Zul-Hajj the last (12) month of the Islamic Calendar

Meaning of the word Zul-Hijjah/Zul Hajj/Dhu al-Hijjah
The month of "Hajj" (Pilgrimage)
 
About the month of Zul-Hijjah/Zul Hajj/Dhu al-Hijjah
The fifth pillar of Islam "Hajj" is performed in this sacred month.  The first ten days of Zul-Hijjah are the most virtuous days in this whole month, Hajj is performed amongst these ten days.

Ahadeeth related to Zul-Hijjah/Zul Hajj/Dhu al-Hijjah
Hadhrat Abu Haraira (R.A) reports from the Holy Prophet  : "Amongst all days there are none better to engage in sole worship of Allah than in the tendays of Zul-Hijjah,  To observe a fast on any of these days is equivalent to fasting throughout the year, to actively engage in prayer and worship throughout any of these nights holds such rewarding values levelling with "night of power" (Laylatul-Qadr) "Tirmizi"

It has been stated in the Holy Qur'an, "By the dawn; By the ten nights (ie. the first ten days of the month of Zul-Hijjah), and by the even and the odd (of all the creations of Allah) and by night when it departs.  There is indeed in them (the above oaths) suffcient proofs for men of understanding.  (and that they should avoid all kinds of sins and disbelief)"
Hadhrat Abi Qataadah (R.A) reports in a part narration from the Holy Prophet  cocerning the fast observed on the day of Arafaat: "I have full confidence in Allah for the one who observes a fast on the day of Arafaat that his previous year's sins and the proceeding year's sins are forgiven." (Muslim)

Events of Zul-Hijjah/Zul Hajj1)The Prophet  performed the farewell Hajj and gave the historic sermon known as the "Farewell Sermon"

2)Egypt was conquered by the army sent by Hadhart Umar (R.A.)

3)Uthmaan (R.A.) was appointed the third Caliph

4)Also "Bay'ate-Aqabah" took place
Matrimonies within Zul-Hijjah:- Hadhrat Fatimah (R.A.) was married in this holy month to the fourth Caliph Hadhrat Ali (R.A.)

Deaths in Zul-Hijjah:- Two famous deaths took place in this month:
1)Hadhrat Umar (R.A.) met martydom- 27th of Zul-Hijjah 26 A.H.

2)Hadhrat Uthmaan (R.A) was martyred- 18th Zul-Hijjah 35 A.H.

Zul-Qa'dahIs the eleventh month of the Islamic Calendar.

Zul-Qa'dah Is a month amongst the months of Hajj.

Events taken place during the month of Zul-Qa'dah:-
1) The battle of 'khandaq (trench) or Ahzab' took place in 5 A.H.

2) 6 A.H.-Truce of Hudaubiyah

3) 6 A.H 'Bay'at-e-Rizwaan' (The oath of allegiance named Rizwaan)

4) The return to Makkah for the performance of Umrah by the Prophet  and his Companions in 7 A.H.

ShawwaI - the tenth month of the Islamic Calendar

Meaning of the word Shawwaal/Shawal/Shawwal/Shawaal
Uplift/breakage.  Before Islam, Arabs believed that any marriage held in Shawwaal would always turn out to be unsuccessful.  Hence, the month deprived the above metioned meanings, however the superstitious belief was later abolished.
 
The month Shawwal
From the months of Hajj, Shawwaal is the first of them.  The first day of Shawwaal is Eid-Ul-Fitr and also the day when sins are forgiven.

Six fasts of Shawwal
In the month of Shawwaal it is Sunnah to keep six fasts, as narrated in the following Hadeeth by Abu Ayyub Ansaru (R.A) that the Holy Prophet  has said, "If one throughout his life keeps the fasts of Ramadhaan and keeps six consecutive fasts in Shawwaal it will be as though he has kept a whole life time of fasts, and if one keeps the six consecutive fasts for one Shawwaal month it will be as though he has observed fast all year round." (Muslim)

Events which took place in Shawwaal:- 1)Hadhrat Aa'ishah Siddiqah (R.A) was born in Shawwaal four years after Prophethood which is nine years before Hijrah.
2)Hadhrat Aa'ishah Siddiqah (R.A.) was married in this month ten years after Prophethood which is three years before Hijrah.

3)The fight between Banu Qaynaqaa took place between the battle of Badr and Uhud (Shawwaal 2 A.H. after Hijrah)

4)The battle of Uhud also took place in Shawwaal, three years after Hijrah.

5)Hadhrat Hussain (R.A) th e Holy Prophet's grandson (son of Hadhrat Fatima R.A.) was born in the month of Shawwaal four years after Hijrah.

6)The Holy Prophet  married Hadhrat Umme Salamah (R.A.) in Shawwaal in the fourth year after Hijrah.

7)Hadhrat Aa'ishah Siddiqah's (R.A) mother passed away in 5 A.H.

8)The Holy Prophet's  uncle Abu Talib departed from this world during the middle of Shawwaal in the year 5 A.H.

9)Imam Bukhari (R.A.) was born on a Friday of Shawwaal in the year 194 A.H.

Safar Events (Islamic Calendar Events, Important Hijri Dates)

01 Safar, prisoners of Karbalā entered Yazid's Palace in Syria

06 Safar, martyrdom of Sukayna bint Husayn, youngest daughter of Hussain ibn Ali and a prisoner of Karbalā

07 Safar, birth of Twelver Shī‘ah Imām, Mūsā' al-Kādhim

09 Safar, victory to Ali in the Battle of Nahrawan.

13 Safar, death of Sukayna bint Husayn, youngest daughter of Hussain ibn Ali and a prisoner of Karbalā

17 Safar, death of the Twelver Shī‘ah Imām, ‘Alī al-Ridhā

18 Safar, Ahmadou bamba exil departure (GRAND MAGAL DE TOUBA)

20 Safar, Arba'een is observed by Shī‘ah Muslims, the fortienth day after the Day of ‘Āshūrā'.

28 Safar, death of Hasan ibn ‘Alī

Muharram Events (Islamic Calendar Events, Important Hijri Dates)

01 Muharram, the Islamic New Year is observed by Muslims.

01 Muharram, Shia Muslims begin the Commemoration of Muharram which marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala.

02 Muharram, Martyrdom of Umar ibn al-Khattab, the 2nd Sunni Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate.

02 Muharram, Husayn ibn Ali enters Karbala and establishes camp. Yazid's forces are present.

07 Muharram, access to water was banned to Husayn ibn Ali by Yazid's orders.

10 Muharram, referred to as the Day of Ashurah was the day on which Husayn ibn Ali was martyred in the Battle of Karbala. Shia Muslims spend the day in mourning, whilst the Sunni Muslims fast on this day commemorating the rescue of the people of Israel by Musa (Moses) from Pharaoh.[3]

12 Muharram 95 AH Ali ibn Husayn, 4th Twelver Imam, day of Shahid and also the 3rd day of Shuhadai kerbala observed.

15 Muharram 1297 AH: Demise of Muhammad Sirajuddin Naqshbandi.

25 Muharram 95 AH Ali ibn Husayn, 4th Shia Imamah, day of Shahid.

27 Muharram, Mesum was killed.

Dhu al-Hijjah Events (Islamic Calendar Events, Important Hijri Dates)

09 Dhu al-Hijjah, Day of Arafa

10-13 Dhu al-Hijjah, Eid al-Adha is observed by Muslims on the hajj and around the world in commemoration of Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son for God.

26 Dhu al-Hijjah, death of Caliph Umar

Dhu al-Qadah Events (Islamic Calendar Events, Important Hijri Dates)

01 Dhu al-Qa'dah, Birth anniversary of Bibi Masooma-e-Qom – the sister of Imam Ali Riza, the 8th Shiite Holy Imam.

01 Dhu al-Qa'dah, Peace treaty of al-Hudaibiya between Muslims and Mushrikeen

08 Dhu al-Qa'dah, Hajj was made incumbent upon Muslims in 8 A.H.

11 Dhu al-Qa'dah, Birth anniversary of Imam Ali Riza – the 8th Holy Imam.

23 Dhu al-Qa'dah, Martyrdom of Imam Ali Riza (as per one tradition)

29 Dhu al-Qa'dah, Martyrdom of Imam Mohammad Taqi al-Jawwad – the 9th Holy Imam

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5 AH, the Muslims took part in the Battle of the Trench

6 AH, Truce of Hudaubiyah

6 AH, 'Bay'at-e-Rizwaan' (The oath of allegiance named Rizwaan)

7 AH, The first pilgrimage - the return to Makkah for the performance of Umrah by Muhammad and his Companions

Shawwal Events (Islamic Calendar Events, Important Hijri Dates)

01 Shawwāl, Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated throughout the Muslim World.

13 Shawwāl, primary traditionist of the Sunni Muslims, Muhammad al-Bukhari, was born in 194 AH.[citation needed]

17 Shawwāl, early Muslims took part in the Battle of Uhud

22 Shawwāl 1284 AH, death of Haji Dost Muhammad Qandhari, an Afghan Sufi master of Naqshbandi tradition

25 Shawwāl, death of Shī‘ah Imām, Ja‘far as-Sādiq

29 Shawwāl, Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib was born.

Six fasts of Shawwal

Six fasts of Shawwal (Shawal Kay Rozay)

The Holy Prophet Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam Has stated that those who have kept the fasts of Ramadan and then kept six fasts of Shawwal, then they are like those who have always kept a fast. He has also stated that if you fast after Eid for six days then you have fasted for the whole year

[Muslim, Abu Da'ud Tirmizi, Nisaai, Ibne-Maja etc.].

It is better that they are kept. separately and if they are kept continuously after Eid then there is no harm [Durr-e-Mukhtar, Bahar].

six (6) Rozas of Shawwal [Nafils (surplus) Fasting during the month of Shawwal (Shawwaal, Shawal)]

Hazrat Abu Ayyoob Ansaari (r.a) reported that the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) said that the one who will have observed roza (fasting) during the entire Holy month of Ramdan (Ramzan, Ramadwaan) and afterwards observe six (6) days of roza (fasting) nafils (surplus) during the month of Shawwal (Shawwaal, Shawal), will be considered as someone who will have fasted during one whole year.

[Reference. Muslim, Abu-Daawood, Tirmizi, Ibn Maajaa, Mishkaat]