With the arrival of the sacred month of Dhul-Hijjah, Hizb ut Tahrir Canada would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the Muslim community in Canada, and to the Islamic Ummah at large, on the upcoming occasion of Eid ul-Adha. 

We are fast approaching the best ten days of the year – the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. It is an occasion for many to perform Hajj and for those not partaking in this act of worship, there are extra rewards for deeds performed during this time. We should take the opportunity during these days to reflect on the rewards that can be earned Insha’Allah and derive lessons to implement in our lives.

The First 10 Days

Allah (swt) has revealed in the Qur’an: 

“By the dawn; by the ten nights.” [TMQ 89:1-2] 

In the above verse, Allah (swt) swears an oath by these days. Swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Ibn Abbas, Ibn Az-Zubayr, Mujahid and others of the earlier and later generations are of the opinion that this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. The Prophet (saw) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.” [Al-Bukhari] 

The Prophet (saw) also 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 during this time recite a great deal of tahlil, takbir and tahmid.” [Ahmad] 

Hajj: The Fifth Pillar of Islam

Muslims from all over the world are gathering in Makkah to perform Hajj. May Allah (swt) reward them and accept their Hajj. May He also enable those who were unable to undertake this blessed journey to fulfill it in near the future. Ameen. Hajj is an obligation from the pillars of Islam, the reward of which the Prophet (saw) has spoken about: 

“Whoever performs Hajj for Allah’s pleasure and does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or sins then he will return as if he were born anew.” [Bukhari] 

Indeed, one of the astonishing things about Hajj even for the non-Muslims is that people from all races, black and white; people from all nations – from Canada, Europe, Turkey, Indonesia, India, Africa; people from all ages – the young and the old are united in the worship of Allah (swt) and are all equal before Him. 

As Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz otherwise known as Malcolm X wrote from Makkah after performing the Hajj expresses beautifully the brotherhood of Islam, he wrote: 

“There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colours, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white.”

– Extract from ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Hajj symbolizes the concept of Ummatun Wahida (One Ummah). The Muslims from all parts of the world, perform the various obligatory acts together like the wearing of the Ihram, the tawaf around the Ka’ba, the running between Safa and Marwa, the standing at Arafah and the stoning of the Jamarat collectively.

Indeed, the concept of a united Ummah with no distinction, sectarianism or nationalistic divisions is a fundamental concept in Islam. Allah (swt) has revealed: 

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Quran), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islamic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus, Allah makes His Ayat clear to you, that you may be guided.” [TMQ 3:103] 

Abu Musa narrated that the Prophet (saw) said:

“A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts enforce each other.” The Prophet then clasped his hands with the fingers interlaced (while saying that). [Bukhari] 

But unfortunately, as soon as the Hajj is over, Muslims will return to lands where they are divided by false borders and dominated by man-made laws. The creation of false borders is not something of mere coincidence or an event that naturally occurred over time. Rather, this exists by design to create division in the Ummah.

In Lord Curzon’s address to the Prime Minister shortly before World War II, the British Foreign minister said, “We must put an end to anything which brings about Islamic Unity between the sons of the Muslims. As we have already succeeded in finishing off the Caliphate, so we must ensure that there will never arise again unity for the Muslims, whether it be intellectual or cultural unity.”

Nationalism, in this time, is a concept alien to Islam because it calls for unity based on belonging to a piece of land crafted by the colonial powers. Islam, in contrast, binds people together on the Aqeedah, that is the belief in Allah (swt)and His Messenger (saw).

The Prophet (saw) said:

“He is not one of us who calls for ‘asabiyyah, (nationalism) or who fights for ‘asabiyyah or who dies for ‘asabiyyah.” [Abu Dawud] 

When Muslims go for Hajj, why do we need a visa? Did Muslims need a visa in the past under the Khilafah which ruled for over a thousand years? The reality is that it is forbidden in Islam for the Islamic lands to be divided as it is today. Ruling according to Islam can only be achieved under one state, with one Khaleefah – not with the over 50 divided nation-states as we have today. This should make us work harder to liberate the Islamic lands from the oppression of Kufr by re-establishing the Khilafah Rashidah in the Muslim lands according to the method of the Prophet (saw). Only when the Ummah submits to the authority of one Khaleefah, in one Khilafah State, will complete unity be achieved.

Ibrahim’s (as) adherence to the Wahy (Revelation)

We should take a lesson from the well-known story of Ibrahim (as) and his son Ismail (as). We are all reminded of this story as Eid ul-Adha represents the culmination of the first ten glorious days of Dhul-Hijjah. Allah (swt) informs us of his story in the Quran: 

“My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous.” So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy. And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: “O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to Allah), so look what you think!” He said: “O my father! Do that which you are commanded, Insha’Allah (if Allah wills), you shall find me of As-Sabirun (the patient).” Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the Will of Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (or on the side of his forehead for slaughtering); And We called out to him: “O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream!’ Verily! Thus do We reward the Muhsinun.” [TMQ 37:100-105] 

If we ponder over the story of Ibrahim (as) carefully, we find that Allah (swt) ordered His believing slave to slaughter his beloved son! Both the father and the son fully submitted to the order of Allah (swt) without questioning it. Ibrahim (as) didn’t seek for a reason for why he should comply with the command that Allah (swt) gave him, nor did Ismail (as) – even though he knew he would be the one that was going to be sacrificed. Rather they both willingly accepted the decision of Allah (swt) because they realised that He is the Creator and that their purpose is to worship Him by submitting fully.

 The lesson we can learn from this is to submit to the orders of Allah (swt) whether Allah (swt) has given us a reason for them or not. So, we know that Allah (swt) issued a judgement on the many actions that are before us such as the prohibition of dealing in Riba (interest), having pre-marital relations and supporting political parties not based on Islam. We must submit to these rules completely without attempting to justify them based on our own limited rationale. 

Indeed, Eid ul-Adha is a time of celebration for over one billion people around the globe. Although we will perform the slaughter, pray the Eid Salah and play with our children on this day, our hearts and our minds will not be at ease due to the suffering felt by our brothers and sisters around the world. 

The food that we eat on this day should remind us of the many who have been deprived and are dying of hunger in East Africa, Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, and all over the world. Eid is an occasion for unity and joy, however at the same time, it should provoke us to think about the disunity brought on by the agent rulers in our lands who allow the continuous slaughter upon the Muslims of Syria, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan, Palestine, Pakistan, Somalia – the list goes on. On this occasion of Eid when we spend the days with our family and friends, let us make sure that we do not forget the problems of the Muslims worldwide. Let us work for the pleasure of Allah (swt) so that we may be of the Muhsinun (good doers). 

“Verily, along with every hardship is relief, verily, along with hardship is relief. So when you have finished (your occupation), devote yourself for Allah’s worship. And to your Lord (Alone) turn (all your) intentions and hopes.” [TMQ 94:4-8]