Dhulhijjah Blessings

Reflections from the first few verses from Surah al-Fajr, Chapter 89

Surah al-Fajr (Break of Dawn)
Number of Verses: 30

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

This Surah, like many other Meccan Suras, contains short, meaningful, awakening verses with abundant warnings.

There are several oaths mentioned in the first part of the Surah that have no precedent and are primarily for warning the transgressors about the divine punishment.
Another part of this Surah points to some of the ancient rebellious nations, such as the ‘Ad and Thamood people; and also to Pharaoh. The transgressor, and the divine punishment that destroyed them, which is a lesson for all arrogant powers so that they may take careful account of their situation.

In the next part of the Surah, which relates to the previous parts, Man’s trial is mentioned and his neglect, in doing good deeds, is very sharply criticized.

In the last part of the Surah the discussion is about the Hereafter and the fate of the sinners and unbelievers, and presents a contrast in regard to the great rewards that the believers will receive; those whose souls are at rest.

The Virtue of Studying Surah Fajr

Regarding the virtue of studying this Surah, a tradition from the Prophet (S) says:
“Allah forgives the mistakes of whoever recites, Surah Fajr, on the ‘Ten Nights’,

(i.e., the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah), and it will become a light on Dooms Day for the one who recites it at other times ((of the year)”.1
Also, a tradition from Imam Sadiq (as) says:
“Recite Surah Fajr, which is Husain-ibn-Ali’s Surah, in your prayers, whether they be obligatory or optional. He who recites it will be with him (Husain ibn Ali) at the same place in Heaven on the Day of Judgement”.2
Introducing this Surah as Husain-ibn-Ali’s Surah may be for the reason that the clear example of the
‘serene soul’
as mentioned at the end of the Surah, is Husayn-ibn-Ali (as), as the idea has also been cited from Imam Sadiq (as) about the same verses.
Or, perhaps, it is for the same reason that one of the commentaries about the ‘Ten Nights’ means the first ten nights of Muharram, (the first month of the Muslim new year), which is closely relevant to Husayn-ibn-Ali (as).
At any rate, these great rewards and outstanding merits are for the ones who recite the Surah as a preparation for their own self-improvement and self-perfection.

Surah Fajr, Verses 1-5

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

وَالْفَجْرِ

وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ

وَالشَّفْعِ وَالْوَتْرِ

وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَسْرِ

هَلْ فِي ذَلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِّذِي حِجْرٍ

1. “By the Break of Dawn,”
2. “And the Ten Nights;”
3. “By the Even and the Odd;”
4. “And by the Night when it departs;”
5. “Is there (not) in this an oath for those who have sense?”

So many of us yearn to be in Hajj this year.
However;  Allah swt has given us all incredible gifts and the best days of the year- the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah!
Being in Hajj…but at home!

Perhaps let us try and receive the gifts of Hajj from our homes.

1. If we were in Hajj, we would be surrounded by the young,  and the elderly and would see to serve them. Here, seek them out and make their days a little brighter! Be mindful about reaching out to your elderly relatives. Give gifts to elderly neighbors. Doing sewa or khidmah is extremely important and very much appreciated by Allah swt.
2. If we were in Hajj, we would be listening to the heavenly Adhan and praying 5x/day on time. Let us all make an effort to pray together on time, at the beginning of its time, as if we were in Hajj!
3. With every good deed we do, let us tune in to Ka’bah frequency  through our niyyah/ intention. Going out shopping or cooking dinner? Proactive listening to our children and having real talks,  for the sake of God, taking care of our mind,  body and soul and even of those in our home.
4. Big time in giving charity! Give,  give,  give!  Imagine a child who can finally satiate their hunger and thirst.
5. Allah swt has chosen you and I  to witness these divine blessed days inshAllah. He has confidence in our abilities and He finds us having the potentiality to serve Him through His creations.Let us invest in self- regulating our souls and nagnify our intentions in all the mundane chores that we do even if it means picking up litter from the house compound and removing trash outside by making it for His sake.
6. In this unprecedented times, we are not physically in Hajj, but perhaps we can find ourselves performing all the rituals by understanding its esoteric deeper concepts and find the miqaat,  A’rafah,  Mina,  Muzdalefa,  Sa’ee,  Qurbani and circumbulating the sacred house purely for Allah’s sake by taking every step towards Allah swt.  from our homes.  Let this sweetness of Hajj linger in our homes and be more creative,  proactive in prepareling the majlise Azaa of Imam Al Husayn a.s.  for Muharram Al Haraam.  Such blessed moments are quickly passing by with a divine delicacy that He chooses to give those who seek Him wherever they are.
7. Mina reminds us of the timeless personality of Imam Muhamed Al Baqir’s doors of true knowledge,  wisdom and his great sacrifices and his advice on doing majlise Azaa for Aba Abdillahil Husayn a.s.
8. Being in hajj reminds us of  the incredible amount of pollution and misuse of God’s favours by not protecting our mother earth,  let us try and avoid using plastics and save our beautiful planet Earth. Let us try and replenish our surroundings.
9. Hajj is a great test.  We find our true friends through this journey of a lifetime.

Hajj being an august gathering and a socio- political arena.  Hajj in essence is the archetype of Tawheedi Islam.  Augmenting hearts together and every soul in search of their true worth,  evolving under the banner of Ihram.  Let us revive our human relationships and be united in the wilayah of Allah swt.

References taken:  An Enlightening commentary into the light of the Holy Qur’an.

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