1ST DAY OF ZILHAJJ

in

A number of devotional acts may be practiced on this blessed day:

First: It is recommended to observe fasting on this day, for its reward is equal to the reward of eighty-month worship.

Second: It is recommended to offer Salat Fatimah. According to Shaykh al-Tusi, this prayer consists of four units each couple of which are offered separately. At each unit, Surah al-Faatehah is recited once and Surah al-Tawheed repeated fifty times. After the Taslim statement, the famous Tasbih al-Zahra’ litany is done. Thereafter, the following doxology is said:

سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْعِزِّ الشَّامِخِ الْمُنِيفِ سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْجَلالِ الْبَاذِخِ الْعَظِيمِ سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْمُلْكِ الْفَاخِرِ الْقَدِيمِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ يَرَى اَثَرَ النَّمْلَةِ فِي الصَّفَا سُبْحَانَ مَنْ يَرَى وَقْعَ الطَّيْرِ فِي الْهَوَاءِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ هُوَ هَكَذَا وَ لا هَكَذَا غَيْرُهُ

Third: It is recommended to offer a two unit prayer half an hour before midday. At each unit, Surah al-Faatehah is recited once and Surah al-Tawheed, Ayah al-Kursi, and Surah al-Qadr repeated ten times each.

Fourth: One who fears an oppressor and says the following words on this day will be saved, by Almighty Allah:

حَسْبِي حَسْبِي حَسْبِي مِنْ سُؤَالِي عِلْمُكَ بِحَالِي

On this day, Prophet Abraham (a.s.) was born.

On this day too, yet according to the narration of the two Shaykhs, Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) married Lady Fatimah al-Zahra’(a.s.).