The month of Thul Hijjah is right around the corner and taking advantage of its blessed days is an opportunity for us all inshAllah.

 

 First, a little about the month.  According to the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) - The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are known as the most virtuous days WITHOUT exception. This means even including Ramadan and we will see why this is the case below. When Allah sends down his mercy on the Hajjis this mercy is spread throughout the world and we also reap the benefit of this mercy- "when it rains, it pours."  This month is known as the month for the Lovers of Allah. Why? Because in Ramadan everyone HAS to fast, but in Dhul Hijjah, those who really love Allah and want to do so on their own will fast.

 

The Reminders:
1. Ask everyone you know who is going for the Hajj to make dua for you
2. Make dua that the people who are going to the Hajj remember to make dua for you
3. Increase your tasbihat (subhanallah, alhamdulilalh, allahuakbar, lalillahaillalah, and astaghfar) after every salah.  If you are not doing the normal tasbihat after every fard salah or fell out of the habit of doing them (33x, 33x, and 34 times) let's start doing this now and bring them back into our routine so Inshallah we can make them a habit.
4. Fast: According to the Hadith - there is a special reward for fasting during this month - fasting any of the days is like fasting for ONE YEAR.
5. Fast on the day of Arafat (9th day):  Fasting on this day expiates one year of forward sins and one year of previous sins! SUBHANALLAH!

6.. Take advantage of the opportunities to get the reward of hajj while being elsewhere.

7. Praying tahajud during ANY one of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah is the same as finding the night of Laylatul Qadr - subhanallah!
One Laylatul Qadr is ~83 years. We have an opportunity for 10 Laylatul Qadrs or 830 years of worship!
8. The mandatory Takbir: IT IS MANDATORY/WAJIB in the Hanafi school that from the FAJR of the 9th (Arafat) to the Asr of the 13th to read the takbeerat AFTER EVERY FARD SALAH.  This will be recite outloud by men and silently by women.  The takbir is: Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Laa ilaaha ilallah Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar wa lillaahil Hamd.