The Scared Month of Dhul Qadah: Virtues, Do’s and Don’ts

The Arabic month of Dhul Qadah (ذُو ٱلْقَعْدَة) has arrived. It is one of the 4 sacred months of the Hijri year. Many significant historical events took place during this virtuous month, such as the Battle of Trench (i.e. Ahzab/Khandak), the truce of Hudaibiyah, and a lot more. 

In this article, we will talk about such important events and the virtues of the sacred month of Dhu’l Q’adah. In the name of Allah, we begin.

What is the Meaning of Dhu’l Q’adah?

Dhu’l Q’adah is the 11th month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. It comes in between Shawwal and Dhu’l Hijjah. The name is derived from the word “Qu’ood (قعود)”, which means rest. The month is named so because, during the month, the Arabs would rest from fighting and travelling. 

It is also the first of the 3 sacred months in succession, namely: Dhu’l Q’adah, Dhu’l Hijjah and Muharram. 

When is Dhu’l Q’adah 2024?

Dhu’l Qadah 2024 will begin on 9 May. However, the date may vary depending on location and moon sighting. 

What is Special about the Month of Dhul Qadah?

Dhul Q’adah is one of the four sacred months in the Islamic Hijri calendar. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

الزَّمَانُ قَدِ اسْتَدَارَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ، السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا، مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ، ثَلاَثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ، وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ

“The division of time has turned to its original form, which was current when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhu’l Q’adah, Dhu’l-Hijjah, and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar, which comes between Jumadi-ath-Thaniyah and Sha’ban.” [Sahih Bukhari: 3197]

Significance of the Month of Dhul Qadah

Dhu’l Q’adah is a significant month in Islam for various reasons. Some of those are:

1. Dhu’l Q’adah is a sacred (حَرَام) month chosen by Allah

Dhu’l Q’adah is sacred and honoured because Allah has made it this way. As Muslims, we should realise that Allah does whatever He wills and chooses among His creation, whoever/whatever He likes. Allah says in the Quran:

وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيَخْتَارُ 

Meaning: “Your Lord creates what He wills and chooses.” [Surah Al Qasas: 68]

Since Allah the Almighty has told us through our beloved Prophet ﷺ  that Dhu’l Q’adah is honoured, so it is. 

2. Engaging in warfare is prohibited 

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala says in the Quran:

يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلشَّهْرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍۢ فِيهِ ۖ قُلْ قِتَالٌۭ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌۭ 

“They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about fighting in the sacred months. Say, “Fighting during these months is a great sin.” [Sura Al-Baqarah: 217]

3. Committing sins during Dhu’l Q’adah is more severe than committing in other months

Allah SWT says in the Quran:

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًۭا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ 

“Indeed, the number of months ordained by Allah is twelve—in Allah’s Record since the day He created the heavens and the earth—of which four are sacred. That is the Right Way. So do not wrong one another during these months.” [Sura At-Taubah: 36]

Committing sins in any month is forbidden. But committing sins during the sacred months is even more severe and frowned upon according to the above-mentioned Ayah.

4. Allah ordered us not to violate its sanctity 

Allah Azza Wa Jalla says in the Quran: 

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُحِلُّوا۟ شَعَـٰٓئِرَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا ٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ…

Meaning: “O believers! Do not violate Allah’s rituals of pilgrimage˺, the sacred months…” [Surah Al-Maidah: 2]

Important Historical Events of Dhu’l Q’adah

In the life of Rasulullah ﷺ, many Important historical events took place during the month of Dhu’l Q’adah. Those are: 

1. Battle of Ahzab (Battle of the Confederates)

The battle/siege of Ahzab (also known as Khandak) took place in the fifth year of Hijri. It started in Shawwal and ended in Dhu’l Q’adah.

It was one of the most challenging battles of the Muslims against the Quraish and their allies. This battle was a result of a plot by the Jewish clan named Banu Nadheer.

This evil tribe sent representatives to Quraish in Makkah, the Gatafan tribe, and their allies to convince them to join forces and attack Madinah as one united front. And they succeeded in their effort. 

A combined total of 10000 soldiers from Quraish, Gatafan, and other tribes of this united front marched towards Madinah with the ill intention of destroying Islam and the Muslims. Thus, the battle was given its name, ‘Al Ahzab’, which means ‘the combined forces’.  

On the advice of Salman Al Farsi (R.), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ  ordered his companions to dig trenches around Madina to stop the enemy. Thus this battle also became known as ‘Khandak’ or the ‘Battle of the Trench’.

Allah tested the believers and exposed the hypocrites during this battle period. This is what Allah says about the believers: 

وَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا مَا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَصَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ ۚ وَمَا زَادَهُمْ إِلَّآ إِيمَـٰنًۭا وَتَسْلِيمًۭا 

Meaning: “And when the believers saw the companies, they said, “This is what Allāh and His Messenger had promised us, and Allāh and His Messenger spoke the truth.” And it increased them only in faith and acceptance.” [Surah Al Ahzab: 22]

Allah granted the Muslims a decisive victory, and things turned in their favour. After this battle, Rasulullah ﷺ  proclaimed: 

الآنَ نَغْزُوهُمْ وَلاَ يَغْزُونَنَا، نَحْنُ نَسِيرُ إِلَيْهِمْ

Meaning: “From now onwards, we will go to attack them (i.e. the infidels), and they will not come to attack us, but we will go to them.” [Sahih al Bukhari: 4110]

[Ref: ‘Noble Life of the Prophet’ by Dr Ali Sallabi; P: 1356, 1358, 1359]

2. Truce of Hudaibiyah

The truce of Hudaibiyah is a crucial event in the life of Rasulullah ﷺ. On Monday, the 1st of Dhu’l Q’adah of the 6th Hijri, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ  left Madinah along with 1500 Sahaba (R) to perform Umrah. 

