The First of the Sacred Months
Dhul-Qaida is one of the four sacred months in Islam. It is the second month after Shawwal when pilgrims can perform the rites of Hajj.
The Almighty Lord said in the Koran (interpretation of the meaning): “Hajj is performed in the known months (Shawwal, Dhul-Qaida and the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).” (Sura Al-Baqarah, ayah 197).
The Koran also mentions the following regarding the sacred months (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve, and this was written in the Book of Allah (the Preserved Tablet) on the day He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred (Dhul-Qaida, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab) …” (Sura At-Tawbah, ayah 36).
Now many believers are preparing to perform the fifth pillar of Islam – Hajj. The obligation to perform it is clearly stated in the revelation of the Lord (interpretation of the meaning): “…And [incumbent] upon mankind is the pilgrimage to the House (Kaaba), if they are able to travel the journey.” (Sura Ali-Imran, ayah 97). The words “…able to travel the journey” imply the availability of material resources, health, and the safety of the journey.
The Prophet ﷺ performed only one hajj during his life, when he was in Medina. This occurred in the 10th year of the Hijrah, and was called the “Farewell Hajj” (Hajat al-Wada).
As for the Umrah (small Hajj), according to most scholars, the Messenger of God ﷺ performed it four times:
- The “Hudaybiyyah Umrah”. He began it in the 6th year of the Hijrah. During this small pilgrimage, the polytheists of Mecca did not allow him to enter their city, and so the Prophet ﷺ and his companions were forced to return to Medina, having first performed the rite of sacrifice (tahallull).
- The “Complementary Umrah”. The Messenger of God ﷺ began it with his companions in the 7th year of the Hijrah to make up for the previous year’s missed Umrah.
- “Umrah from Ji’rana”. The Prophet ﷺ and his companions performed this Umrah, entering it from a place called Ji’rana (between Ta’if and Mecca). This occurred in the 8th year of the Hijrah.
- Umrah combined with Hajj. The Messenger of God ﷺ performed this Umrah during his “farewell Hajj” in the 10th year of the Hijrah.
The first three Umrahs took place in the month of Dhul-Qaida, for which reason this month was called “the month of the Umrah of the Prophet ﷺ”.
As for the last Umrah, the Prophet ﷺ also set out from Medina in the month of Dhul-Qaida, but began its rites in the month of Dhul-Hijjah.
Based on this, a group of the righteous predecessors (as-salaf), including Ibn Umar and the Mother of the Faithful, Aisha, considered performing Umrah in the month of Dhul-Qaida to be more excellent than even Umrah in the month of Ramadan, following in this the Prophet ﷺ.
There is also a tradition that one of the virtues of Dhul-Qaida is that this month is the thirty days that the Almighty mentioned in the Koran (meaning of the commentary): “And We appointed for Musa thirty nights (days which he spent in worship), after which We promised to speak to him and to give him Tawrat (Torah), and We added to them ten more.” (Sura Al-A’raf, ayah 142). And the ten days are the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah following this month.
May the Almighty Lord bless us all with the blessings of these months of Hajj and grant everyone who wishes the opportunity to make the pilgrimage to His blessed House (Kaaba)! Amin.
