Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, May 16, 2026.
Why the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah matter
“There is no excuse, no reason not to fast.”
In one sentence
The ten days of Dhul-Hijjah that Allah swore by in Surah al-Fajr are the most virtuous days of the year, and honoring them through fasting, congregational prayer, and udhiyya, simply because Allah commanded it, is itself proof of taqwa in the heart.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Allah's oath by al-Fajr and the ten nights means the coming ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah
- Honoring Allah's rituals (sha'a'ir) is a sign of taqwa, citing Surah al-Hajj and Safa/Marwa
- Reject rationalizing rituals, Allah's command alone is sufficient, like the prohibition of pork
- Rebuke of those who criticize mass animal sacrifice at Eid as wasteful
- Fiqh of udhiyya: wajib for Hanafis, sunnah for others, plus the hadith warning those who can afford it but skip it
- Practical rules: cost of sacrifice, not cutting hair/nails, sharing meat with the needy
- Bare minimum for the ten nights: Isha and Fajr in jamaah; encouragement of fasting and tahajjud
- Regret on Judgment Day for missed deeds; promise to cover Yawm Arafah next Friday
Try this week
Fast during the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah
Pray Isha and Fajr in congregation (jamaah) during the ten nights at minimum
Offer the udhiyya/qurbani sacrifice if financially able (sheep roughly $300-600)
Do not cut nails or hair before the sacrifice if intending to offer udhiyya
Try to wake for tahajjud/qiyam al-layl in the last third of the night
Sleep after Fajr before work rather than skipping Fajr in jamaah
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 89:1-2Allah swears by the Fajr and the ten nights, which the mufassirin agree are the ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah, proving their greatness
Quran 22:32Whoever honors the rituals (sha'a'ir) of Allah, it is from the taqwa of hearts, used to argue that venerating these days evidences taqwa
Quran 2:158Safa and Marwa are Allah's rituals, so they deserve reverence simply because Allah designated them
Quran 29:51Allah answers those demanding big miracles: is it not enough that He revealed His speech to them, arguing divine command alone suffices
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“But there is no excuse, no reason not to fast. It's the easiest thing to do, my brothers, the simplest thing to stop eating and drinking.”
“What we care more is that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala prescribed it. And that should be enough for me to give it such a greatness.”
“anyone who has the financial ability to sacrifice an animal at the time of Hajj, you know, the time of Qurbani, of the Eid, and he doesn't do it, he may not as well come near our masjid.”
“To not miss the blessings of any night in general, as Rasulullah sallallam said, is to do fajr and isha in jamaah.”
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