Going against Arab tradition, the Quraish prevented the Muslims from entering Makkah and performing Umrah. The Prophet ﷺ  and his companions waited at Al Hudaibiyah. Rasulullah ﷺ  sent Uthman (R) to negotiate with the Quraish. 

A false rumour spread out that Uthman (R) was killed by the people in Makkah. Upon hearing the news, Rasulullah ﷺ  gathered all the Sahaba (R) together and took a pledge from all of them to take revenge for the killing of Usman (R). This is known as the famous ‘Bai’atur Ridwan’ or ‘The Pledge of Pleasure (of Allah)’. 

Allah says in the Quran: 

لَّقَدْ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ 

Meaning: “Certainly was Allāh pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you, [O Muḥammad], under the tree” [Surah Al Fath: 18]

Quraish became fearful when they heard about the pledge. So they sent Uthman (R.) back safely.

Suhail bin Amr (R) was sent to discuss a truce between the Quraish and the Muslims of Madinah. They reached an agreement. The terms apparently seemed dishonourable to the Muslims. But it was part of Allah’s grand plan. Allah described this incident as a clear victory.

Allah says: 

إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًۭا مُّبِينًۭا 

Meaning: “Indeed, We have given you, [O Muḥammad], a clear victory.” [Surah Al Fath: 1]

The truce was signed and agreed upon by both parties for a 10-year span. Later, Quraish broke the truce. 2 years later, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ  conquered Makkah with 10 thousand companions. Thus, Allah’s promise of a clear victory came to fruition. 

[Ref: ‘Noble Life of the Prophet’ by Dr Ali Sallabi; P: 1514-1515, 1523-1526]

3. The Compensatory Umrah of Rasulullah ﷺ  

As part of the Hudaibiyah agreement, the Muslims were not able to perform Umrah on the 6th Hijri. With a broken heart, the believers went back to Madinah. 

Towards the end of the 7th Hijri in the month of Dhu’l Q’adah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out for Makkah with his companions to make up for the Umrah that they could not perform the previous year. 

He took precautions before entering Makkah. He stationed his troops outside of Makkah in case the Quraish had any ill intention of attacking them. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ  was performing Tawaf, his companions surrounded him from all directions to repel any possible attack. 

After completing Tawaf and Umrah, he ﷺ  instructed those near him to leave Makkah and make room for the ones posted outside. One group of believers moved out while another moved in, allowing all of them to complete their Umrah.

[Ref: ‘Noble Life of the Prophet’ by Dr Ali Sallabi; P-1629, 1630-1631, 1633]

Do’s and Don’ts of Dhu’l Q’adah

1. Do: Fasting some days of the sacred month without specifying particular dates.

As mentioned in the hadith:

“Fast some days of the sacred month and not others.” [Sunan Abu-Daud: 2428; classified as weak].

2. Don’t: Any form of transgression. 

As Allah mentioned in the Quran: 

فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْۚ  

“…So do not wrong yourselves during them.” [Sura At- Taubah: 36]

It is forbidden to transgress throughout the year. But it is even more severe to do so during the sacred months in the sight of Allah.

3. Do: Study Seerah of Rasulullah ﷺ to know what happened during this month over 1400 years ago. 

4. Do: A lot of voluntary righteous deeds. 

In general, we should perform a lot of voluntary acts of worship every month. But during the sacred months, we should be more eager to perform these good deeds. Some of the voluntary good deeds that we should perform during Dhu’l Q’adah are:

• Fast Monday and Thursday of every week
• Fast the Ayyam al Wid Fasts, i.e. 13,14 and 15th of every Arabic month
• Perform Tahajjud prayer
• Make a lot of charity. 

5. Do: Prepare for Hajj.

If you have made up your mind to perform Hajj, then you should get on with your last-minute preparations during Dhu’l Q’adah. Some of the last-minute preparations that you can take are: 

• Get a thorough medical checkup
• Put all your necessary documents in one file
• Advise family members more and more to fear Allah
• Gather all the necessary things required for Hajj in one place
• Make a lot of Dua to Allah
• If you have any debt, pay it as soon as possible. If not, at least come to an agreement with your creditors. Make sure to keep someone aware of it.
• If your parents are alive, ask them for forgiveness. Also, don’t forget to ask them to make dua for you. 

FAQs

Q. If someone misses the 6 fasts of Shawwal and makes up for those in Dhu’l Q’adah, will he/she get the reward?

Ans. If a person can’t fast the 6 days of Shawwal due to illness, menstruation, or travelling, then he/she can make up for it in Dhu’l Q’adah. Hopefully, they will get the reward of 6 days of fasting.

However, if he/she did not fast intentionally in Shawwal, then that person will not get the particular reward for fasting for 6 days in Shawwal. The fasts will be counted as normal voluntary fasts. For a detailed explanation, check out this link. 

Conclusion

The sacred month of Dhul Qadah should be honoured. We should preserve its sanctity and learn about the historical incidents that happened during this month. May Allah bless our efforts and purify our intentions.