The Four Sacred Months -- Season For Extra Obedience To Allah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم In the
Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Eventhough we have passed the ten best days of the year (the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah), we are still in one of the four sacred months, Dhul-Hijjah, in which Allah is giving us the opportunity to earn great rewards for good deeds. Being a Muslim entails being submissive to Allah while yearning for His rewards and blessings.

When Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala chooses a particular time for His special blessings, then it acquires sanctity out of His grace. The sanctity of the four sacred months is by making them a “Season for Extra Obedience to Allah,” striving to please Allah, refraining from disobedience, doing extra good deeds, obligatory and voluntary, and showing good manners.

We are commanded by Allah to refrain from wronging ourselves, generally and especially, during these four months. Wronging oneself is by committing sins, refraining from obedience, and wronging others. Sins in these months is more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward. So do not wrong yourselves during these months especially, and always generally. Let's rush to good deeds and show good manners to people around us.

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says,

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٣٦

Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him]. (36) [Quran, At-Tawba 9:36]

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "Time has come back to its original state which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth; the year is twelve months, four of which are sacred. Three of them are in succession; Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Al-Muharram, and (the fourth being) Rajab Mudar (named after the tribe of Mudar as they used to respect this month) which stands between Jumad (ath-thani) and Sha’ban.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

The one who is bestowed with the opportunity to honor this sacred month, and performs the deeds with Ihsaan (to perform acts for the sake of Allah Alone) and Ihtisab (to seek the reward of one's deeds from Allah Alone), then Allah dignifies the person. And the one who does not respect this sacred month, Allah disgraces the person.

May Allah enable us to honor the sacred months with ihsaan and grant us righteous deeds and keep us away from everything that displease Him. Aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam