Part 5 of a series exploring how to prepare for the 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah and suggested worship habits we can incorporate in the upcoming days. The 10 Days will begin later this week.
Read the other posts in the series: A Spiritual Reboot, Breaths of Mercy, More remembrance, and Extra Charity
On days when good deeds are more precious than any other time of the year, fasting must be on our to-do list, in addition to more remembrance and charity. We have the option of fasting as many days as possible during the first 9 days of Dhul Hijjah, but at the very least, we should fast on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah: the Day of Arafah.
The Prophet ﷺ said about fasting, “Whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allah, Allah will place between him and the Hellfire a trench equal to the distance between the sky and the earth.” (sahih) And there is an extra special reward for fasting the Day of Arafah, according to the hadith: “Fasting the day of Arafah erases the sins of two years: the previous year and the coming one.” (Muslim)
Hand-in-hand with fasting is the special worship of making dua or supplication. Remember, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us that dua is the essence of worship. Focus on the art of supplication during this holy, sacred time of year. On the days during and leading up to Hajj, turn on the live broadcast of the Kabah, leave it on most of the day, let your families witness the great gathering in Makkah and the anticipation leading up to the Day of Arafah. You will see millions of hands raised to God in beseeching requests. It can inspire us to turn to Allah, here in our hometowns across the world, with the same sincerity and urgency as the pilgrims of Makkah. Though we are not in Hajj, we are no further from Allah, nor are our voices and prayers less heard.
Just like in Ramadan and Hajj, plan out your prayer lists, all the things and people you wish to pray for. Set aside a certain time of day to calling upon Allah, whether in the mornings, the evenings, or the middle of the night. Plan to stop everything during the last hours of the Day of Arafah in order to focus on dua. Among your many prayers, remember your brothers and sisters in MAS, the American Muslim community and our country, and Muslims around the world in your prayers and supplications.
Next post: A Gift for 2019 Hajj-Goers
Previous posts:
1. A Spiritual Reboot
4. Extra Charity