Dhu al-Hijja is the time for the Hajj, the major pilgrimage. The tashrik days and the Eid of the Sacrifice also fall in the month of Dhu al-Hijja. These, and the worship practiced on these days, are an important event among Muslims.

A hadith has come down to us concerning this month, reported by Ibn al-Abbas. In this hadith the Prophet tells us the following:

"The worship performed during the month of Dhu al-Hijja is loved more by God than those good and beneficial deeds performed throughout the rest of the year."^[i]

The Hajj, or the major pilgrimage, is one of the five pillars of Islam. It consists of visiting the holy precincts in Makka during the month of Dhu al-Hijja. The hajj is a rehearsal of life in both this world and the next, a theater of all Islamic life based upon deep devotion to God and the perception of one’s servanthood and God’s Divinity and Lordship. It consists of love, action, humility, God-consciousness, sacrifice, and dominion over the carnal self.

It has two pillars: staying at the plain of Arafat near Makka for a certain length of time on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijja, and circumambulating the Ka‘ba any day after staying at Arafat. Ihram is also essential to both the major (Hajj) and minor pilgrimage (Umra). Ihram is the intention to perform either Hajj or Umra, or both, and marks the beginning of Hajj or Umra, or both if they are performed together. It also signifies that some things have become forbidden. Men wear special attire while in ihram—two white, unstitched sheets; this attire itself is called ihram by some. As stated above, if we take into consideration that the pilgrimage falls on the first ten days of the month of Dhu al-Hijja, then we can more easily understand why the blessings derived from the forms of worship practiced during this time are esteemed as being blessed and virtuous. These days, with the prayers of the millions of pilgrims who are now able to complete this form of worship, are very productive, very blessed. Pilgrims chant talbiya (see below), glorify God’s name, cry out His Unity and existence, and invoke peace and blessings on the Prophet. Some of the prayers chanted by pilgrims are below:

Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk,

Inna’l-Hamda wa’n-ni’mata laka wa’l-mulk, la sharika lak:

Dear God! I accept your invitation. I bow my head before your commands. I relinquish to you all that I own. You have no partner. I accept your invitation, over and over again. Without a doubt, all thanks are due to you. You have no partner.

Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illallahu

wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahi’l-Hamd

God is the greatest. God is the greatest. There is no god but God. God is the greatest. God is the greatest. All thanks are due to God.

La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah.

 Lahu’l-Mulku walahu’l-Hamdu ve huwa ala kulli shay’in qadir

There is no god but God. He is One. All property belongs to Him. His power is sufficient for everything.

Allahumma salli ala sayyidina Muhammadin wa ala al-i sayyidina Muhammad. Kama sallayta ala sayyidina Ibrahima wa ala al-i sayyidina Ibrahim. Wabarik ala say­yidina Muhammadin wa ala al-i sayyidina Muhamam­mad. Kama barakta ala seyyidina Ibrahima wa ala al-i sayyidina Ibrahima fi’l-alamin. Innaka Hamidun Majid.

O God, let your mercy come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as you sent mercy to Abraham and his family. Give many blessings to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have given many blessings to Abraham and his family in the worlds. Truly You are the Praiseworthy and Glorious.

The pilgrims, with prayers on their lips and their hearts filled with light, go to Arafat on the day before the Eid to pray and stay there. They go on to stay in Muzdalifa (the holy place between Arafat and Mina), continuing to throw pebbles at the Jamarat, the rocks that symbolize one’s carnal self in Mina, sacrifice an animal, and circumambulate the Ka‘ba. (For further information on the Hajj and its rituals, see Büyükçelebi, Living in the Shade of Islam.)

For all believers who reach the month of Dhu al-Hijja, wherever they may be, their hearts are with the pilgrims who are in those holy places; in their prayers, they say, "O God, please include this prayer in those that are being made in Masjid al-Haram, in Baytullah (the Ka‘ba), in the Masjid al-Nabi, in the Masjid al-Quba,^[ii]" and become one with the pilgrims. At the same time, all the pilgrims are praying for their brethren who have not been able to come to the holy places; in other words, believers all over the world are partners in prayer.

Moreover, at the end of the twenty-three obligatory (fard) prayers that take place from the morning of the eve of the Eid to the afternoon prayer of the fourth day, it is necessary to say tashrik takbir. The meaning of the tashrik takbir is the same as the takbir above; "Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar. La ilaha illallahu wallahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar walillahi’l hamd."

[i] Riyadh al-Salihin, II, 507

[ii] Masjid al-Quba is the very first mosque built during the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.