Thul Qa'dah
by Mufti Taqi Usmani


This is the eleventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the first of the four sanctified months (al-ashhur-al-hurum) in which battles were prohibited in the days of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). It is also one of the months of Hajj as explained in the discussion about Shawwal.

However, no specific rules are prescribed for this month, except that the persons performing Hajj are required to follow the rules of Hajj.

Some false beliefs are attached to this month by ignorant people. They say that this month is not a blessed month, therefore, marriages should not be held or solemnized in the month of Thul Qa'dah. According to them, a marriage held in this month may not be successful, rather it may bring misfortune to the spouses.

This belief is absolutely baseless. A Muslim should never attend to such superstitious whims. In fact, the month is one of the sanctified months, as mentioned earlier. It is also proved through authentic traditions that the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had performed 'Umrah four times in his madanite life. Three of them were performed in the month of Thul Qa'dah, the fourth being performed along with the last Hajj. When the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has chosen this month for performing the great 'ibadah of 'Umrah how can one claim that the month has an element of misfortune? Therefore, no Muslim should ever hesitate in holding marriages or other ceremonies in this month on such a false assumption of unluckiness.