Virtues of the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah

The first ten days of the Scared Month of Dhul Hijjah are very special days of the year. They are the last part of the holy season of Hajj, followed by the best day of the year: “A’rafah” and the celebration of Eidu Al-Adhha.

Allah has preferred these days over other days of the year and made them full of benefits to the believers. He swt honored them with multiple blessings as a part of showing His Mercy towards His slaves.

We Muslims, should take advantage of this invaluable and irreplaceable opportunity to draw ourselves closer to Allah, do more righteous deeds, increase our efforts to gain greater rewards, correct ourselves, and make up for our faults and shortcomings.

Evidences

i) From the Quran

Allah made an oath by these days because of their great significance and the great benefits attached to them. Allah says:

“By the dawn; by the ten nights.”  Surat al-Fajr (89:1-2)

Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujahid and others scholars stated that the “ten nights” refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer, in his Tafseer, affirmed this opinion.

ii) From the Hadeeth

Ibn ‘Abbas (raa) reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.” (al-Bukhari, 2/457)

In another Hadeeth, Ibn ‘Abbas (raa) also reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“There is no deed more precious in the sight of Allah, nor greater in reward, than a good deed done during the ten days of Sacrifice.” He was asked, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.” (al-Darimi, 1/357; its Isnad is hasan as stated in al-Irwa’, 3/398)

 The Wisdom behind these Blessed Days

These blessed days remind us of the story  of Prophet Ibraheem (pbuh) and his wife Hajar. The lessons we learn from them are:

1- Stick to Tawheed

The most important lesson we learn is to stick to the path of Tawheed (Oneness of God) regardless of the difficulties we meet in life. It is the path of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and all the prophets before him, particularly Prophet Ibraheem (pbut).

2- Avoid Shirk

Keep away from all forms of shirk. Break all sorts of statues (physical, imaginary and spiritual) in your heart.  Keep your heart involved only in pure Tawheed.

3- Be Sincere and Honest

Be sincere and shun hypocrisy in all forms. Trust Allah, turn to Him alone and fear none but Him as Prophet Ibraheem (pbuh) did. Rid your heart from any wrong intentions, ill feelings, bitterness, jealousy, hatred, … etc.

4- Making Sacrifices

One of the great lessons these days teach us is realizing the wisdom of making sacrifices in our life; and that we cannot attain any success, nor accomplish any of our goals without making the proper sacrifices.

5- Be Good to people

Be caring, generous and hospitable to people. Always support the truth and take stand on just causes and issues.

What should the Muslim do in these Ten Days?

1) Perfect your Hajj and ‘Umrah

Those who are performing Hajj and ‘Umrah should strive to do all the rituals properly, and avoid any action that might reduce their reward.

2) Strive Hard in Good Deeds 

In these blessed days we should occupy ourselves  in all sorts of good deeds. They are our way for attaining Allah’s pleasure, reward, forgiveness, and blessings.

We should strive hard in good deeds as much as we can.

Be determined to improve your acts of worship. Pray with humility, focusing on the meaning of words of Salah. Offer night and Sunnah prayers regularly.

Try to complete reading the whole Quran with translation in these days. Study the Tafseer of some Surahs of the Quran, and if possible memorize some parts of it.

Get constantly involved in remembering Allah, making supplication and Duaa.

Honor your parents and strive to please them;  connect with your relatives, particularly the far ones, enjoin the good and forbid the wrong, increase your knowledge, make Dawah, .. etc.

3) Be More Charitable

Be more kind with people. A good word or a smile is a charity.

Be more generous and charitable. Get involved in a voluntary work. Give charity to the needy, the orphans and destitute, and those stricken with calamities.

Offer your help to a family with a handicapped child or a sick parent.

Visit your relatives, neighbors, sick people,

Collect charity for needy Muslims and those stricken with calamities all over the world.

The list of good deeds you can do is endless. Do not underestimate your abilities.

4) Fast as many days as You Can  

Fasting is one of the best of deeds, that is why it is  so much recommended to fast as many days of these ten days as one can afford. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Anyone who fasts for a day for Allah’s pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

Fast the Day of A’rafah

It is an affirmed Sunnah for those who are not performing Hajj to fast the Day of A’rafah (the ninth day of Dhu’l-Hijjah, on which Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount A’rafah, praying and supplicating to God).

