The month of Zil hajj as a unique place among the other months of the Hijri Calender. It is a month of Hajj and rituals. Hajj one of the most imporatant pillars of Islam is obligatory of every mumin once in a lifetime if circumstances are favourable. The ninth being the Yuame Arafah, the tenth Id al-Adha and then the 18th the day of Idullah al-Akbar - Id-e-Ghadir-e-Khum. The fast and namaaz of this day is obligatory.
Those who have missed their fasts of Shehrullah for any reason cannot complete there fasts during the month of Zil Hajj. This month is indeed a month of Ibadat and the virtue of its days is much more especially the first ten days. Syedna Moayyid al-Shirazi states that "These are the days that are mentioned in the Qur'an, the days that end with the deed of Hajj and Umra, these are the ten days that point out to the Greatest of the Hududs of Allah's Deen.
The First of Zil Hajj
Syedna Taher Saifuddin has narrated the virtue of fasting on the first of Zil hajj in his Risalat Sharifa. Amirul Mumineen says "Ibrahim (as) was born on the first eve of Zil hajj. He who fasts on this day and breaks his fast with the dua "Allahumma ya mo'teya...." will be rewarded with countless bounties, his prays will be heard and will be pardoned for 60 years....
Fasting on the Day of 'ARAFAH
The ninth day of Zilhijjah is the day of 'Arafah. It is the day when pilgrims stay 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 `Eidul Adha.
Amirul Mumineen Molana Ali (AS) has said that "A person who fasts on the day of Arafah for the sake of Allah will be rewarded for fasting a lifetime.
Accordingly it is related that fasting on the day of Arafah, the ninth of Zilhajj was a life long practice of Rasulallah (sa).
Imam Mohammed al-Baqir has said that: "People attending hajj need not fast should they feel week and the day of Arafah is a day of praying and asking Allah for his blessings and mercy. If a person is on 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 and it is also in relevance that he or she may not feel the weekness that would come in the way of performing the sacred rituals of the day. It is a great mercy for him, for fasting will exert undue hardship on the person performing the Hajj, while he is concerned with his pilgrimage.
Molana Taher Saifuddin (RA) has related in his risalat sharifah "Bahro Fadhlin Kabir" that "Allah Subhanahu accepted the tobah of Molana Dawood Nabi (AS) on the ninth of Zil hajj. He who fasts on this day and prays "Allahumma ya mo'teya su'alaat..." dua while iftar will be rewarded with forgiveness of sins of 60 years, says Amilrul Mimineen (AS).
Thousands of mumineen from all over the world approach the holy land under the guidance and blessings of Aqa Moula (tus) to fulfill this once in a lifetime event, one of the most important and humble pillars of Islam that brings toghether all muslimeen under one roof. Indeed the Baitullah and its pilgrimage is a symbol of Islamic unification and a symbol of peace and harmony that Islam promotes and preaches to all creation of Allah.
Mumineen blessed by the Ma'refat of Awliya'ullah and their guidance are fortunate to fulfill all rituals with great ease and are also blessed by the Dua Mubarak of Aqa Moula (tus), specially on the day of Arafah when the Moula graces them with his noorani kalemaat and dua.
The Dua of Arafa, prayed after Asr Namaaz, can be viewed at http://archive.mumineen.org/lisan/dua/arafahdua.html
Id al-Adha and Sacrifice on that day
The day described by Rasulallah (sa) as "Yuam al-Saj wal-'Aj" - The day of sacrifice and dua is one of the most aupicious days and sacrificing an animal the most important practices of Islam. This day is also know as "Id al-Nahr". Rasulallah (sa) said in his Khutba on this day "O People! He who can afford to sacrifice should pay his respects to the signs (rituals) of Allah and he who is incapable is excused as Allah does holds a person accountable according to his capacity.
A Zabihat should be done on the 10th of Zil Hajj after the Id prayers only.till Zawal. Similarly it can be done on the 11th and 12th of Zil Hajj after sun rise until zawal.
A clarification about fasting Ayyamul Beez in Zil Hajj
Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA) has written 40 aspects of fasting in his risalat sharifa "Bahro Fadhlin Kabir". One of the things he has stated is that on the day of 'Id-ul-Adha, fasting is haraam. In the same way, fasting is also haraam on the days of "Tashriq", that is, the 11th, 12th and 13th of Zil Hajj.
Many mumineen have the habit of fasting the ayyamul beez, praying salatuz zawaal and dua in months in which the 15th falls on a Friday. This is indeed a good practice. However, it cannot be done in Zilhajj because it is not permissible to fast on the 13th.
Id-e-Ghadir-e-Khum
Rasulallah (sa) declared Amirul Mumineen (as) as his wasi and appointed him as the his heir and the leader of all mumilimeen at a place called Ghadir-e-Khum on his return journey to Madina after completing Hajj.
Syedna Taher Saifuddin says that the 'Nas' that Rasulallah did on Amirul Mumineen is as clear as daylight. On delivering the message of walayat of Amirul Mumineen (as) and his progeny Allah Subhanahu revealed that "Today I have completed your deen for you and accomplished my bounties upon you".
After declaring the 'Nas' on Amirul Mimineen, Rasulallah (sa) stayed at Gahdir-e-Khum for 3 days taking the Misaq (oaths) of more than 70,000 muslimeen and their pledge for Molana Ali's walayat. The Barakaat of this 'Nas' reached Molana Imam al-Tayyib (as) from father to son and during the seclusion of the 21st Imam and later his revered progeny the barakaat is ever lasting because of thier Duat Kiram (as).
Abdy says that I have heard my Moula Imam Jafarus Sadiq say that: The reward of fasting on Id-e-Ghadir is equivelant to fasting the lifespan of this world. The honor of this day is enormous and the reward of fasting on this day is that of a hundred hajj and umra. It is indeed the Greatest of Allah's Id.
A person who does 'gusl' at zawal and prays two rakats of shukr, each consisting of "Surah al-Hamd 10 times, Surah al-Ikhlas 10 times and Surah al-Qadr 10 times, will be granted the sawab of a hundred thousand hajj and umra. Allah will grant all his needs be it worldly or that of the hereafter.
He who misses the fast and namaaz of this day should complete it on any other day. No other Id namaaz is said to be prayed on another day if missed except for this day.
He who provides iftar for a mumin on this day will be rewarded for feeding ten "Fiyam" (One hundred thousand). Imam (as) said that for the iftar of one mumin a person is rewarded for feeding one million Nabis, Siddiqeen, Shohada, Saleheen in the Haram of Allah.
Then Imam said that "Abdy you must be thinking that there is no other day with such virtue and respect, and that in indeed true. By Allah There is no other day as this. The Imam repeated this thrice.
He who has not completed the rozas missed by him in Sherullah can fast on the day of Ghadir. If the day of Ghadir is on friday another day either before or after must be fasted in respect of Yuamul Jumoa. However, one cannot do the niyat of completing the fast of Shehrullah on that day as well.
May Allah Subhanahu graciously accept our duas and rituals, and grant our beloved Moula a long life in the pink of health. Ameen
Reference: "Sahifatus Salat wal-Ibadat".