Salaam Minara Family,
Another season of worship has graced us and no it’s not Ramadan!
Cue: Dhul Hijjah
"By the daybreak, and the ten nights." [89:2-3]
by the daybreak, and the ten nights [89:2-3]
This verse in Surah Fajr is layered with meaning. The daybreak - that liminal moment between night and light - is a metaphor for new beginnings, a symbol of divine mercy following darkness. And the ten nights, according to the majority of scholars, refer to the first ten days of Dhul Ḥijjah: the most sacred days in the Islamic calendar.
These ten days hold a unique and unmatched weight. They are the days of Hajj, of the Day of ‘Arafah, of sacrifice and surrender, of Abrahamic devotion.
Renowned scholar and thinker, Ibn Ḥajar explains that the reason that these 10 days are so special is because all of the major acts of worship occur within them, which doesn’t happen within a regular day: ṣalah, fasting, charity and hajj.
This is a time to ask ourselves:
What must I leave behind to draw nearer to Allah?
What spiritual illnesses [pride? arrogance? excessiveness?] must I shed?
How can I make these ten days my own spiritual pilgrimage, even if I am far from Makkah?
Allah is inviting us to witness the beauty of these ten days the way we witness the majesty of the sunrise, with awe and intention.
May these ten nights be our dawn!
The Days of Dhul Hijjah: To-Do List
We’re sharing some specific intentions and actions to shape your Dhul Hijjah in a worthy manner.
*Tahlil: لا إله إلا الله [There is no God but Allah] La ila ha ill Allah
*Tahmid: [All praise is to Allah] Alhamdulillah
*Takbir: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ [Allah is the greatest] Allahu Akbar
**Takbir Tashriq: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ. وَاَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
And finally, [perfectly in time for Dhul Hijjah], Team Minara has created a digital istighfar guide for you to download [completely free!]. Inspired by the Prophet ﷺ who sought forgiveness over 70 times a day, this beautifully designed digital tracker helps you build the habit of daily astaghfirullah, one breath at a time.
✈️ Take-off
Before we go, have you come across the story of Amer yet? It’s been making its rounds on social media with some media publications picking it up too and we wanted to re-share it here to spread the joy!
Amer left his home in Libya with the intention of making Hajj this year. [Sidenote: Amer’s surname is Gaddafi which flagged up something at immigration.] Despite Amer’s pleas, the flight left without him and Amer refused to be broken. He insisted on staying at the airport and leaving the airport only for the purpose of Hajj.
But subhan Allah something malfunctioned in the plane and the pilot who had insisted on leaving without waiting for Amer was forced to return.
Yet, the pilot still did not allow Amer to board and now for a second time, the plane departed without him.
And Amer, now for a second time, still remained firm on his intention to complete Hajj.
The bit that really gives us the goosebumps is this- the plane encountered a technical malfunction again, was forced to emergency land again and the pilot?
“I swear I won’t fly again unless Amer is with us on this plane.”
Subhan Allah what! A mechanical malfunction twice? And the same plane is forced to return twice? No coincidence here. It’s a reminder that nothing moves, flies, or functions except by Allah’s permission. Not planes. Not pilots.
The divine decree was: not without Amer.
[Our hearts are not ok!] 🫠🫠
And of course, we cannot not mention Amer’s trust in His Creator.
“And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.” [Qur’an 65:3]
Amer may not have boarded the first plane, but his intention had already taken flight.
Need we say more?
[Also sorry in advance: ⬇️ but we couldn’t resist]
May we all be blessed with such sincerity of intention. May we always know Allah is on our side.
Love and du’as
The Minara Team
