IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
THE FOURTH KHUTBAH FOR THE MONTH OF DHUL-QA’DAH – DATED 25/11/1446 AH (CORRESPONDING TO 23/5/2025)
TOPIC: DUTIES OF THE MONTH OF DHUL-HIJJAH
The First Sermon
All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and ask His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and our misdeeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can misguide; and whomever He allows to go astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and his companions abundantly.
To proceed: O servants of Allah! I enjoin you and myself to fear Allah Almighty in secret and in public. Taqwa (piety) is the ultimate goal of all acts of worship and obligations, as Allah, Exalted is He, said:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾ [البقرة: 21]
“O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous.” [Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:21]
Preparation For The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are among the blessed days. Allah swore by them in His Book, indicating their greatness and virtue. He said:
﴿وَالْفَجْرِ وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ﴾ [الفجر: 1-2]
“By the dawn, and [by] ten nights.” [Surat Al-Fajr, 89:1–2]
This oath signifies the excellence of these days over others. Thus, it is necessary to prepare for them by increasing righteous deeds and seizing opportunities to accumulate good deeds, compensate for shortcomings, and seek forgiveness for past sins.
Righteous deeds performed in these ten days are more beloved to Allah than in any other days, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” They said, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” He ﷺ replied, “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah, except for a man who went out with his self and wealth and did not return with any of it.” (Reported by Bukhari)
Examples of Righteous Deeds in the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
1. Performing Obligatory Prayers in the Mosque
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning and in the evening, Allah prepares for him a place in Paradise every time he goes and comes.” (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)
Also, one should seize the opportunity to gain a house in Paradise by praying twelve voluntary rak’ahs daily, as the Prophet ﷺ mentioned.
2. Observing the Night Prayer (Qiyam al-Layl)
Even with as little as ten verses from the Qur’an. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever stands (in prayer) with ten verses will not be recorded among the negligent; whoever stands with a hundred verses will be recorded among the devout; and whoever stands with a thousand verses will be recorded among those who are given a large reward.” (Reported by Abu Dawud and others)
3. Keeping the Company of Righteous Companions
Meet with those who love each other for the sake of Allah, gather to remember Allah, supplicate Him, study His Book, and invite others to His way. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, among the servants of Allah are those who are neither prophets nor martyrs, yet the prophets and martyrs will envy them on the Day of Judgment for their closeness to Allah.”
They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who are they?”
He said: “They are people who love one another for the sake of Allah, not because of family ties or wealth exchanged between them. By Allah, their faces will be light, and they will be upon light. They will not fear when people fear, nor will they grieve when people grieve.” Then he recited:
﴿أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾ [يونس: 62]
“Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.” [Surat Yunus, 10:62]
4. Maintaining Ties of Kinship (Silat al-Rahim)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The womb (rahim) is suspended from the Throne, and it says: ‘Whoever upholds me, Allah will uphold him; and whoever severs me, Allah will sever him.” (Muslim)
So, visit your relatives and neighbors, call those you have been disconnected from, and strengthen family bonds, especially in these virtuous days.
5. Charity to the Poor and Needy
Spreading joy in the hearts of the poor is a means of attracting the mercy of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Charity extinguishes the anger of the Lord and prevents an evil death.” (Shu’ab al-Iman – al-Bayhaqi) This is a powerful motivator to spend generously, even if only a small amount, in these blessed days.
6. Increasing the Recitation of the Qur’an
Strive to complete at least one full reading (khatmah) of the Qur’an during these days, and reflect on its meanings and read its tafsir (exegesis). The Prophet ﷺ said: “Does one of you not go out to the mosque and learn or recite two verses from the Book of Allah? That is better for him than two she-camels; three verses are better than three; and four are better than four, and so on, according to their number.” (Muslim)
7. Making Abundant Supplication (Du‘a)
Allah says: “And your Lord says: ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” [Surat Ghafir: 60]
Du‘a is a powerful form of worship that opens doors to achieving your goals and wishes. The best times for du‘a include sujood, between the adhan and iqamah, when rain falls, and especially on the Day of ‘Arafah. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The best supplication is that of the Day of ‘Arafah. The best thing I and the prophets before me have said is: ‘La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer’ (There is no deity but Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion and all praise, and He has power over all things).” (Reported by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi)
8. Remaining Seated After Fajr to Remember Allah and Pray Two Rak‘ahs after Sunrise
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two rak‘ahs, will have the reward of a complete Hajj and ‘Umrah.”
