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Did you know the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are better than the last 10 days of Ramadan? Amongst the great days of Ibadah (worship) are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, which Allah has favoured over other days.
Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e., the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah)." He was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah, except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not return with either of it." (Bukhari, Book 9, Hadith 259)
This year [1445H], the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are likely to start on Saturday, 8th June 2024, thus Eid-ul Adha is expected to be on Monday, 17th June 2024 (based on UK Moon Sightings), inshaAllah.
The above hadith and others indicate that these ten days are better than all other days of the year, with no exception. They are even better than the last ten days of Ramadan, but the last ten nights of Ramadan are better than the first ten nights of Dhul Hijjah because they include Laylat ul-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months (Quran 97:3)
Virtues of these ten days include:
- Allah swears by things to signify their importance, and Allah has sworn by these ten days in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Al-Fajr, where He says: “By the Fajr, And the ten nights” (Quran 89:1-2). Early scholars which include Ibn Abbaas (رضي الله عنه) have stated that these 10 nights mentioned in the Qur’an are indeed the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.
- The Prophet (ﷺ) has said that these 10 days are the best 10 days of the year, as mentioned in the hadith above (and in others).
- They are the best days to make remembrance of Allah. It was narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him than these 10 days, so recite a great deal of Tahleel (Laa ilaaha illallaah), Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar) and Tahmeed (Alhumdulillaah) during them.” (Reported by Ahmad 7/224)
- They include the Day of Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah), in which Allah completed this religion of Islam. Fasting this day erases the sins of the previous year and the following year (minor sins only; as major sins require repentance too). The Day of Arafah fasting [this year] is likely to fall on Sunday, 16th June 2024 so make sure to fast on that day too, InshaAllah.
- They include the day of “The big Hajj”, which is Eid-ul Adha day (10th Dhul Hijjah), and this day is the greatest day of the whole year.
So, the Muslims should start these days with sincere repentance to Allah, then he should do a lot of righteous deeds in general, and he should pay attention to doing the following deeds:
Fasting the first 9 days of Dhul Hijjah
It is recommended for Muslims to fast on the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah, because the Prophet (ﷺ) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah and fasting is one of the best of deeds as mentioned in the hadith Qudsi: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "(Allah said), 'Every good deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.’ Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk". (Bukhari, Book 77, Hadith 142)
Furthermore, fasting on the Day of Arafah caries specific rewards as stated in the following hadith: Abu Qatadah (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about the observance of Saum (fasting) on the day of Arafah (9th of Dhul Hijjah). He said, "It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year." (Muslim, Book 9, Hadith 260)
Reciting Tahleel, Takbeer and Tahmeed a lot
As mentioned previously, it is from the sunnah to recite tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allah (There is none worthy of worship but Allah)), takbeer (saying Allahu akbar (Allah is most great)), tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allah)), and tasbeeh (saying Subhan-Allah (Glory be to Allah)), during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. We should say these words out loud in the mosques, homes, streets and every place in which it is permissible to remember Allah so that we can perform this act of worship openly and proclaim the greatness of Allah.
Allah says in surah Al-Hajj: “That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade), and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days ...”. (Quran 22:28)
The majority of scholars are of the view that the “appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah because it was narrated from Ibn Abbaas (رضي الله عنه) that the appointed days are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.
It was proven that Ibn Umar and Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنهما) used to go out to the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, reciting the takbeer out loud and the people would recite takbeer when they heard them, i.e., the people would remember the takbeer and each one would recite it by himself. This does not mean that they recited in unison – that is not prescribed in Islam.
Reviving sunnah that have been forgotten brings a great deal of reward, as is indicated by the words of the Prophet (ﷺ): “Whoever revives one of my sunnah that has died out after I am gone, will have a reward like that of everyone who does it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.” (Tirmidhi)
Performing Hajj and Umrah
One of the greatest deeds that can be done during these ten days is the Hajj to the sacred House of Allah.
Allah says, “And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka'bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses;” (Quran 3:97).
Whoever Allah helps to go on Hajj to His House and do the rituals in the required manner will – inshaAllah – be included in the words of the Prophet (ﷺ): "(The performance of) `Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing except Paradise." (Bukhari, Book 26, Hadith 1)
Sacrifice (Udhiyah/Qurbani)
One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to Allah in these ten days is to slaughter the sacrifice and to look for a good, fat animal and to spend money on it for the sake of Allah. Remember that if you intend to slaughter, then you should not clip your nails or cut your hair during the first ten days so hurry up and do so before Tuesday, 20th June 2023) Maghrib! One of the reasons for such is that we are resembling the people in Hajj by sacrificing an animal so we are allowed to share one of their conditions of not being allowed to cut their hair or nails.
However, do realise the difference between the Plane of Arafah, which is a location in Makkah (Saudi Arabia) and the Day of Arafah, which is a date of a lunar month (9th Dhul Hijjah) based on moon sighting in your own country. Therefore, fasting on the Day of Arafah is on 9th Dhul Hijjah and the sacrifice (Udhiyah/Qurbani) on 10th-12th Dhul Hijjah is based on local moon sighting, which may be different from the lunar date of Saudi Arabia!
The other acts of Ibadah in these ten days are: (a) read more Quran; (b) perform all the sunnah and the night prayers; (c) give charity; (d) spread knowledge; (e) repent to Allah and seek forgiveness from previous sins; (f) increase in asking for forgiveness by saying, “Astaghfirullah”; (g) fast with your body too, i.e don’t look at haram, don’t speak haram, don’t listen to haram, etc; (h) make dua’a for all the Muslims worldwide, InshaAllah.
Let us hasten to make the most of these great days before we miss the opportunity to do so!
Checked by Mufti Sajid Patel (8/2018)