The Prophet (pbuh) used to fast the Day of A’rafah. He (pbuh) said,  “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of A’rafah. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?’”  (Muslim)

He (pbuh) said also: “Fasting the Day of A’rafah, expiates the sins of the previous year and of the coming year.”  (Muslim)

5) Make Sincere Repentance

It is important, in order to magnify your reward in these days, to hasten to make sincere repentance to Allah; and give up all kinds of acts of disobedience and sins, the open and secret. Stick firmly to Allah’s way, and be determined not to return back to disobedience of Allah. Repentance is our way for success. Allah swt says:

 “But as for him who repented, believed and did righteous deeds, then he will be among those who are successful.” Surat al-Qasas (28:67)

When the Muslim makes sincere repentance, and follows it with good deeds, particularly during these blessed days, he would surely attain Allah pleasure and love; for Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance and submission.

6) Strive in Making Duaa for yourself, family, friends and all Muslims, the dead and living.

Make Duaa and supplications after prayers, at midnight, and the last third of the night. Focus on authentic Duaa from Quran & Hadeeth. Make your Duaa with submission, broken heart, and tears.

Include other people in your Duaa (family- parents – relatives – friends- employer). Make Duaa for all Muslims at large. Write a list of the Duaa you like, or need to make so that you do not forget. Make a list of people so that you do not forget them in your Duaa.

Make a special Duaa for Muslim leaders, imams, scholars, weak and under privileged Muslims, and those stricken with catastrophes. Do not forget the dead Muslims

7) Strive in Performing Dhikr, Takbeer, and Remembrance of Allah

Occupy yourself in these blessed days in performing Dhikr, Takbeer, and remembrance of Allah; the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Keep your tongue wet with the remembrance of Allah”                                   al-Tirmidhi

Make the regular supplications at morning, evening, after prayer call, after prayers, before sleeping, and when you wake up.

Observe the Sunnah of  Takbeer

Based on sound evidences, it is a confirmed Sunnah to say Takbeer loudly during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah in public places; wherever it is permissible to  mention Allah’s name loudly: in the Masjids, at homes, squares, markets and streets as an act of worship and as a proclamation of the greatness of Allah. Allah swt says:

“That they might witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention the name of Allah on appointed days …” Surat al-Hajj (22:28)

The majority of scholars agree that the “appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah,

Unfortunately, at present this Sunnah of saying Takbeer loudly at public places during this blessed time of the year has been neglected, It is our duty to revive this Sunnah and pronounce Takbeer loudly wherever we can.

8) Attend Eid Prayer

Attending Eid prayers is from the Sunnah of our Prophet (pbuh). We should be keen to perform this Sunnah according to the teachings of our Prophet (pbuh). The Eid is a time of joy and happiness and we should be helpful and charitable to all of our brothers and sisters who may not be as fortunate as we are to have enough to enjoy this blessed occasion.

9) Offer a Sacrifice

One of the good deeds that will bring us closer to Allah during these ten days is offering a sacrifice, meaning to slaughter an animal for the sake of Allah and distribute the meat. Ibn Umar (raa) said: “The Prophet (pbuh) lived in Madenah for ten years and every year he slaughtered an animal.” (Ahmad – Saheeh by al-Albani)

10) Be grateful and Thankful to Allah

The first thing to do to celebrate the Eid, is to be grateful to  Allah (swt) for guiding us to Islam;  for guiding us to these ten days in order to help us receive more of His Mercy, Forgiveness and Guidance.

We should give  thanks to Allah deeply, sincerely and continuously for the infinite blessings He bestows on us.

We should hasten to do good deeds, and appreciate this blessing and make the most of it.

What should the Muslim avoid during these Ten Days?

We should keep away from all actions that distract us from making the most of this precious time of the year, for  Life is too short to waste in useless things. Death could come at any time.

We must avoid to be among the unwise who miss the wisdom behind this great opportunity; those who get very little benefits from it or nothing at all; those who waste these days in shopping, too much socialization, or excessive use of social media, watching TV, or chatting and idle talks.

The smart Muslim should be keen to make full use of this blessed days, in order to become more God fearing, increase in Iman and Taqwa, attain perfection in character and conduct, purify his soul, magnify his reward, and be prepared for the Hereafter.