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First Ten Days of Dhull Hijjaah: Days of Virtue & Righteous Deeds

As’slaamu Alaykum wa Rahma’Tullahee,

Unfortunately, many Muslims do not appreciate the greatness of the 10 days that have started today. Let’s revive its true status in our own hearts & in the hearts of those around us, bee’idh-Nillaah.

First Ten Days of Dhull Hijjaah: Days of Virtue & Righteous Deeds

Ibn ‘Abbas says about the ayah, “Remember Allaah during the well known days,” that it refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. [This is related by al-Bukharee]

Allaah swears an oath by them, & swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance & great benefit. Allaah says interpretation of the meaning): “By the dawn; by the 10 nights” [al-Fajr 89:1-2]. Ibn Abbas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid & others of the earlier & later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer said: “This is the correct opinion.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413]

Praise be to Allaah Who has created Time & has made some times better than others, some months & days & nights better than others, when rewards are multiplied many times, as a mercy towards His slaves. This encourages them to do more righteous deeds & makes them more eager to worship Him, so that the Muslim renews his efforts to gain a greater share of reward, prepare himself for death & supply himself in readiness for the Day of Judgement.

This season of worship brings many benefits, such as the opportunity to correct ones faults & make up for any shortcomings or anything that one might have missed. Every one of these special occasions involves some kind of worship through which the slaves may draw closer to Allaah, & some kind of blessing though which Allaah bestows His favour & mercy upon whomsoever He will. The happy person is the one who makes the most of these special months, days & hours & draws nearer to his Lord during these times through acts of worship; he will most likely be touched by the blessing of Allaah & will feel the joy of knowing that he is safe from the flames of Hell. [Ibn Rajab, al-Lataaif, p.8]

Ibn ‘Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu ‘alayhee waslama) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah].” The companions asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad in the way of Allaah?” He said, “Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life & wealth in danger [for Allaah's sake] & returns with neither of them.” [This is related by the group except Muslim & an-Nasa'ee]

Ahmad & at-Tabaranee record from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu ‘alayhee waslama) said, “There is no day more honourable in Allaah’s sight & no acts more beloved therein to Allaah than those in these ten days. So say tahlil (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah: Laa ilaaha illallaah), takbir (Allaah is the greatest: Allaahu Akbar) & tahmid (All Praise is Due to Allaah: Alhumdulillaah) a lot [on those days].” [Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated it is saheeh]

Aboo Hurayrah relates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu ‘alayhee waslama) said, “There are no days more loved to Allaah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhull Hijjaah. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year & to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power,

[i.e. Lailatul Qadr].” [This is related by at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Majah, & al-Bayhaqee]

Ibn ‘Umar narrated that at Mina, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu ‘alayhee waslama) said, “Do you know what the day today is?” The people replied, “Allaah & His Messenger know it better.” He said, “It is the forbidden (sacred) day. And do you know what town is this?” They replied, “Allaah & His Messenger know it better.” He said, “This is the forbidden (sacred) town (Makkah). And do you know which month is this?” The people replied, “Allaah & His Apostle know it better.” He said, “This is the forbidden (sacred) month.” The Messenger added, “No doubt, Allaah made your blood, your properties, & your honour sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours in this town of yours.”

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: On the Day of Nahr (10th of Dhul-Hijjah), the Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhee waslama) stood in between the Jamarat during his Hajj which he performed (as in the previous Hadeeth) and said, “This is the greatest Day (i.e. 10th of Dhul-Hijjah).” The Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhee waslama) started saying repeatedly, “O Allaah! Be Witness (I have conveyed Your Message).” He then bade the people farewell. The people said, “(This is Hajjat-al-Wada).” [Bukharee 2.798]

Fasting Day of Arafah

Aboo Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu ‘alayhee waslama) said, “Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it & the year following it. Fasting the day of ‘Ashoorah is an expiation for the year preceding it.” [This is related by "the group," except for al-Bukharee & at-Tirmidhee]

Hafsah reported, “There are five things that the Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhee waslama) never abandoned: fasting the day of ‘Ashoorah, fasting the [first] 10 [days of Dhul-Hijjah], fasting 3 days of every month & praying two rak’ah before the dawn prayer.” [This is related by Ahmad & an-Nasa'ee]

‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amr reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu ‘alayhee waslama) said, “The day of ‘Arafah, the day of sacrifice, & the days of tashreeq are ‘Eids for us–the people of Islaam–and they are days of eating & drinking.” [This is related by "the five," except for Ibn Majah. At-Tirmidhee grades it saheeh]

Aboo Hurayrah stated, “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhee waslama) forbade fasting on the day of ‘Arafah for one who is actually at ‘Arafah.” [This is related by Ahmad, Aboo Dawood, an-Nasa'ee, & Ibn Majah]

At-Tirmidhee comments: “The scholars prefer that the day of ‘Arafah be fasted unless one is actually at ‘Arafah.”

Takbeer

It is Sunnaah to say Takbeer (“Allaahu Akbar”), Tahmeed  (“Al-hamdu Lillaah”), Tahleel (“La ilaha ill-Allaah”) & Tasbeeh (“Subhaan Allaah”) during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, & to say it loudly in the mosque, the home, the street & every place where it is permitted to remember Allaah & mention His name out loud, as an act of worship & as a proclamation of the greatness of Allaah, may He be exalted. Men should recite these phrases out loud, & women should recite them quietly.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“That they might witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e., reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, & also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), & mention the name of Allaah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice)…” [Al-Hajj 22:28]

The majority of scholars agree that the “appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, because of the words of Ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him & his father), “The appointed days are the first ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah).”

The Takbeer may include the words “Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, la ilaaha ill-Allaah; wa Allaahu Akbar wa Lillaah- hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah; Allaah is Most Great & to Allaah be praise),” as well as other phrases.

Takbeer at this time is an aspect of the Sunnaah that has been forgotten, especially during the early part of this period, so much so that one hardly ever hears Takbeer, except from a few people. This Takbeer should be pronounced loudly, in order to revive the Sunnaah & as a reminder to the negligent. There is sound evidence that Ibn Umar & Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with them) used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, & the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them. The idea behind reminding the people to recite Takbeer is that each one should recite it individually, not in unison, as there is no basis in Sharee’ah for doing this.

November 20, 2009 - Posted by Abu-Tayeb Khairdeen | dhul hijjah | dhul hijjah