Surely the reckoning of months, in the sight of Allah, is twelve months, laid down in Allah's decree on the day when He created the heavens and the earth; and out of these months four are sacred. That is the true ordainment. Do not, therefore, wrong yourselves, with respect to these months. And fight all together against those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity in the manner that they fight against you all together, and know well that Allah is with the God-fearing. (Surah 9:36)
“So do not wrong yourselves in them.” Do not let go waste the good things for which fighting has been made unlawful during these months by creating disorder in them that will ultimately be harmful to you also. The four forbidden months are Zil-Qadah, Zil-Hajjah and Muharram for Hajj and Rajab for Umrah.
اَلشَّهۡرُ الۡحَـرَامُ بِالشَّهۡرِ الۡحَـرَامِ وَالۡحُرُمٰتُ قِصَاصٌؕ فَمَنِ اعۡتَدٰى عَلَيۡكُمۡ فَاعۡتَدُوۡا عَلَيۡهِ بِمِثۡلِ مَا اعۡتَدٰى عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَاعۡلَمُوۡٓا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الۡمُتَّقِيۡنَ
The sacred month for the sacred month; sanctities should be respected alike (by all concerned). Thus, if someone has attacked you, attack him just as he attacked you, and fear Allah and remain conscious that Allah is with those who guard against violating the bounds set by Him (Surah 2:194)
Those who violate the sacred months cannot expect guarantees of peace and immunity from attack during it. Allah (SWT) had declared the Sacred Mosque a safe haven and a place of peace, and designated the sacred months a time of truce and security. During these months no blood shall be shed, all sacred places and property shall be immune, and the safety of every living thing is guaranteed. Those who are bent on infringing this peace must not escape unpunished. The Muslims are instructed to retaliate in a measured way and within the limits dictated by the type and extent of the initial aggression. There should be no excessive retribution. Muslims are here left to their own conscience and their consciousness of Allah (SWT). They realize that their own victory depends on Allah’s help and support, and are therefore reminded that God is on the side of those who fear Him — a supremely effective safeguard.
Since good deeds carry more weight in Dhul Qa’dah, some tips as to what we can do:
Don’t harm others.
Take care of your health
Read more Qur’an.
Observe Sunnah fasts.
Pray the Ishraq prayer (a voluntary two rak’ah) after sunrise.
Anas bin Malik (ra) narrated that : the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun has risen, then he prays two Rak'ah, then for him is the reward like that of a Hajj and Umrah." He said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Complete, complete, complete.'" (Grade: Da'if)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْجُمَحِيُّ الْبَصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو ظِلاَلٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ صَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ ثُمَّ قَعَدَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ كَانَتْ لَهُ كَأَجْرِ حَجَّةٍ وَعُمْرَةٍ " . قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " تَامَّةٍ تَامَّةٍ تَامَّةٍ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ . قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ أَبِي ظِلاَلٍ فَقَالَ هُوَ مُقَارِبُ الْحَدِيثِ . قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ وَاسْمُهُ هِلاَلٌ .
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 586; Book 6, Hadith 43; Vol. 2, Book 1, Hadith 586
Since sins are heavier in Dhul Qa’dah, you should seek forgiveness as often as possible during this month. For Example:
Make du’a that Allah forgives you
Recite some simple tasbeeh before seeking forgiveness
Give charity as often as you can
Recite Surah Mulk everyday
Narrated Abu Bakra (ra): The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Time has come back to its original state which it had on the day Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is twelve months, four of which are sacred, three of them are in succession, namely Dhul-Qa'da, Dhul Hijja and Muharram, (the fourth being) Rajab Mudar which is between Juma'da (ath-thamj and Sha'ban.
The Prophet (PBUH) then asked, "Which month is this?"
We said, "Allah and his Apostle know better."
He (PBUH) kept silent so long that we thought that he would call it by a name other than its real name.
He (PBUH) said, "Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijja?"
We said, "Yes."
He (PBUH) said, "Which town is this?"
We said, "Allah and His Apostle know better."
He (PBUH) kept silent so long that we thought that he would call it t,y a name other than its real name.
He (PBUH) said, "isn't it the town (of Mecca)?"
We replied, "Yes."
He (PBUH) said, "What day is today?"
We replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better."
He (PBUH) kept silent so long that we thought that he would call it by a name other than its real name.
He (PBUH) said, "Isn't it the day of Nahr?"
We replied, "Yes."
He (PBUH) then said, "Your blood, properties and honor are as sacred to one another as this day of yours in this town of yours in this month of yours. You will meet your Lord, and He will ask you about your deeds. Beware! Do not go astray after me by cutting the necks of each other. It is incumbent upon those who are present to convey this message to those who are absent, for some of those to whom it is conveyed may comprehend it better than some of those who have heard it directly." (Muhammad, the sub-narrator, on mentioning this used to say: The Prophet then said, "No doubt! Haven't I delivered (Allah's) Message (to you)? Haven't I delivered Allah's message (to you)?"
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الزَّمَانُ قَدِ اسْتَدَارَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ، السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا، مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ، ثَلاَثٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ، وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ، أَىُّ شَهْرٍ هَذَا ". قُلْنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. فَسَكَتَ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهُ سَيُسَمِّيهِ بِغَيْرِ اسْمِهِ، قَالَ " أَلَيْسَ ذَا الْحِجَّةِ ". قُلْنَا بَلَى. قَالَ " أَىُّ بَلَدٍ هَذَا ". قُلْنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. فَسَكَتَ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهُ سَيُسَمِّيهِ بِغَيْرِ اسْمِهِ، قَالَ " أَلَيْسَ الْبَلْدَةَ ". قُلْنَا بَلَى. قَالَ " فَأَىُّ يَوْمٍ هَذَا ". قُلْنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ، فَسَكَتَ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهُ سَيُسَمِّيهِ بِغَيْرِ اسْمِهِ قَالَ " أَلَيْسَ يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ ". قُلْنَا بَلَى. قَالَ " فَإِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ ـ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ وَأَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ ـ وَأَعْرَاضَكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ حَرَامٌ كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا، فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا فِي شَهْرِكُمْ، وَسَتَلْقَوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ فَيَسْأَلُكُمْ عَنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ، أَلاَ فَلاَ تَرْجِعُوا بَعْدِي ضُلاَّلاً، يَضْرِبُ بَعْضُكُمْ رِقَابَ بَعْضٍ، أَلاَ لِيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ، فَلَعَلَّ بَعْضَ مَنْ يَبْلُغُهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَوْعَى لَهُ مِنْ بَعْضِ مَنْ سَمِعَهُ ـ وَكَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ إِذَا ذَكَرَهُ قَالَ صَدَقَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ ـ أَلاَ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ أَلاَ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ ".
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5550; Book 73, Hadith 6; Vol. 7, Book 68, Hadith 458
Rest Allah knows best.
Source: Quran, Hadith, Tafseer Ibn KAthir, In the shade of the Quran