What’s up this month? This Islamic month is called Dhul Qa’dah. [1] Dhul Qadah is the eleventh month of the Islamic calendar. It falls between Shawwal and Dhul Hajjah. It is one of the sacred months in which fighting was prohibited, though the Muslims were permitted to defend themselves if attacked. At the time of the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) the enemies of Islam used to attack the Muslims, knowing that they attacked in a month where fighting was forbidden. In His Wisdom, Allah revealed the following verse: “A sacred month for a sacred month: violation of sanctity calls for fair retribution. So if anyone commits aggression against you, attack him as he attacked you, but be mindful of God, and know that He is with those who are mindful of Him.” [2] In the very next verse Allah tells us: “Spend in Allah’s cause: do not contribute to your destruction with your own hands, but do good for Allah loves those who do good.” [3] Among the different explanations of this verse was the opinion of Ibn Abbas that this was referring to those who do not spend for the sake of Allah. Here Allah tells us such people are causing their own destruction. So with no specific recommended duties this month (apart from refraining from fighting) what better thing can there be to do, than spend in the way of Allah by giving charity? Charity [4] is a wonderful way of earning rewards and helping others. Obviously giving money can be a form of charity but the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, commanding good and forbidding evil is charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is charity for you; your seeing for a man with bad sight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is charity for you. [5] With all of the acts mentioned above considered acts of charity (as long as they are done solely for the sake of Allah) there is no reason why we cannot be earning rewards every day of our lives. So this month – what are you waiting for? Start earning extra rewards today! Footnotes: [1] Starting from August the 27th to September the 25th. The start of a new month can vary as the visibility of the crescent can be difficult to predict. [2] Surah al-Baqara: 194. [3] Surah al-Baqara: 195. [4] Sadaqah [5] Narrated by Abu Dharr, and recorded by at-Tirmidhi in Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 1956
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 18:21:19 +0000
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