He ﷺ said: “Complete, complete, complete.” (Reported by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi)
This is a golden opportunity to earn immense reward daily during these blessed ten days.
9. Increasing the Remembrance of Allah (Dhikr)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are no days greater in the sight of Allah, and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days. So increase in them the saying of La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, and Alhamdulillah.” (Reported by Ahmad)
Make your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah. These days are a training ground to make dhikr a constant part of your daily life. The most lasting and righteous words (al-baqiyat al-salihat) are:
Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah), and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest).
Righteous deeds in Dhul-Hijjah vary based on the type of day and the individual’s circumstance — whether they are pilgrims (Hujjaj) or not. Every believer should make the most of what is within their capacity to draw nearer to Allah during this sacred month.
Below is a summary of the virtuous deeds specific to the month of Dhū al-Ḥijjah:
1. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah)
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam upon which the religion is built. It is obligatory only once in a lifetime for those who are able to perform it. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Hajj is (obligatory) once. Whoever performs it more than once, it is voluntary.” (Reported by Ahmad and others)
Hajj is performed during six days in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, culminating on the 10th of the month (Eid al-Adha).
2. Udhiyah (Sacrificial Animal)
Udhiyah refers to the animal sacrifice performed on the day of Eid for the sake of drawing closer to Allah ﷻ. It can be a camel, cow, sheep, or goat, and it is a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah Mu’akkadah). Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
“The Prophet ﷺ used to sacrifice two white rams with black markings. He would slaughter them with his own hand, say ‘Bismillah, Allahu Akbar’, and place his foot on their sides.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim)
For those intending to offer a sacrifice, it is recommended that once the month of Dhul-Hijjah begins, they should not cut their hair, nails, or skin until the sacrifice is offered. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When the ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah) begin and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not touch anything of his hair or nails.” (Agreed upon – Bukhari and Muslim)
In another narration:
“He should not take anything from his hair, skin, or nails until he offers the sacrifice.”
3. Eid Prayer (Ṣalāt al-‘Īd)
The Eid prayer is established by the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ﴾
“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].” (Surat al-Kawthar, 108:2)
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“I attended the Eid prayer with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with them), and they all used to perform the prayer before the khutbah (sermon).”(Sahih al-Bukhari)
There is scholarly consensus on the legitimacy of the Eid prayer. The virtue of Eid al-Adha prayer lies in the fact that it is performed on the greatest day in the sight of Allah, the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The greatest day in the sight of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, is the Day of Sacrifice.” (Sunan Abi Dawud)
4. Fasting the First Nine Days of Dhul-Hijjah
It is recommended to fast the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah. One of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah.” (Reported by Ahmad)
Even though the Prophet ﷺ referred to them as the “ten days” in the hadith:
“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” (Bukhari)
—it refers to the first nine days, as the tenth is the day of Eid, in which fasting is forbidden.
The Day of ‘Arafah, the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah, has special merit. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Fasting the Day of ‘Arafah, I hope, will expiate for the sins of the previous year and the coming year.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Fasting on these days combines the virtue of fasting itself and the virtue of striving in the path of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever fasts a day in the path of Allah, Allah will keep his face away from the Hellfire for seventy autumns (years).” (Reported by Ahmad)
Fasting these days is a great opportunity to purify the soul from sins and begin a new chapter with Allah ﷻ. However, for those performing Hajj, fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah is not prescribed, because the pilgrim is in need of strength and energy on that day to make du‘a, dhikr, and supplication.
5. Takbīr (Saying “Allāhu Akbar”) During the First Ten Days of Dhul-Ḥijjah
Legitimacy and Forms of Takbīr
The legitimacy of saying takbīr during the first ten days of Dhul-Ḥijjah is well-established in Islamic sources, including the statement of Allah ﷻ:
﴿لِيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ﴾
“That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days.” (Surah al-Ḥajj, 22:28)
Since there is no specific wording fixed in the Sharī‘ah, scholars have differed on its preferred forms. The most well-known are three variations:
1. “Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar Kabīrā”
This was narrated from Salman al-Fārisi (may Allah be pleased with him).
2. “Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Lā ilāha illā Allāh; wa Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, wa lillāhil-ḥamd”
This was reported from ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him).
3. “Allāhu Akbar Kabīrā, Allāhu Akbar Kabīrā, Allāhu Akbar wa Ajall, Allāhu Akbar wa lillāhil-ḥamd”
This was narrated from ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him).
