DISCLAIMER: Please use these notes with the recording itself as they are students notes and may perhaps be some mistakes in it. May Allah bless you all.

Ibn alQayyim: Provisions for the Hereafter

Taught by Sheikh Sajid Umar

 

Notes of a student

Session 3: 17th March 2015

Part 1

Assalaamu alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,

The Sheikh welcomes our third session of the ‘Provisions for the Hereafter.’ He begins by praising Allah and sending blessings upon the final messenger Muhammad  (Khutbatul Haajah).

Last session we were discussing differences in regards to the creation of Allah. This discussion will continue in this lesson.

Allah has blessed certain parts of time over other parts of time.

So Allah has created the days of the year, keeping the natural parts of the day the same – they have day and night and are 24 hours long.

If we look at our Shari’ah and the discussion, we realize that Allah has given a special rank and honour to one day over all other days. That day is Yawm Al Hajj Al Akbar (The greatest day of Hajj). Allah mentions it in the 10th Juz’.

There are a few opinions regarding which day this is (within the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah)

 

Days of Hajj: Definitions

• 8th of Dhul Hijjah: Yawm At-Tarwiyah (Day of preparation for the Hujjaj)

A long time ago the places of Hajj weren’t as established as they are now. Moving from place to place was difficult, so they would prepare on this day. Tarwiyah carries a meaning related to the gathering of water. The main provision for Hajj was water.

 

Footnote:

Allah has blessed the Ummah with gifts,  such as the camel. It has webbed feet so that it doesn’t sink into the sand, and He padded its feet so that they do not burn due to the heat of the sand.

The camel carries goods, merchandise, and people – so it also required water for long journeys.

The Hujjaj would quench the thirst of these camels, fill their leather sacks with water, and load their provisions for this amazing Hajj journey.

It wasn’t just a plane journey for them. Just from Madinah to Makkah would be a journey of a month or more. The meeqat in Madinah is very close to the traveller who leaves Madinah. This means they were travelling in Ihram – in this sacred state for a very long time.

 

• 9th of Dhul Hijjah: Yawm Al-Arafah

The day people stand on the plains of Arafah.

 

• 10th of Dhul Hijjah: Yawm Al-Nahr

The people sacrifice the sacrifice for Hajj. And non-pilgrims sacrifice that which is known as Udh’hiyyah.

Footnote: 9th is a day of “Takhliyyah” and 10th is a day of “Tahliyah”.

 

Takhliyah: The purification/cleansing process (9th Dhul Hijjah)

Tahliyah: The polishing/beautification process (10th Dhul Hijjah)

 

• 11th to 13th of Dhul Hijjah: Days of Tashreeq

When the meat of the animal sacrifice are cleaned and cut into pieces and left to dry.

 

Meaning of the words (linguistic):

From book: Ar-Rawdh Al Murbi’

• Tarwiyah: Comes from the verbs ‘Rawwaa’ ‘Yurawwee’.These verbs mean, “To play something back in your mind whilst contemplating over it until an understanding develops.” It is said that Ibrahim (as) would truly ponder over dreams that he would see in an attempt to understand them.

• Arafah: Linguistically means, “To understand/know something” – This is the day Ibrahim understood that his dreams were revelation and that he had to sacrifice his son.

• Nahr: Linguistically means to sacrifice something – This is the day Ibrahim (as) placed the knife on the neck of his son, Ismail (as).

 

Which is the best day of the year?

The scholars have differed between 9th and 10th of Dhul Hijjah as ‘Al Yawm Al Hajj Al Akbar’:

• 1st view (Ibn AlQayyim)– Yawm Al-Nahr, 10th Dhul Hijjah

His evidences:

• [Taubah:3] – An announcement that happened on al yawm al hajj al akbar, In Bukhari, a narration states that Abu Bakr and Ali (r) were given permission to make this announcement by Allah and His messenger on the Day of Nahr. In Sunan Abi Dawood, there is an authentic narration which says that the day known as Al Yawm Al Hajj Al Akbar is the Day of Nahr.
• An Nahr has more acts of worship than Yawm Al Arafah.

 

Question: The rewards of praying Salaah in haram refers to the haram only or anywhere in Makkah?

Before, Makkah was inside the haram.

• Some scholars agree that “Masjid Al Haram” specifically refers to the Ka’bah.  Reward applies to anywhere in the haram sanctuary.

• Second view: In the Masjid itself. In one narration, the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) says: ‘Masjidul Ka’bah’

Side note: Some researchers list hadith books in order of authenticity. Others list in order of birthdates of the authors.

