Dhu al-Hijjah

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Dhu al-Hijjah (also Dhu al-Hijja

The name of this month is also spelled Dhul-Hijja. In modern Turkish, the name is Zilhicce.^[1]

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Dhu al-Hijjah migrates throughout the seasons. The estimated start and end dates for Dhu al-Hijja, based on the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia, are:^[2]

• 8th–13th days of Dhu al-Hijjah are the days of the Hajj
• The 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah is the Day of Arafah
• Eid al-Adha on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah
• Eid al-Ghadeer on the 18th Dhu al-Hijjah

According to Hadith, great rewards have been mentioned for performing certain Islamic rituals on specific days of Dhu al-Hijja:

One of the wives of Muhammad said: "Allah's Messenger used to fast the [first] nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of 'Ashurah, and three days of each month."^[3]

The Prophet said: "There are no days more beloved to Allah that He be worshipped in them than the ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah, fasting every day of them is the equivalent of fasting a year, and standing every night of them (in prayer) is the equivalent of standing on the Night of Qadr."^[4]

Abu Qatada narrates that Muhammad was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah. He said: as for the fasting on the Day of Arafah, I anticipate that Allah will forgive the year (i.e. the sins of the year) after it and the year before it.^[5]

• 18 Dhu al-Hijja,
  Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum
  .

• 01 Dhu al-Hijjah,
  Fatimah
  – AH 2 (24 February AD 624).
• 07 Dhu al-Hijjah, martyrdom of
  Shīʿite Imām, Muhammad al-Bāqir
  ‐ AH 114.
• 08 Dhu al-Hijjah, Husayn ibn ʿAlī began his journey to Karbalāʾ from Mecca.
• 09 Dhu al-Hijjah, martyrdom of
  Muslim ibn ʿAqīl and Hani ibn Urwah in Kufah. It is also a day of supererogatory fasting
  – AH 60.
• 12 Dhu al-Hijjah or 18 Dhu al-Hijjah, assassination of Uthman RA
• 15 Dhu al-Hijjah, birth of
  Twelver Imām, ʿAlī al-Naqī
  – AH 214 [Disputed date].
• 18 Dhu al-Hijjah,
  the event of Ghadir Khumm
  – AH 10.
• 19 Dhu al-Hijjah, Fatimah went to Ali's house after their marriage.
• 23 Dhu al-Hijjah, martyrdom of
  Meesam Tammar
  , friend of Ali – AH 60.
• 23 Dhu al-Hijjah, martyrdom of two sons of Muslim ibn ʿAqīl in Kufa – AH 60.
• 24 Dhu al-Hijjah, event of
  Eid al-Mubahilah
  ).
• 24 Dhu al-Hijjah, some historians mention that the Hadith, Ahl al-Kisa', event was also on the same day prior to Muhammad setting out for Mubahila.
• 24 Dhu al-Hijjah, supplication day and giving of alms with the ring by Ali. In reply verse, "Verily your Walee is Allah; and His Messenger and those who establish
  Zakaat
  while they be in Rukooʿ. (Maa-Idah: 55)" was revealed.
• 25 Dhu al-Hijjah,
  Sura Al-Insan or Hal Ata, or Dahar, which records the giving of alms to orphans, the destitute and travellers by Fatimah Hasan
  and Husain was revealed.
• 25 Dhu al-Hijjah, Ali becomes the Caliph of Islam – AH 35.^[citation needed]