as the rites of Hajj end.

Fasting on the Day of 'Arafah

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The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar) is the Day of 'Arafah. It is the day when pilgrims stand on the plain of 'Arafah to pray. On this day, Muslims all over the world who do not witness the annual Hajj should spend the day in fasting, in preparation for the three days festivity following 'Eid ul-Adha (the celebration marking the end of the Hajj commemorating the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness of sacrifice).

Abu Hafsah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said:
"Fasting on the Day of 'Arafah absolves the sins for two years: the previous year and the coming year, and fasting on 'Ashura, (the tenth day of Muharram) atones for the sins of previous years." [Reported by all except al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]

In another saying the Prophet's wife Hafsah, may Allah be pleased with her, said:
"Four things the Messenger of All'ah never neglected: Observing fast on the day of 'Ashura, 'Arafat, three days every month, and offering fajr sunnah prayers early in the morning." [Muslim]

These statements are proof that fasting on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, the day before 'Eid ul-Adha was a lifelong practice of the Prophet, peace be upon him, as his wife reported.

There are some reports that fasting is prohibited on the Day of 'Arafah. However, it must be understood that this refers to a person performing the Hajj. If a person is on the Hajj, there is no fast for him or her on the day of 'Arafah. That is undoubtedly a blessing for him because of the hardships of the pilgrimage. In a saying reported by Umm al-Fadl, may Allah be pleased with her, she said:

"The companions doubted whether the Prophet was fasting on 'Arafah or not. She decided to prove to them that he was not, so she said, 'I sent to him milk, which he drank while he was delivering the khutbah (sermon) on 'Arafah.' " [Recorded by al-Bukhari]

Prohibiting the pilgrims from fasting on these days is a great mercy for them, for fasting will exert undue hardship on the person performing the Hajj, while they are primarily concerned with their pilgrimage. Above all, the pilgrim would not be fasting anyway because he is travelling.

Superiority of the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah, The 

Source: [http://sunnahonline.com/library/hajj-umrah-and-the-Islamic-calendar/182-superiority-of-the-first-ten-days-of-dhul-hijjah-the]

Indeed it is a great favour and blessing from Allah that He has made for His righteous servants periods of time within which they can increase in good deeds to attain great rewards and one of these opportunistic periods is the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah (the final month of the Islamic Calendar, in which the Hajj is performed).

The excellence of these ten days have been mentioned in the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

1. Allah says in the Qur'an:
"By the dawn and by the ten nights … " [Al-Qur'an 89:1-2]
Ibn Kathir said that "the ten nights" referred to here are the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and this opinion was also held by Ibn Abbas, Ibn az-Zubair, Mujahid and others.

2. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"There are no deeds as excellent as those done in these ten days." They (the companions listening) said, "Not even Jihad?" He, peace be upon him, said, "No, not even Jihad except a man who goes forth endangering his life and wealth and does not return with anything." [Recorded by Imam al-Bukhari]

3. Allah says:
" … and remember the Name of Allah in the appointed days." [Al-Qur'an 2:203]
Ibn Abbas and Ibn Kathir said this means in the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

4. The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said:
"There are no other days that are as great as these in the sight of Allah, the Most Sublime. Nor are there any deeds more beloved to Allah then those that are done in these ten days. So increase in tahlil (to say la illaha illallah), takbir (to say allahu akbar) and tahmid (to say alhumdulillah)." [Reported by at-Tabarani in al-Mu'jum al-Kabir]

5. With regards to the noble companion Sa'id bin Jubair, when the days of Dhul-Hijjah began he would strive to increase in good actions with great intensity until he was unable to increase anymore. [Reported by ad-Darimi]

6. Ibn Hajar says in Fath al-Bari:
"The most apparent reason for the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah being distinguished in excellence is due to the assembly of the greatest acts of worship in this period, i.e. salawat (prayers), siyam (fasting), sadaqah (charity) and the Hajj (pilgrimage). In no other periods do these great deeds combine."

What are the Recommended Acts in these Days? 

1. Prayer - It is highly recommended to perform the obligatory acts at their prescribed times (as early as possible) and to increase oneself in the superogatory acts, for indeed, this is what brings a person closer to their Lord. The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said:

"Upon you is to increase in your prostration to Allah, for verily you do not prostrate to Allah with even one prostration, except that He raises you in degrees and decreases your sins because of it." [Reported by Muslim]

2. Fasting - This has been mentioned as one of the acts of righteousness where Hanbada ibn Khalid reports on the authority of his wife who reports that some of the wives of the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "The Prophet, upon whom be peace, would fast on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of Ashura and three days in every month." [Recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nisa'i and others]
Imam an-Nawawi said that fasting in these ten days is extremely recommended.

3. Saying allahu akbar, la illaha illallah and alhamdulillah - It is found in the aforementioned narration of Ibn 'Umar: "So increase yourselves in saying la illaha illallah, allahu akbar and alhamdulillah."

Imam al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with them both, used to go out to the markets in the ten days saying the takbir causing the people to follow them in this action."

He also said:
"'Umar ibn al-Khattab used to say the takbir in his mimbar in Mina, whereupon the people of the mosque hearing 'Umar, would start to say the takbir as would the people in the markets until the whole of Mina was locked in glorifying Allah."

Ibn 'Umar used to say the takbir in Mina during these ten days and after prayers, whilst on his bed, in his tent, in his gathering and whilst walking. What is recommended is to say the takbir aloud due to the fact that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, his son and Abu Hurayrah used to do likewise, may Allah be pleased with them all.

Strive with us O Muslims in reviving this sunnah that has become lost in these times and it was almost forgotten, even amongst the people of righteousness and goodness all of which is unfortunately in opposition to what the best of generations were upon (preserving and maintaining the superogatory acts).

There are a number of ways of making takbir that have been narrated by the companions and their followers and from these ways is the following:

Allahu akbar, allahu akbar, allahu akbar kabirun.
Allahu akbar, allahu akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, wallahu akbar, wa lillahil hamd.
Allahu akbar, allahu akbar, allahu akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, allahu akbar wa lillahil hamd.

4. Fasting on the day of 'Arafah - Fasting has been affirmed on the day of 'Arafah, where it has been confirmed from the Prophet, peace be upon him, that he said regarding fasting on the day of 'Arafah:

"Be content with the fact that Allah will expiate for you your sins for the year before (the day of 'Arafah) and the year after (the day of 'Arafah)." [Reported by Muslim]

However, whoever is at 'Arafah as a pilgrim then fasting is not expected of him.

May the peace of Allah be upon his Prophet, the family of the Prophet and all of his companions.