The 1st of Dhul-Hijjah will be on Wednesday 23 August 2017, and the Muslims performing Hajj will be in ‘Arafah on Thursday 31 August 2017 (9 Dhul-Hijjah 1438), and we shall be celebrating Eid al-Adhaa on Friday 1 September 2017, (10 Dhul-Hijjah 1438), in shaa.-Allaah.
According to scholars of the Qur’an, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are significant enough for Allah to swear by them.
Describing how these ten days are among the best, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.”
They said:
“Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.”
– [Bukhari, 2/457]
Eid prayers
Eid ul-Adha, will be on Friday 1st September 2017, insha’Allah.
We will be holding two Eid prayers at the Eccles Mosque this year.
- 8.30 AM - 1st Eid Salah
- 9.30 AM - 2nd Eid Salah
Eid prayer location
The Eccles and Salford Islāmic Society
5 Liverpool Road
Eccles
M30 0WB
Fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah
The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar) is the Day of ‘Arafah. It is the day when pilgrims stand on the plain of ‘Arafah to pray. On this day, Muslims all over the world who do not witness the annual Hajj should spend the day in fasting, in preparation for the three days festivity following ‘Eid ul-Adha (the celebration marking the end of the Hajj commemorating the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness of sacrifice).
Abu Hafsah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said:
“Fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah absolves the sins for two years: the previous year and the coming year, and fasting on ‘Ashura, (the tenth day of Muharram) atones for the sins of previous years.”
– Reported by all except Al-Bukhari and At-Tirmidhi
In another saying the Prophet’s wife Hafsah, may Allah be pleased with her, said:
“Four things the Messenger of Allâh never neglected: Observing fast on the day of ‘Ashura, ‘Arafat, three days every month, and offering fajr sunnah prayers early in the morning.”
– Muslim
These statements are proof that fasting on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, the day before ‘Eid ul-Adha was a lifelong practice of the Prophet, peace be upon him, as his wife reported.
There are some reports that fasting is prohibited on the Day of ‘Arafah. However, it must be understood that this refers to a person performing the Hajj. If a person is on the Hajj, there is no fast for him or her on the day of ‘Arafah. That is undoubtedly a blessing for him because of the hardships of the pilgrimage. In a saying reported by Umm Al-Fadl, may Allah be pleased with her, she said:
“The companions doubted whether the Prophet was fasting on ‘Arafah or not. She decided to prove to them that he was not, so she said, ‘I sent to him milk, which he drank while he was delivering the khutbah (sermon) on ‘Arafah.’ “
– Recorded by Al-Bukhari
Prohibiting the pilgrims from fasting on these days is a great mercy for them, for fasting will exert undue hardship on the person performing the Hajj, while they are primarily concerned with their pilgrimage. Above all, the pilgrim would not be fasting anyway because he is traveling.