Start of Dhul Hijjah 1437AH Announcement

[Shahid Munir]

InshaaAllaah it has been announced that

1st Dhul-Hijjah 1437AH corresponds to Saturday 3rd September 2016

The Day of ‘Arafah will be on 9th Dhul-Hijjah 1437AH which corresponds to Sunday 11 September 2016. 

‘Eid al-Adhaa will be on 10th Dhul-Hijjah 1437AH which corresponds to Monday 12 September 2016.

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Reminder about Fasting on the Day of 'Arafah for those not performing Hajj.

Abu Qatada al-Ansari [رضى الله تعالى عنه , radiyallahu 'anhu, may Allaah be pleased with him]  reported that the Messenger of Allaah  [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ,  may Allah exalt his mention and render him and his message safe from every derogatory thing ] was asked about his fasting.

... 

He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Arafah (9th of Dhu'al-Hijja), whereupon he [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year.

Recorded in Saheeh Muslim and others.

Note: This wording is from Saheeh Muslim and is part of a longer hadeeth.

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Reminder about performing Udhiyyah for those who are head of the household with the financial means 

Most Organisations pre-purchase a number of animals but as it gets closer to the time then you will find costs increasing as they have to make additional or alternative arrangements.

A beneficial reminder to perform  أضحية Udhiyyah (Sacrifice) from the Qur'aan is included at the end of this email along with an explanation of the verse.

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم

"I seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan [Satan], the accursed one."

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

"In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy."

الله‎ Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, Glorified and Exalted be He] says:

لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَاؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

"It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allâh, but it is piety from you that reaches Him. Thus have We made them subject to you that you may magnify Allâh for His Guidance to you. And give glad tidings (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]) to the Muhsinûn (doers of good)."

[ القرآن الكريم The Noble Qur'aan,  سورة الحج  Soorah al-Hajj 022, Verse 037]

[Translation - "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Published By Darussalam.]

al-Mubarakfuri [rahimahullaah, died 1426AH] summarised the explanation of these verses from Tafsir Ibn Kathir which was written by the notable scholar Ibn Kathir [rahimahullaah, died 774AH] as follows:

"The Goal of the Udhiyyah (Sacrifice) according to Allah is the Sincerity and Taqwa of His Servant

Allah says: this sacrifice is prescribed for you so that you will remember Him at the time of slaughter, for He is the Creator and Provider. Nothing of its flesh or blood reaches Him, for He has no need of anything other than Himself. During the time of Jahiliyyah, when they offered sacrifices to their gods, they would put some of the meat of their sacrifices on their idols, and sprinkle the blood over them. But Allah says:

لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلاَ دِمَآؤُهَا

(It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah,) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn Jurayj said, "The people of the Jahiliyyah used to put the meat of their sacrifices and sprinkle the blood on the House, and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah said, "We have more right to do that.'' Then Allah revealed the words:

لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلاَ دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَـكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَى مِنكُمْ

(It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is Taqwa from you that reaches Him.) That is what He will accept and reward for, as mentioned in the Sahih,

«إِنَّ اللهَ لَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَلَا إِلَى أَلْوَانِكُمْ، وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُم»

(Allah does not look to your appearance or your colors, but He looks to your hearts and deeds.) And in the Hadith; (Indeed charity falls in the Hand of Ar-Rahman before it falls in the hand of the one asking.)

كَذَلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ

(Thus have We made them subject to you) meaning, `for this purpose We have subjugated the Budn for you,'

لِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ

(that you may proclaim Allah's greatness for His guidance to you.) means, that you may glorify Him for guiding you to His religion and His way which He loves and is pleased with, and has forbidden you to do all that He hates and rejects.

وَبَشِّرِ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

(And give glad tidings to the doers of good.) means, `give good news, O Muhammad, to those who do good,' i.e., whose deeds are good and who remain within the limits prescribed by Allah, who follow that which has been prescribed for them, who believe in the Messenger and follow that which he has conveyed from his Lord.

(Note) The Udhiyyah is Sunnah Mustahabbah One animal is sufficient on behalf of all the members of one household. Ibn `Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah continued to offer sacrifice for ten years.'' This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi. Abu Ayyub said: "At the time of the Messenger of Allah , a man would sacrifice a sheep on behalf of himself and all the members of his household, and they would eat from it and feed others, until the people started boasting ﴿by sacrificing more than one﴾ and things reached the stage that you see now.'' This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who graded it Sahih, and by Ibn Majah. `Abdullah bin Hisham used to sacrifice one sheep on behalf of his entire family; this was recorded by Al-Bukhari. Concerning how old the sacrificial animal should be, Muslim recorded from Jabir that the Messenger of Allah said:

لَا تَذْبَحُوا إِلَّا مُسِنَّةً، إِلَّا أَنْ تَعْسُرَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَذْبَحُوا جَذَعَةً مِنَ الضَّأْن

(Do not sacrifice any but mature animals, and if that is not possible, then sacrifice a young sheep.)"

al-Misbaah al-Muneer of al-Mubarakfuri [Abridged Tafsir Ibn Kathir - English Edition Published By Darussalam]

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Reminder about performing Udhiyyah not to cut their hair or nails in Dhu'l-Hijjah until their Udhiyyah is performed

Umm Salama reported Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) having said this: When any one of you intending to sacrifice the animal enters in the month (of Dhu'l-Hijjah) he should not get his hair or nails touched (cut). It was said to Sufyan that some of the (scholars) did not deem this hadith to be Maffu'. He said: But I deem it as Marfu' (i. e. chain of narration traceable right up to the Prophet).

Recorded in Saheeh Muslim and Others.