Jumada Al-Oula, also called Jumada al-Awwal, is the fifth month in the Islamic Calendar and comes after the month of Rabi Al-Thani. Islamic Calendar also called the Hijiri calendar is based on the lunar cycle. Each month begins on the sighting of a new moon, spanning between 29 to 30 days.
In Arabic, Jamad means arid, dry, or cold, which might refer to this month as the dry months of that time. But many reflect this referral that this month does not come with seasons like the Georgian calendar months.
Jumada al-Oula might not have any special ibadah linked to it but it is essential because of events that occurred this month. Let’s have a look at what significance Jumada al-Oula holds for Muslims.
Nov07
Thursday, 5 Jumada Al Oula 1446 AH
Nov19
Tuesday, 17 Jumada Al Oula 1446 AH
In the light of the Quran and Hadith, we do not find any special worship for the month of Jumada Al Oula. Still, our Prophet (S.A.W) has always encouraged us to offer volunteer ibadat, including salah, sadqa, and fasting. In a Hadith narrated by Tamim Dari in Sunan Ibn Majah, the Prophet (S.A.W) has said:
“The first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayers. If it is complete, then the voluntary (prayers) will also be recorded for him (as an increase). If it is not complete then Allah will say to His angels: ‘Look and see whether you find any voluntary prayers for My slave, and take them to make up what is lacking from his obligatory prayers.’ Then all his deeds will be reckoned in like manner.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1426, Book 5).
From the Hadith, we can see that nafil or voluntary prayers and any kind of worship bring in Allah’s mercy and will be used as a mean for our forgiveness on the Day of Judgement.
Jumada Al-Oula might not have any special worship assigned from Allah or His Prophet (S.A.W), but there were important events that took place this month, including the death anniversaries of some great personalities in Islamic History.
5th Jumada Al-Oula is known to be the birth date of Zaynab bint Ali, who was the daughter of Hazrat Fatimah (R.A) and Hazrat Ali (R.A). In the same month, on 10th Jumada al-Oula, Hazrat Fatimah (R.A), who was the youngest and beloved daughter of our Prophet (S.A.W), passed away and was buried in Medina. She died 6 months after the death of Prophet (S.A.W) at a very young age of just 23. In a Hadith narrated by Aisha (R.A):
“The Prophet (S.A.W) called his daughter Fatima during his illness in which he died, and told her a secret whereupon she wept. Then he called her again and told her a secret whereupon she laughed. When I asked her about that, she replied, ‘The Prophet (S.A.W) spoke to me in secret and informed me that he would die in the course of the illness during which he died, so I wept. He again spoke to me in secret and informed me that I would be the first of his family to follow him (after his death) and on that I laughed.’” (Sahih Bukhari 3715, 3716, Book 62, Hadith 64)
Another major but sorrowful event took place on 17th Jumada Al-Oula called as Battle of Jamal. This battle took place between Hazrat Ali (R.A) and the wife of Prophet (S.A.W), Hazrat Aisha (R.A), after the martyrdom of Hazrat Uthman (R.A). A few companions of Rasool Allah (S.A.W) were also martyred in this battle, but in the end, both sides united. The story is explained in detail in Ibn al-Arabi’s book Al-Awaasim Min al-Qawaasim and Ibn Khateer mentioned it in his book Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah.
The month of Jumada Al-Oula has a list of events that took place. Many scholars believe that the marriage of our beloved Prophet (S.A.W) with Hazrat Khadija (R.A) took place this month. Hazrat Khadija (R.A) was the most beloved wife of Rasool Allah (S.A.W) and she was the best among the women. As narrated by Ali (R.A):
“I heard the Prophet saying, “Mary, the daughter of Imran (Maryam (A.S)), was the best among women (of the world of her time) and Khadija is the best amongst the women (of this nation). (Sahih al-Bukhari 3432, Book 60, Hadith 103)
The month of Jumada Al-Oula is sacred when it comes to events, but no special ibadah is linked to it. As Muslims who believe in Allah and the Prophet (S.A.W), we should perform volunteer acts like our Prophet and His companions used to do. This is the best way to seek Allah’s forgiveness and add the rewards to our basket.
Allah rewards us on every step we take towards and for the religion. From offering obligatory deeds to all the volunteer acts, we are rewarded for every deed. Kathir bin Abdullah bin Amr bin Awf Al-Muzani narrates it:
“My father told me narrating from my grandfather, that the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W) said: ‘Whoever revives a Sunnah of mine, which people then act upon, will have a reward equivalent to that of those who act upon it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 209, Book 1, Hadith 209)
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