Types of Takbīr
Takbīr during Dhul-Ḥijjah is divided into two types based on its timing:
1. Unrestricted Takbīr (At-Takbīr al-Muṭlaq)
This is recommended at all times during the first ten days of Dhul-Ḥijjah and throughout the three days of Tashrīq. It is called muṭlaq (unrestricted) because it is not limited to any specific time or place. It can be recited:
• In the morning and evening
• Before and after prayers
• At home, in the masjid, on the street, etc.
It begins from Maghrib on the last day of Dhul-Qa‘dah and continues until Maghrib on the 13th of Dhul-Ḥijjah (i.e., the end of the third day of Tashrīq).
2. Restricted Takbīr (At-Takbīr al-Muqayyad)
This is recited specifically after obligatory prayers, following the taslīm and the three statements of seeking forgiveness.
• For pilgrims (ḥujjāj): It begins from Dhuhr on the 10th of Dhul-Ḥijjah until Maghrib on the 13th of Dhul-Ḥijjah.
• For non-pilgrims: It starts from Fajr on the Day of ‘Arafah (9th of Dhul-Ḥijjah) and ends at Maghrib on the 13th of Dhul-Ḥijjah.
The Second Sermon
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his noble companions — the one whom his Lord sent with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over all other ways of life. And sufficient is Allah as a witness.
The Upright Religion and the Natural Disposition (Fiṭrah) Created by Allah
Fiṭrah refers to the natural disposition instilled by Allah in every creation. The specific fiṭrah of mankind is how Allah has created the human body and intellect. Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
“So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth — the natural disposition of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.” (Surah ar-Rūm, 30:30)
Imam al-Bukhārī and Muslim narrated from Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Every child is born upon the fiṭrah, but his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Magian. Just as animals give birth to their young complete in limbs, do you find any among them mutilated?”
Meaning: Just as camels, cows, or sheep are born fully formed (e.g., with their tails), it is humans who may later mutilate or alter them. So likewise, Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism represent alterations or deviations from the original natural state (fiṭrah).
Hadith on the Pure Nature of Creation
In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ said in a narration from his Lord (a ḥadīth qudsī):
“All the wealth I have granted to My servant is lawful. And I created all My servants upon pure monotheism (ḥunafā’ — meaning not associating partners with Me). But the devils came to them and led them away from their religion, and made unlawful for them what I had made lawful, and commanded them to associate with Me that for which I sent down no authority.” (Narrated by Muslim)
False Report of Execution in Zamfara
O servants of Allah, in our time, rumors and the spreading of lies have become rampant—especially through biased journalism and on social media platforms.
Among the latest fabrications is the false news circulated by some enemies of Islam, claiming that a woman named Zainab Muhammad was sentenced to death in Zamfara State for apostasy, having allegedly converted from Islam to Christianity.
To increase the audacity of the lie, the photo used in the fabricated report is not even of a Nigerian woman! It was discovered that the woman shown is “Aliyah” from Texas, USA!
This story is completely false and baseless. Investigations confirmed it is a lie and slander spread by paid media outlets aiming to defame Islam and undermine Islamic law (Sharīʿah). They seek to obstruct the application of Sharīʿah in Nigeria, especially in southwestern states where Muslims are advocating for the establishment of Sharīʿah Courts of Appeal, as permitted by the national constitution.
﴿يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ﴾
“They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah refuses except to perfect His light, even though the disbelievers dislike it.” (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:32)
The Justice of Islamic Law
Islamic law is pure justice. It safeguards:
• Faith
• Life
• Lineage
• Mind
• Wealth
• Honor
Support for Our Brothers in Palestine
Dear brothers in faith, our Muslim brothers in Palestine continue to suffer under brutal attacks, killing, destruction, terror, fear, siege, and starvation — to the point that they are denied food and drink from entering!
Supplication (Du’aa)
O Allah! Unleash Your punishment upon the Jews, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah! Take them down and destroy them completely. Collapse their state and ruin their economy. Tighten Your grip on them. O Allah! Hasten to punish them with a torment from You, and strike them from where they do not expect.
O Allah! Have mercy on the weak among the believers in every place. Deal with the disbelievers and atheists who obstruct Your religion and fight Your believing servants.
O Allah! Grant our souls their piety and purify them — You are the best to purify them, You are their Guardian and Master.
O Allah! Make the best of our deeds the last of them, and the best of our days the day we meet You — O Most Merciful of those who show mercy. Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
And send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muḥammad, his family, and all his companions.