 

• 2nd view (companions of Imam al-Shafi’i and others) – Yawm Al-Arafah, 9th Dhul Hijjah

• Evidence: The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Hajj is Arafah.” In other words, if you miss Arafah, you miss Hajj. The greatest pillar of Hajj is getting to Arafah. Also, a non-pilgrim who fasts on this day will get the reward of being forgiven two years of sins. Allah frees more people from the hellfire on this day than on any other day. Allah boasts (in a way that fits his majesty) about the people of Arafah to the Angels.

—

Allah takes a Qasam (an oath) by the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.

Allah can take an oath by things He has created. Scholars say that when Allah takes an oath by such things it is as though Allah has taken a Qasam by Himself, because He is the Creator.

 

Footnote: We however, cannot take a Qasam by other than Allah.

Christians ‘touch wood’ refers to the crucifixion. Hence, a Muslim cannot say such things. We need to teach people to say ‘MashaaAllah’, ‘La Hawla wa Laa Quwwata Illa Billah’, instead of other things.

The Takbeer in the 10 days are the best takbeers of the year.

The charity in these days is the best charity in the year.

Rasulullah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) would address the companions in a manner that would allow us to comprehend the greatness of certain acts.

This hadith thus teaches us that the Days of Dhul Hijjah are very valuable.

Allah has chosen these days,  gave them a certain rank and elevated them.

The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said that one should increase Tahmid (Alhamdulillah) and Tahlil (La ilaha illa Allah) in these blessed days.

 

The best month: Just as Allah has made Yawm Al-Nahr the best day, He has also created months in the year, and gave Ramadan a special precedence over other  months. No one has a say in that which Allah has chosen.

The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) narrated that the best of all months is the  month of Ramadhan.

The best nights: Allah  created the nights of the year and made the last 10 nights of Ramadhan the best nights . And one of these nights is the greatest night, which is Laylatul Qadr.

With this we learn, Allah gives a special rank to certain months and nights over other others .

It is said that the 10 DAYS of Dhul Hijjah are the best days.

Whilst the last 10 NIGHTS of Ramadhan are the best nights.

Israa – travel by night. The travel of Rasulullah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam from Masjid Al Haram to Masjid Al Aqsa.

Miraj – travel from Masjid Al Aqsa to the heavens.

The scholars were asked, can it be said that Isra wal Miraj is better than Laylatul Qadr?

Ibn Taymiyyah: If a person is saying that Isra wal Miraj is better in terms of Ibaadah then this is incorrect, as we don’t have any evidence to the exact month, night or time this happened. Which means we don’t do any extra Ibaadah on the night of Israa with the understanding that it is a special night.

Example:

Jannah  is better than anything we have ever seen, however we can never describe it completely, for it is a matter of the unseen, and we are only able to learn about it from the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Meaning, everything must be backed up by evidence from revelation.

Allah has created all different time spans and has given precedent to one time span over another time span.

Some may say, we have discussed the best days and nights, what about the Day of Jumu’ah?

Just as Allah has created the days of the week, he has made Jumu’ah the best day over which the sun rises.

Hadith of Abu Hurayrah, Rasulullah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:

“The best day of which the sun rises is the day of Jumu’ah…”

The day:

• Adam was created
• Adam was removed from Jannah
• Trumpet will be blown

Which day is better, Jumu’ah or Arafah?

Jumu’ah is the best day of the week whilst Arafah is the best day of the year.

 

Question:

Is it possible for the day of Arafah to fall on Jumu’ah?

Yes. When they come together, the day has a greater status. Jumu’ah comes with its special blessings and Arafah comes with its blessings, and the day becomes better.

Our scholars say:

We have Jumu’ah where there is an hour where Dua  is not left unanswered, and on Arafah the sins of the one who repents to Allah are forgiven.

On Friday and on the Day of Arafah – you find Rasulullah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was observing his Arafah. Allah chose the best for His messenger.

Take note:

On Arafah we have a specific khutbah, and on Jumuah we have a general khutbah. The specific khutbah is for millions of the pilgrims and happens at a similar time to when Jumu’ah usually happens.

We have a specific and general congregation of the Muslims (For Jumu’ah and Arafah).

Jumu’ah is the day of Eid in our week.

Day of Arafah is a day of Eid for the people on Hajj, hence it is prohibited for them to fast.

[Ma’idah:3] – Jews would have taken the Day of Arafah as their day of celebration if it wasn’t for this ayah.

Friday is also the day that Qiyamah will happen. There will be a mighty gathering of everyone. And on Arafah, we have a gathering of the Ummah. The  day of judgement will be the day of the beginning of the end.

Generally, the Day of Jumu’ah is special also because people are more righteous on that day and don’t sin- there is a certain sacred aura to Friday.

Friday is a day where the people of Jannah will see Allah and will get more blessings on that day.

‘Wadi Afyah’ – place where people of Jannah will be gathered and extra blessings will be showered upon them by Allah.

 

End Class.