Shawwal
Shawwāl (Arabic:شوال) or Shawwāl al-Mukarram (شوّال المکرّم) or Shawwal al-Mukarrama (شوّال المکرّمة) is the tenth month of Islamic lunar calendar. The first day of this month is Eid al-Fitr.
Naming
Shawwal means "to take provisions for going on a journey." When the months were named, this month coincided with the hunting season of Arabs, so it was called Shawwal. According to linguists, Arabs use the term shawwalat al-ibil (شَوَّلَت الإبِل) when a camel's milk supply significantly decreases or dries up completely. It is also used when a camel's belly sticks to its back due to extreme thinness.
The Prophet Muhammad (s) explained the naming of the month of Ramadan by stating that the sins of believers are burned away in this month (ramada means "to burn"). In contrast, the month of Shawwal is named because, by then, their sins and their consequences have been completely removed, leaving no trace behind (shalat fihi dhunubuhum شالَت فیه ذنوبُهم).
Merits
Prophet Muhammad (s) said this month was called Shawwal because the sins of the faithful and negative consequences of their actions are lifted.
Significance of Religious Rituals
The month of Shawwal is recognized as one of the months of Hajj. The Hajj months are designated periods during which the rituals of Hajj can be performed.
Practices
| Practices of Shawwal | |
|---|---|
| Eve of the First Day | • Performing Ghusl•Ihya' (vigil)• Reciting this supplication after Maghrib, 'Isha', Morning and Eid al-Fitr prayers: اَللهُ اَكْبَرُ اللهُ اَكْبَرُ لا اِلـهَ إلاّ اللهُ وَاللهُ اَكْبَرُ، اللهُ اَكْبَرُ وَللهِ الْحَمْدُ، اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ عَلى ما هَدانا وَلَهُ الشُّكْرُ على ما اَوْلانا(God is the greatest, God is the greatest. There is no god but God and God is the greatest. God is the greatest and (all) praise be to God. Praise be to God for that He has guided us. Thank be to Him for what He has bestowed upon us).• Ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (a).• Reciting the special Salawat (salutation) of Jumu'a eve, ten times: يَا دَائِمَ الْفَضْلِ عَلَى الْبَرِيَّةِ يَا بَاسِطَ الْيَدَيْنِ بِالْعَطِيَّةِ يَا صَاحِبَ الْمَوَاهِبِ السَّنِيَّةِ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ خَيْرِ الْوَرَى سَجِيَّةً وَ اغْفِرْ لَنَا يَا ذَا الْعُلَى فِي هَذِهِ الْعَشِيَّةِ (O, He whose grace is constant on the creatures, O, He whose hands are open for generosity, O, He who bestow precious gifts, sent Your salutation on Muhammad and his household, the best people in moral and forgive us, O, the Exulted, in this evening). |
| First Day | • Giving Zakat al-Fitra before performing Eid al-Fitr Prayer.• Performing Ghusl.• Wearing clean clothes and using perfumes.• Eating something before Eid al-Fitr prayer.• Performing Eid al-Fitr Prayer.• Ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (a).• Reciting al-Nudba Supplication. |
Important Events
- Eid al-Fitr (Shawwal 1).
- Battle of Hunayn (Shawwal 4, 8/630).
- Battle of Uhud; martyrdom of Hamza b. 'Abd al-Muttalib (Shawwal 7, 3/625).
- Demolition of al-Baqi' by Wahhabis (Shawwal 8, 1344/1926).
- Demise of Ayatollah Sayyid Husayn Burujirdi (Shawwal 12, 1380/1961).
- Demise of 'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani (Shawwal 15, 252/866).
- Martyrdom of Imam Ja'far b. Muhammad al-Sadiq (a) (Shawwal 25, 148, 765).
- Demise of Sayyid Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini (Shawwal 28, 1409/1989).
References
• The material for this article has been mainly taken from شوال المکرم in Farsi WikiShia.